Quarterback Carrousel Continues in Grand Rapids
Randy Snow
Monday April 19, 2004
Last week in Detroit, the Rampage trailed the Fury, 28-26, at the half when Rampage head coach Bob Cortese decided to make a switch at quarterback. Buich was able to guide the Rampage to their first win of the season over the Fury, 49-45, in the relief effort.
This week, Bishop got the go ahead to start the second half with the Rampage trailing, 30-14. However, Buich replaced Bishop with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter after Bishop fumbled for the second time in the game. Bishop’s first fumble occurred in the second quarter as he was dropping back to pass and the ball was recovered by the Firebirds at the Grand Rapids’ one-yard line, which lead to a one-yard touchdown run by Indiana quarterback Adrian McPherson, giving the Firebirds a 27-7 lead. His second fumble came as the result of being sacked in the third quarter. Indiana defensive specialist Anthony Derricks recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and, with the Firebirds leading 44-21, Cortese made the switch.
“I just thought that I owed it to him to give him another chance out there,” said Cortese of his decision to keep Bishop in the game in the second half. “I think that a lot of his problem in the first half could have been from protection. After he fumbled the ball in the end zone, I figured I’d give Buich a chance.”
On the night, Bishop completed 7 of 16 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 4 times for 36 yards and another touchdown. In just over a quarter of playing time, Buich completed 12 of 14 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Grand Rapids offensive specialist Steve Smith had two 57-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns in the game, one in the second quarter and another in the fourth. He also had 4 receptions for 42 yards. Wide receiver/defensive back Josh Bush had eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns and kicker Steve Scaldaferri kicked seven extra points, but missed all three of his field goal attempts from 39, 42 and 60 yards, respectively. The Rampage also committed nine penalties for 56 yards.
Cortese said he would have to evaluate his quarterbacks again this week before deciding who would start next week’s game. Regardless of who gets the start for the Rampage next week, the team needs to reduce the number of penalties and dropped passes if they hope to add to their one win so far this season.
Next Game
The Rampage (1-9) travel to Colorado to take on the Crush (7-4) on Friday night, April 23rd. The two teams met back on February 14 in the home opener for Grand Rapids. Colorado won the game 55-37.
Next Home Game
Grand Rapids will host the expansion Austin Wranglers on Saturday night, May 1st at 7:30 p.m. in the first meeting ever between the two teams. Rampage head coach Bob Cortese coached another Wranglers team, the Oklahoma Wranglers, from 2000 to 2001.
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.”
