Another Small Crowd, Another Big Win For Grand Rapids
Randy Snow
Monday April 24, 2006
After starting the season 0-3, Arizona had won seven of their last nine games going into yesterday’s game in Grand Rapids. The Rampage had won three of their last four home games this year against some solid opponents. The team’s overall record has been a disappointment to many fans and it has, unfortunately, led to smaller than usual crowds at the Van Andel Arena.
Rampage WR/DB Josh Bush scored the first points of the game with a 35-yard touchdown catch on a fourth and seven play on the team’s opening drive. The extra point was missed. Grand Rapids kicker Peter Martinez added a 16-yard field goal as the Rampage shut out the Rattlers (7-6) in the first quarter and led 9-0 at the start of the second quarter.
Leading 19-14, with only 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Martinez attempted a 46-yard field goal to increase the Rampage lead before halftime. The ball hit the iron and bounced back onto the field of play where Grand Rapids OL/DL Jason Berger recovered it at the Arizona 10-yard line. With only four second left, Grand rapids simply lined up once again and this time Martinez connected on a 25-yard field goal to give the Rampage a 22-14 lead at the half.
Arizona took the lead for the first time in the third quarter as Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner connected with OS Damien Groce on a 6-yard touchdown pass and a 28-22 lead. But Josh Bush answered with his second touchdown of the game, a 13-yard touchdown catch to give Grand Rapids a 29-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Trailing 35-34 in the fourth quarter, Arizona attempted an onside kick which was recovered Rattlers WR/DB Randy Gatewood, but an offside penalty on Arizona gave the Rampage the ball at their own 13-yard line. Grand Rapids WR/DB Timon Marshall caught a 37-yard touchdown pass to increase the Rampage lead to eight points, 42-34 with 4:15 left in the game. Arizona answered with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Damien Groce and a two point conversion by Randy Gatewood to tie the score 42-42 with 2:19 remaining. Facing a fourth and 10 with the ball at their own two-yard line, Salisbury connected with Anthony Hines on a 19-yard reception with 39 seconds left to keep the Rampage drive going. Grand Rapids worked the clock to perfection and called a time out with three seconds remaining on the clock. Martinez nailed a 36-yard field goal as time expired, keeping Grand Rapids’ slim playoff hopes alive.
Rampage quarterback Chad Salisbury returned to the lineup this week after sitting out the last two games with an injured oblique muscle in his torso. He completed 22 of 45 passes for 250 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. "It felt great to be back out there," said Salisbury. "It’s just hard sitting there watching when your team is struggling. It was pretty obvious I had a little rust. The receivers and I were not on the same page a couple of times, but as the game went along, we got better and better."
As far as the injury that kept him on the sidelines for the past two games, Salisbury said, "I think I’m going to have a soreness the rest of the year, but it’s nothing I can’t play through. I should be OK."
Rampage kicker Peter Martinez connected on four field goals in the game, (16, 19, 25 and 36 yards respectively) saving his best for last.
"I had a feeling ever since the third quarter that it was going to come down to a kick (to decide the outcome of the game). I’m kind of glad it came my way," Martinez said.
Uniform change
In Japan, white is the color worn at funerals, not black. For the Rampage, their white road uniforms have not been kind to them at all this season, as they have lost all seven of their games away from the Van Andel Arena. Head coach Sparky McEwen said the team’s equipment manager suggested a uniform change for this week’s game. The team dressed in their road whites at home for just the second time in team history. The only other time was last season and it resulted in a 71-65 win over Los Angeles in the regular season finale. But will the Rampage continue to wear their road white uniforms at home in light of this week’s success? "I’ll bet you any kind of money, if I try to take these guys out of the whites, they’ll tear my head off," said McEwen.
Video Tribute
The Rampage honored a local area high school football team during the game with a special video tribute of highlights from their 2005 season. The Muskegon Oakridge Eagles won the Division 5 state high school football championship last November in a game that was played at Ford Field in Detroit. Many of the team’s players were in attendance at the game.
Game Honors
Rampage quarterback Chad Salisbury was named Offensive Player of the Game and DS Johnny Harris, who had five tackles, a pass break up and an interception, was named the Defensive Player of the Game. WR/DB Josh Bush, who was named Ironman of the Game, had four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three kickoff returns for 67 yards and recorded five tackles.
Best in the West?
This season, Grand Rapids has beaten four of the five teams they have faced from the American Conference Western Division. They have registered victories over Los Angeles, San Jose, Arizona and Utah, all at home. Their only loss was on the road at Las Vegas.
Milestone
Rampage WR/DB Timon Marshall had seven catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the game against the Rattlers. He became the seventh player in team history to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. He also has 1,000 yards in kickoff return yardage as well.
Next Game
Grand Rapids hosts the Nashville Kats (7-6) this Saturday night at the Van Andel Arena. Kickoff is set for 8:00. The Kats beat the Rampage 47-31 in Nashville on February 25.
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.”
