Grand Rapids Improves to 2-2
Randy Snow
Tuesday April 1, 2008
After scoring 92 points last week against the Kansas City Brigade, the question on everyone’s mind on Sunday was, “Which Rampage team will show up this week against the Los Angles Avengers?” Would it be the team that narrowly lost to the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats three weeks ago? Perhaps it would be the team that got steamrolled by the Chicago Rush two weeks ago. Or, would it be the team that put up the second most points ever in a single game against KC last week?
The fans at the Van Andel Arena did not have to wait long to get their answer as defensive back/kick returner Chris Martin returned the opening kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown and the Rampage built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. By halftime, Grand Rapids was up 56-30, a new team record for points scored in a single half. The Grand Rapids defense also held Los Angeles to just eight points in the third quarter. The Rampage went on to win the game by the score of 84-59.
Grand Rapids quarterback James MacPherson, who threw nine touchdown passes the previous week, only managed a mere five touchdown passes this week. But that was OK, because the Rampage defense and special teams unit were more than ready to contribute to the scoring.
In the second quarter, defensive back Ahmad Hawkins intercepted a pass on the Los Angeles one-yard line, which led to Rampage touchdown. In the fourth quarter, wide receiver Chris Johnson, who was also playing on defense, picked up an Avenger fumble deep in LA territory and took it in for a touchdown.
Martin had a total of three kickoff returns for touchdown in the game, 55, 54 and 57 yards respectively. The first two came in the first quarter and the last one was in the fourth. Martin said he once had a similar day a few years ago when he was playing in the af2 for the Peoria Pirates. He had three kickoff returns in a game; however, one was called back because of a penalty. “That’s kind of my forte, kick returns,” Martin said, “and I also play defense, in my spare time!” Martin had a total of eight kickoff returns in the game for 249 yards. For his performance, Martin was named Ironman of the Game.
After the game, he joked about how some of the players wanted to try and score 100 points this week, as well as last week, but head coach Steve Thonn had a different approach to the game. “Coach has a little more class than we do,” Martin said. “We wanted to put the pedal to the medal, but Coach is a stand up guy and he showed class by just finishing out (the game) strong and being classy.”
After starting out the season 0-2, the Rampage have scored a total of 176 point in their last two games and evened their record at 2-2. The change at starting quarterback from Adrian McPherson to James MacPherson has ignited the offense. Add to that a stingy defense and a return game that can score at any moment and you have a team that is running on all cylinders.
“It’s surprising to everyone else, but not to us because we know what we have here,” Martin said of the team’s turnaround. “We know we have something special and sooner or later, everyone else will realize it also.”
Former Rampage Player
Former Rampage player Timon Marshall is now playing for the Los Angeles Avenger, but he did not show the type of play he did when he was with Grand Rapids the last few years. Marshall only caught three passes for 30 yards and had seven kickoff returns for 111 yards. He also fumbled on LA’s first play of the game.
Next Game
The Rampage are on the road Saturday night, April 5, to take on the New York Dragons (1-4). Kickoff is set for 7PM.
