Turnovers do in Rampage in Davis' debut

Published on January 29, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Two turnovers for scores early and five total giveaways ruined the Rampage's season opener as the Columbus Destroyers defeated Grand Rapids 53-30 in front of 12,451 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Ohio native Jose Davis, who became the 13th quarterback to start a game for the Rampage, finished 21-of-36 for 256 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions along with a four-yard rushing score.

Columbus opened the game with an eight-play drive that chewed up most of the first quarter (7:10) culminating in a four-yard touchdown pass from John Kaleo to Thabiti Davis. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball bounced out of the grasp of Timon Marshall and into the hands of Eddie Galles to put Columbus up 14-0.

Down 14-0, Chris Avery caught a short pass from the scrambling Davis, but fumbled at the Columbus ten. Jerald Brown scooped up the loose ball and skirted down the sidelines 40 yards to give the Destroyers a seemingly insurmountable 21-0 lead entering the second quarter.

The teams traded field goals and then turnovers before the Rampage recorded their first touchdown of the season when Davis went to his 6-foot-7, 320-pound tight end Winfield Garnett on a four-yard score; that pulled Grand Rapids to within 15 (Columbus 24-9).

On the Rampage takeaway Johnnie Harris picked off Kaleo, which gave him an interception in his first game with all three AFL teams he has played for (Tampa Bay, Orlando and Grand Rapids).

Davis connected with a wide-open Josh Bush for a 43-yard touchdown strike with 37-seconds left in the first half. A Mark Lewis field goal made the score 34-16 in favor of Columbus as the team's headed into the locker rooms.

Former Rampage defensive specialist Cecil Doggette snagged an interception in the endzone that thwarted a Grand Rapids drive on the opening drive of the second half. Doggette was named Defensive Player of the Game and former Rampage WR/LB was named the Ironman of the Game.

After Columbus scored off the turnover, Timon Marshall used the boards untouched to grab an unbelievable 33-yard gain. Originally ruled by to officials a touchdown, the grab was placed on the Destroyers' four after the officials discussed the play. Two plays later, Davis scored on four-yard TD run when Chris Ryan lateralled the ball after running into the Columbus defensive line with 6:25 left in the third quarter.

Grand Rapids would be shutout until the final 7.4 seconds when Davis connected with Aaron Bailey for the game's final score: Columbus 53, Grand Rapids 30.

In the game, the Rampage went over 30,000 total regular season passing yards and recorded the squad's 200th rushing touchdown's on Davis' four-yard touchdown run.

The Rampage will start three-game home stand this Friday, February 3 when it hosts the five-time ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (0-1) at Centennial Wireless Field at Van Andel Arena. Centennial Wireless will provide rally towels to the first 4,500 fans in attendance. Be there for the pre-game fireworks and post-game autographs with your favorite Rampage players and Rage Dance Team members. The Jess White Tumbling Team will be the halftime act.

Single-game tickets for this and all Rampage home games are available through StarTicketsPLUS (1.800.585.3737), all Michigan Meijer locations, at The Zone (located on the west side of Van Andel Arena) or by clicking here. Rampage 2006 season tickets are now on sale. To reserve your season tickets for hard-hitting, high scoring, non-stop Rampage football on Centennial Wireless Field at Van Andel Arena, call the Rampage ticket offices at 1.888.595.4878 or log on to RampageFootball.com.

All Rampage games can be heard live on WBFX 101.3 FM - The Fox in the Grand Rapids area and can be heard online worldwide at 1013thefoxrocks.com. Tune in on WOOD-TV channel 8 (NBC) in the Grand Rapids area all season long for the Rampage's drive to ArenaBowl XX.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 29, 2006


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