Rampage Back on the Winning Track, Beat K.C. 72-38
Randy Snow
Sunday April 27, 2008
After three consecutive losses, the Grand Rapids Rampage got back in the win column with a 72-38 victory Friday night (April 25) over the Kansas City Brigade. A crowd of 8,102 was on hand to see the Rampage outscore the Brigade by 34 points and improve their record to 3-5 on the season.
Turnovers and defensive stops were key factors in the game. There were a total of six interceptions in the game, three by each team, which is just two shy of the league record for combined INTs in a single game. Four times the Grand Rapids defense stopped the Brigade on fourth down plays. Kansas City also had an unsuccessful onside kick attempt in the second quarter.
Grand Rapids jumped out to a 13-0 lead after recovering a Kansas City fumble on their first play from scrimmage and then intercepted the Brigade on each of their next two possessions. Grand Rapids held a 24-point lead at the end of the first half, 41-17.
In the fourth quarter, the Rampage outscored the Brigade 17-7, with Kansas City’s only touchdown or the quarter coming with just 30 seconds remaining in the game.
Grand Rapids wide receiver Cole Magner led the Rampage in receiving with six receptions for 57 yards and three touchdowns. He was named Offensive Player of the game. Kenny Higgins also had six receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown and Chris Johnson had four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Both Johnson and Higgins also ran for touchdowns as well. Even offensive lineman/tight end Nick Steitz had a 17-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.
Rampage quarterback James MacPherson completed 16 of 24 passes for 173 yards and six touchdowns. He was also intercepted three times and was sacked twice.
On defense, linebacker Michael McFadden had three sacks and was named Defensive Player of the Game. Wide receiver/kick returner Chris Martin had nine tackles, one interception and six kickoff returns for 150 yards and was named Ironman of the Game.
“Hopefully we can keep it going,” said Rampage head coach Steve Thonn. “That’s what we’re striving for. We had a good game against Chicago last week, but we didn’t pull it out. Hopefully we get off the roller coaster a little bit and just keep it going while we’re playing well every week.”
The Rampage travel to Colorado next Friday night, May 2, for a game against the Crush.
KC-GR Connection
Three players on the Brigade roster had ties to the Rampage in recent years. Fullback Chris Avery played in Grand Rapids from 2001-2006 and was a part of the team’s ArenaBowl XV Championship season in 2001. Brigade kicker Peter Martinez was with the Rampage for two seasons (2005-2006) and defensive lineman Gillis Wilson played in all 16 games for Grand Rapids last season.
This was the first time that Avery had returned to Grand Rapids. “It was strange to be on the other side of the fence,” said Avery. “There were a lot of new faces (on the Rampage team). The only one I remember is (fullback) Chris Ryan.”
Avery did not play in 2007 due to an injury and broke his hand in the first game with Kansas City this season. He has always played fullback/linebacker in the past and is still getting used to playing just fullback under the new free substitution rule in the AFL.
Avery ran the ball only one time for one-yard during the game while Martinez kicked an 18-yard field goal and had five extra points for the Brigade.
The Rampage roster also featured backup quarterback John Fitzgerald, who started the first four games at Kansas City earlier this season before being released and signing with Grand Rapids. Fitzgerald saw some playing time in the final minutes of the game and had a 20-yard touchdown run for Grand Rapids’ final score of the game.
AFL Commissioner’s Son Selected in NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons selected Sam Baker, the son of Arena Football League Commissioner David Baker, in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft on April 26. Baker is an offensive tackle and played at USC. The Falcons selected him with the 21st overall pick in the draft.
