Rampage on a Roll -- Another Loss for G.R.
Randy Snow
Tuesday May 13, 2003
Three of Grand Rapids’ four recent losses were barely a field goal shy of a win, including a one-point overtime loss to Arizona, a one-point loss at San Jose and this week’s three-point loss to Indiana. The other was an eight-point loss at Chicago.
Even in the midst of this losing streak, Grand Rapids still managed to lock up their fifth straight playoff spot last week. They even have a chance to win the Central Division if they can break out of their slump and beat Dallas next week here in Grand Rapids.
A Mother’s Day crowd of 8,488 was on hand at the Van Andel Arena as the two teams traded scores for most of the first half. Indiana led 44-40 at the half. At the end of the second period, Rampage lineman Cory Mayfield was injured and had to be helped off the field. The preliminary diagnosis was not good. He might be done for the season.
The tide turned heavily in the Firebirds favor in the third quarter, however, when they scored 21 unanswered points. Rampage QB Clint Dolezel threw three interceptions on consecutive possessions that Indiana converted into touchdowns, giving them a 25-point lead to start the fourth quarter.
Did head coach Michael Trigg consider benching his quarterback after the third interception? “Maybe, if we had gotten a little further out,” said Trigg. “You put a lot of pressure on your offense when your defense can’t stop anybody. I didn’t really give it a whole lot of thought unless maybe it got out of hand. Then maybe I’d let (backup quarterback) Nick (Browder) get some work,”
Did quarterback Clint Dolezel think he might get benched in the third? “Not because I was playing bad,” Dolezel said. “Maybe if someone thought it was out of reach, but in Arena Football, it’s never out of reach. No, I wasn’t worried.”
The Rampage made a game of it in the fourth, holding Indiana to only two field goals. Dolezel redeemed himself by throwing four touchdown passes, but it was not quite enough as the Rampage lost yet another close one.
On the season, Grand Rapids has lost a total of four games by three points or less.
Breast Cancer Survivors Recognized
Prior to the start of the game, the Rampage honored over 100 local women who are breast cancer survivors. The women, wearing pink T-shirts, paraded onto the field and received a huge ovation from the crowd. Representatives from the local chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation were also on hand to promote breast cancer awareness and to distribute information.
Up Next
The Dallas Desperados (9-6) make their first trip north to Grand Rapids. The winner of the game will be the Central Division champion and host a first round playoff game. Grand Rapids beat Dallas 45-42 earlier this season in Dallas. The game is scheduled to be televised on NBC.
Randy Snow covered the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League for ArenaFan from 2003-2008. He also covered the Fort Wayne Fusion of arenafootball2 in 2007. From 2004-2008 and in 2010, he was a member of the Arena Football League Writer’s Association and, since 2011, has been a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association. Randy lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan but will travel just about anywhere for a football game or a great football story. He runs the web site www.theworldoffootball.com and hosts a podcast with his son, Adam, called “This Week in The World of Football.”
