DETROIT-Joe Foss caught the winning touchdown with 27 seconds left to give the Grand Rapids Rampage a 20-17 nail-biter victory over the Detroit Drive in Week 5 of the AFL season.
Detroit punted on the opening drive, and Grand Rapids would move the ball 37 yards on 10 plays. George Tibbs put the finishing touches on the drive with a 38-yard field goal to put the Rampage up 3-0 with 8:44 to go in the first quarter. The teams would trade punts to end the first quarter.
Punts would continue to dominate the early part of the second, until Cletis Frayer was able to kick a 54-yard field goal with 9:41 remaining in the half to tie the game at 3. The Rampage would answer with an 11-play, 80-yard drive, ending with WR Lester Gartman scoring on a reverse from the 1 to put Grand Rapids up 10-3 with 4:17 left in the second quarter. The half ended with that score.
The third quarter continued to be a defensive struggle. Tibbs missed a 51-yard field goal early in the quarter. Detroit punted, and Grand Rapids moved the ball again, but Tibbs missed a 53-yard field goal. After the miss, Detroit moved the ball 57 yards on 10 plays. Lou Couch ended the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly with 3 seconds remaining in the third to tie the game at 10.
The Rampage were moving the ball again in the fourth, but Curtis Wayne was intercepted by Jamie Whirley who returned it for the Drive to his own 26-yard line. Detroit was forced to punt, and Grand Rapids moved the ball 36 yards on 9 plays. Tibbs would kick a 41-yard field goal with 5:20 remaining to put the Rampage up 13-10. The Drive responded with an 8-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Couch hitting Ahmed Sohn for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 1:45 to go, and the Drive were up 17-13. But the Rampage struck back with a 7-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Wayne connecting with Foss for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds left to knock the Drive from the ranks of the undefeated.
Grand Rapids (2-3) gained 325 yards of total offense. The Rampage gained 83 yards rushing on 28 carries. Wayne was the leading rusher with 59 yards on 9 carries. He was 18-for-39 passing for 277 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, and was sacked four times for 35 yards. Foss was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 91 yards and a TD. The Rampage are on the road against the Chicago Rush next week,
Detroit (4-1) gained 259 yards of total offense. The Drive gained 96 yards rushing on 26 carries. The rushing attack was balanced between Lovell Denson (7 car, 29 yds), Rocky Adams (7 car, 24 yds), Patch Brolie (8 car, 22 yds) and Couch (4 car, 21 yds). Couch went 18-for-31 passing for 182 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked three times, losing 19 yards. Sohn caught 4 passes for 47 yards and a TD. Kelly caught 3 passes for 48 yards and a TD. The Drive go to Dallas next week against the Desperados.
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