GRAND RAPIDS-Curtis Wayne put up the first 400-yard passing performance in the AFL, and threw for four touchdowns in leading the Grand Rapids Rampage to a 46-20 blowout over the Albany Firebirds in a Week 10 game. And frankly, the game was not even that close.
The Rampage started the game with a 4-play, 30-yard drive that ended with a 53-yard field goal by George Tibbs to put them up 3-0 with 12:38 remaining in the first quarter. The Firebirds went three-and-out, and Grand Rapids moved again, going 29 yards on 6 plays. Tibbs connected on a 24-yard field goal with 7:13 left in the first to make it 6-0. The ensuing kickoff was a wobbly knuckler that Tico Ponder returned to the Grand Rapids 36-yard line. After a five-play, five-yard drive, Dom Wenning put the Firebirds on the board with a 48-yard field goal to make it 6-3 with 6:19 left in the first quarter.
After the teams traded punts, Grand Rapids started flexing their passing muscle, ending a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Wayne to Hudie Naylor. The extra point was no good, and Grand Rapids led 12-3 with 14:48 remaining in the half. After a Firebird punt, the Rampage rolled again, going 86 yards on 8 plays. Wayne threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bobo Cushing to extend the lead to 19-3 with 10:20 left in the second quarter. Albany attempted to drive for a score, but Sinbad Gargaro was intercepted by Bobby Harpole at the Albany 45. Naylor would fumble on the next play, and Harrel Lynn recovered for the Firebirds at the 38. But the Firebirds would go three-and-out, and the Rampage went on an 8-play, 72-yard drive. Wayne threw another touchdown, this one going to Bud Tyrer for 28 yards, and the score was 26-3 with 3:44 remaining in the half. Albany would answer with a 7-play, 44-yard drive, ending with a 53-yard field goal by Wenning with 45 seconds left to get to within at 20 at 26-6. But the Rampage would go 59 yards on 5 plays, and Tibbs would make a 34-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in the half to go into the locker room up 29-6.
After an Albany punt to start the second half, Grand Rapids would drive 57 yards on 7 plays, and Naylor would score on a 9-yard touchdown run to extend the Rampage lead to 36-6 with 11:22 remaining in the third. Orville Brill would pick Gargaro off at the 37-yard line, and after a 5-play, 30-yard drive, Tibbs would kick a 24-yard field goal to make it 39-6 with 7:01 remaining in the third. The Firebirds would drive 76 yards on 14 plays, and Gargaro finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jerreld Richmond to make the score 39-13 with 29 seconds to go in the third.
Tibbs would miss a 41-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth, and the Firebirds would move the ball 69 yards on 14 plays. Gargaro completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Beck Kymes to make the score 39-20 with 7:17 remaining in the game. An onside kick failed, and two plays later, Wayne threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 41-yard strike to Joe Foss with 6:16 left to make it 46-20 in favor of Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids (6-4) gained 522 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 131 yards on 29 carries. Toby Harrell led the team with 50 yards on 12 carries. Wayne went 23-of-32 passing for 404 yards and 4 TD. He was sacked twice, losing 13 yards. Clift Gregory led the receivers with 5 catches for 28 yards. Foss caught 4 passes for 85 yards and a TD. The Rampage are on the road next week against the Tampa Bay Storm.
Albany (5-5) gained 234 yards of total offense. The Firebirds basically didn't even try to run the ball, gaining 57 yards on 14 carries. Abdul Fowler led the team with 41 yards on 8 carries. Gargaro was 26-of-53 passing for 238 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked eight times, losing 61 yards. Richmond led the receivers with 7 catches for 82 yards and a TD. The Firebirds go on the road next week to face the Georgia Force.
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