Grand Rapids Still Looking for First Win
Randy Snow
Tuesday February 24, 2004
When play finally resumed, the Gladiators marched the ball down the field and scored, making the score 7-0. On Grand Rapids’ first offensive play from scrimmage, the snap was mishandled and the loose ball was recovered by Las Vegas. Grand Rapids was able to keep Las Vegas from scoring on the ensuing drive when DS Rapheal Ball intercepted a pass by Gladiator quarterback Clint Dolezel in the end zone. Unfortunately, the Rampage were unable to do much else to stop Las Vegas again as the Gladiators rolled to a 31-0 halftime lead. It was the first time in franchise history that Grand Rapids has been shut out in a half. Las Vegas went on to win the game 51-14.
Rampage starting quarterback Robert Hall was benched at halftime in favor of Anthony Buich, who spent the last three years in arenafootball2 and was signed from the practice squad earlier this week. Buich was not surprised when his number was called after halftime.
“He (head coach Bob Cortese) told me during the week that if Robert got into trouble, he was going to make a switch,” said Buich. “I didn’t play great, but we put some points on the board. When the offense is flat, things do have to change.”
Buich is the third quarterback to play for the Rampage in the first three games. Jeff Loots started the opener in Chicago, but was benched at halftime in favor of Robert Hall. Hall played all of last week’s game against Colorado. Loots was then placed on injured reserve earlier this week because of an elbow problem which allowed Buich to be brought up from the practice squad.
Former Rampage quarterback Clint Dolezel and offensive specialist Terrell Shaw returned to Grand Rapids for the first time Sunday. They both spent the last three years with the Rampage before signing with the Gladiators this past off-season. Dolezel only played three quarters against his old team. He was replaced by backup quarterback Rod Robinson in the fourth quarter with his team up 45-7. Dolezel completed 17 of 26 passes for 222 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception. For Grand Rapids, Hall and Buich were a combined 19 of 36 for 145 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Buich also ran for a touchdown. Shaw had 7 catches for 79 yards and no touchdowns for the Gladiators.
Going into the Las Vegas game, Grand Rapids was ranked 19th (last) in the league in total offense, and it showed. Twice the Rampage failed to convert on fourth down. They fumbled two snaps from center that were recovered by Las Vegas, and wide-open receivers were overthrown several times. If things don’t begin to turn around soon, it could be a long season for the Rampage and their devoted fans.
Next game
Grand Rapids heads out to California next Saturday to face the SaberCats. San Jose is 2-0 and will be at home for the first time this season. Both of their wins have been on the road, first at Detroit and then at Los Angeles. They had a bye in week two.
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.”
