Grand Rapids Continues Losing Ways
Randy Snow
Tuesday May 11, 2004
The ball was bouncing Chicago’s way all night long and Grand Rapids (1-12) just couldn’t catch a break. That was never more evident than in the second quarter when Rush quarterback Raymond Philyaw threw up a desperation pass as he was about to be sacked. The ball bounced off the nets and into the waiting hands of WR/LB Etu Molden in the end zone for a touchdown, making the score 28-9, Chicago.
“We have had no bounces and not very many calls go our way,” said Rampage interim head coach Rick Frazier. “You just can’t win any Arena football games unless you score in the mid to high 40’s or low 50’s. Then you just might win if you get your share of breaks and calls. Even scoring in the high 40’s or low 50’s, if you don’t get your share of breaks and calls, you don’t win that one either.”
The Rampage were down by 13 points at halftime, 28-15, but had the ball first in the second half and were looking to close the gap. However, Grand Rapids quarterback Anthony Buich threw his second interception of the game on the first play from scrimmage. Chicago FB/LB Bob McMillen capped off the subsequent Rush drive by scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game, increasing their lead to 20 points over the Rampage. That was as close as Grand Rapids would get to Chicago the rest of the night.
On the ensuing kickoff to Grand Rapids, the ball took a weird bounce off the nets and was recovered by the Rush, who scored again three plays later.
In the fourth quarter, the Rampage had a 60-yard field goal attempt blocked. Chicago took over at the Grand Rapids nine-yard line and eventually scored yet again to expand their lead to 56-22.
The Rush certainly lived up to their name, scoring six rushing touchdowns in the game, four of them by McMillen. The six rushing touchdowns by Chicago tied the AFL record that they had tied twice already this season.
Frazier is now 0-2 after taking over for Bob Cortese. Frazier has had to face Austin and Chicago in his first two weeks at the helm and both teams showed why they are playoff bound. The team might fare a little better in their last three games of the season, if they can catch a few breaks.
Looking ahead
The Rampage are on the road the next two weeks. They travel to Columbus for their first ever game in the state of Ohio when they take on the Destroyers (4-9) Friday, May 14th. The following week they travel to Carolina to play the Cobras on Saturday, May 22nd. The team returns home to host the Detroit Fury in their final game of the season on Saturday, May 29th. All three of their remaining opponents will finish the season with records under 500.
Looking Back
The loss to the Rush took place on Saturday, May 8th. Ironically, on that date back in 1998, the Rampage kicked off their first regular season game, beating the Iowa Barnstormers, 45-27, before a packed house of 10,618 fans in Grand Rapids. In their seven seasons, the Rampage have gone from 3-11 in their inaugural season, to winning Arena Bowl XV in 2001, to their current 1-12 record with three games to go this season. I have no doubt that better days are ahead for the Rampage, but for now, I’m glad this season is almost over.
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.”
