For the first time in coach Sparky McEwen’s three-year career, the Grand Rapids Rampage swept an American Conference Central Division opponent.

Brian Gowins kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Rampage a 58-55 win over the Colorado Crush Saturday, sweeping the two-game series.

“To beat them (Colorado) twice in a season, I think our hats have to go out to those kids in the locker room,” McEwen said.

Gowins kick finished off a chess match in the final minute which saw both teams score a combined 21 points.

“It felt pretty good,” Gowins said. “I didn’t see it. I hit it good and I turned around.”

Gowins’’ kick was set up by a 23-yard pass from Chad Salisbury to Clarence Coleman to the Crush 13, but an illegal pass penalty pushed the kick back five yards.

On the possession before, Colorado’s Damien Harrell caught a one-yard pass from John Dutton that gave the Crush a one-point lead with 20 seconds left to play. Harrell’’s score was set up by a 42-yard pass to Willie Quinnie to Grand Rapids’’ 3.

Colorado needed that touchdown because on an onside kick attempt, Chris Ryan snagged the ball and ran in from eight yards out.

“You’re playing like basketball,” Crush coach Mike Dailey said. “You want the last possession. They had the last possession and won. It’s like putting someone on the foul line to shoot a one-and-one. That’’s the way the game’s played.”

Grand Rapids scored 14 points in the first quarter without the offense taking the field. Chuck Wesley recovered the opening kick off the net and ran in from four yards out for the first score, then Ironman of the game Timon Marshall ran back a kickoff 50 yards for the second score.

Those were sandwiched around a one-yard run by Jason Harmon. Jason Bell hit a 27-yard field goal for a 14-10 score after 15 minutes.

Both teams traded two touchdowns in the second quarter but Bell missed an extra point, so Grand Rapids led 28-23 at the half.

The Rampage extended the lead to 19 with two touchdown passes to former Nashville Kats receiver Cornelius Bonner in the third quarter. However the Rampage wouldn’t score for the next 14:25.

In that span Dutton found Harrell for touchdowns three times to give the Crush a 44-42 lead with 9:25 left in the game.

McEwen was testy when he was asked about blowing the lead.

“I am not going to answer that question,” he said. “This team has been fighting their tail off to put us in that position, and then I have to answer a question about a 19-point lead? It’s arena football. It’s like the NBA. Teams are going to make a run.”

A 31-yard pass from Salisbury to Bonner - his fourth touchdown catch of the game - put Grand Rapids on top again and set up the final minute which ended in Gowins’ field goal.

“This team needed it (the win),” Gowins said. “That’s the frustrating part of this game. We played well enough to win four of the games we lost. The breaks and things were generally frustrating because we are a good team. It just hasn’t shown up in the won-loss (columns).”

Salisbury ended up 22-of-35 for 250 yards and five touchdowns, which put him over 100 touchdowns this season.

Dutton was 29-of-47 for 357 yards and six scores.

Bonner was named offensive player of the game after coming up with eight catches for 134 yards and four touchdowns. 

Harrell led all receivers with 12 catches for 168 yards and five scores.

Rampage defensive back Chuck Wesley was named defensive player of the game after notching 11 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. 

Despite the loss, Dailey wasn’t too disappointed.

“We’re 8-5, we have three remaining and two at home, and I hope to have a chance to make the playoffs,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of transition this year, we lost a lot of coaches and a lot of players and I think they’re playing hard.”

Had the Crush beat the Rampage they would have clinched a playoff spot. But Dailey said he wasn’t using that and the Rampage’s previous win in the opening weekend as motivation to his players.

“I think Grand Rapids is a decent football team,” he said. “Maybe they have our number, I don’t know.”

The Rampage are home again for a game against the Kansas City Brigade next Saturday while the Crush head to Salt Lake City for a June 4 ESPN game against the Utah Blaze.