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Turnovers do in Rampage, fall 50-30 to Chicago

February 9, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Three turnovers ended scoring drives as the Chicago Rush defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage 50-30 Sunday afternoon in front of 15,082 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

Steve Smith scored the Rampage's first points of the season on a 54-yard kickoff return for a score to tied the game at seven. Offensive Player of the Game, Raymond Philyaw took the drive back down the field to go ahead 13-7 when he run for the first of his three rushing scores.

With 3:24 left in the first quarter, the Rampage took their first offensive snap with Jeff Loots connecting with recent addition Alvin Ashley for seven yards. Five plays later, Loots hooked up with Smith for a 13-yard score. After Gatto's extra point, Grand Rapids took a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

However, the first play from scrimmage in the second stanza turned the table as Philyaw tossed a short screen to Lindsay Fleshman, who scampered down the sideline 38 yards for the go ahead score. That would be the closest the game would be that to two Rampage turnovers in the quarter that resulted in Rush points. The first coming on the next series as Fleshman stepped in front of a Loots errant pass and strolled into the end zone.

Grand Rapids drove down for a score on Chris Avery's one-yard leaping touchdown on fourth and goal, but on the team's next series, Loots fumbled at the Rush six with less than a minute to go. Chicago responded with a drive that resulted in a 27-yard Keith Gispert field goal to end the first half.

The Rampage went three and out on their first possession of the second half, so out trotted Gatto for a 51-yard field goal attempt that had the distance. However, the ball sailed just left with the ball skipping off the nets and past two Rampage players before Corey Sawyer scooped it up for Chicago.

Chicago then drove down on a nine-play, 41-yard drive that chewed up 5:37 and ended with Philyaw galloping in for a four-yard running score to put up Chicago 43-20. The Rampage embarked on a long drive themselves that ended with a rushing score when Ron Perry bowled over two Rush defenders for the one-yard touchdown.

Philyaw fumbled on the ensuing drive at the Rampage eight-yard line - the first defensive stop of the game by Grand Rapids. Backup QB Robert Hall entered for Loots. He started 0-of-4, but the drive did result in a 47-yard field goal by Nick Gatto (tying a career record). That would be the last Rampage points as Philyaw concluded the scoring with a one-yard touchdown.

On a bright note, Smith's six kick returns for 168 yards both the sixth most of each in team history. Gatto ended the game with two touchdown saving tackles on kickoff returns and hit the metal net structure on four of his six kickoffs - the other two hit the net.

This Saturday at noon, the Rampage will host the Colorado Crush at Van Andel Arena for Grand Rapids' home opener. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Arena box office, all Michigan Meijer location and at StarTicketsPlus.com.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 9, 2004


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