DES MOINES, IA-The Grand Rapids Rampage kept the Iowa Barnstormers out of the end zone in a 20-9 victory in Week 9 of the AFL season.
The Rampage started the game with a punt, and the Barnstormers answered with a 5-play, 47-yard drive ending with a 23-yard field goal by SB Rhoads to give Iowa a 3-0 lead with 12:32 left in the first quarter. After another Grand Rapids punt, the Rampage intercepted an Ev Blansett pass. Curley Treece returned it 33 yards to the Barnstormers' 20-yard line. They got it down to the 2-yard line, but an ill-fated fake field goal blew up in their face, as George Tibbs dropped a pass from Alza Newkirk. After that, the Barnstormers drove 83 yards on 14 plays, and Rhoads kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:13 left in the first quarter to go up 6-0.
Following the field goal, Grand Rapids would drive 84 yards on 14 plays. Nikolai Vilmer put an end to the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Wayne to put the Rampage up 7-6 with 9:05 remaining in the half. The Barnstormers would punt, but Grand Rapids would turn it over as Toby Harrell's fumble was recovered by Merrill Bliss at the Rampage 40-yard line. Following a 6-play, 20-yard drive, Rhoads connected on a 37-yard field goal with 3:56 left in the second quarter to take a 9-7 lead. The Rampage would respond with an 11-play, 71-yard drive. Wayne finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Joe Foss with 1:02 left in the half, and Grand Rapids went into the locker room with a 14-9 lead.
The Barnstormers started the second half at their own 37, and faced and 4th-and-Goal at the 2. Iowa opted to go for the touchdown, but Blansett was sacked by Mercury Gross at the 9 to put an end to the scoring threat. Following a 7-play, 55-yard drive, Tibbs connected on a 53-yard field goal to give the Rampage a 17-9 lead with 5:17 to go in the third quarter. The Barnstormers would punt on their next drive, downing the ball on the Grand Rapids 7-yard line.
The Rampage would move the ball 63 yards on 11 plays. Tibbs would put a cap on the drive with a 47-yard field goal to make it 20-9 with 11:58 remaining in the game. The teams would trade punts, and Iowa attempted to drive toward a score from their own 8, but Blansett was picked off by Orville Brill at the Grand Rapids 19-yard line with 2:18 left in the game. After a Rampage punt, Iowa desperately tried to get back on the board, but Rhoads would miss a 53-yard field goal attempt in the last minute of the game.
Grand Rapids (5-4) gained 368 yards of total offense. The Rampage gained 108 yards rushing on 28 carries. Bobo Cushing led the team with 45 yards on 7 carries. Wayne went 22-of-36 passing for 274 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked twice, losing 14 yards. Foss led the receivers with 8 catches for 114 yards and 1 TD. The Rampage will host the Albany Firebirds next week, hoping to avenge a 24-14 loss in Week 4 at Albany.
Iowa (4-5) gained 339 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 101 yards on 23 carries. Blansett was the rushing threat for the Barnstormers, gaining 67 yards on 8 carries. He was 19-of-40 passing for 268 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 30 yards. Chesley Starnes was Iowa's leading receiver with 4 catches for 67 yards. Next week, the Barnstormers will visit the Chicago Rush, a team they throttled to the tune of a 57-20 score in Week 4.
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