GRAND RAPIDS-The Grand Rapids Rampage were the best team last season to not make the playoffs, finishing 11-5 and a game behind Detroit in the AFL's Eastern Division. The San Jose Sabercats at 10-6 finished three games ahead of Colorado to claim the Western Division.
On this occassion, the Rampage would get contributions on all facets of the game to earn an Opening Week victory of the Sabercats 31-24.
The teams traded punts to start the game, then San Jose would roll on a 9-play, 74-yard drive. Andre Stanfill finished it off with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Whitey Drace to take a 7-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Theodore Kile fielded a short boot and returned it 29 yards to the Sabercats 45-yard line. On the very next play, Toby Harrell would take the handoff and sprint for a 45-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7 with 7:10 remaining in the first.
The teams would punt through most of the remainder of the first quarter, but a sack of Stanfill by Rodd Clift would cause a fumble that was recovered by Jo Jo Spotts at the Sabercats 28-yard line. Four plays and 15 yards later, George Tibbs kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Rampage a 10-7 lead with 13:29 remaining in the second quarter. Following a Sabercats punt, the Rampage embarked on a 6-play, 48-yard drive. Tibbs would finish it off with a 49-yard field goal to make it 13-7 with 8:47 remaining in the half. San Jose would strike back with a 12-play, 89-yard drive that culminated with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Stanfill to Ramon Counce giving the Sabercats a 14-13 lead with 4:05 left in the second quarter. The Rampage would drive downfield in position for Tibbs to kick a 29-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked by Anson Sale and the teams would go into halftime.
After Tibbs missed a 55-yard field goal to start the second half, The Sabercats would drive 55 yards on 10 plays, ending with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stanfill to Alan Sale making it 21-13 with 7:48 to go in the third quarter. Grand Rapids responded with a 5-play, 62-yard drive. Curtis Wayne put the cap on the drive with a 10-yard touchdown on a scramble. The 2-point conversion was no good, and the Rampage trailed 21-19 with 4:40 left in the third. After San Jose punted to the Rampage 1-yard line, Grand Rapids would strike with a 73-yard bomb from Wayne to Thomas Kinzer, a little-known receiver acquired from Colorado in a trade. The pass set up a 46-yard field goal by Tibbs with 8 seconds to go in the third to put the Rampage ahead, 22-21.
The Sabercats responded with a 6-play, 15-yard drive ending with a 56-yard field goal by Ethan Wycoff to give San Jose the lead back at 24-22 with 11:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. Grand Rapids would answer with a 7-play, 84-yard drive, ending with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Wayne to Lester Garman and the Rampage came ahead 29-24 with 8:07 remaining in the fourth. Turk Costigan was overwhelmed on the kickoff and tackled at his own 10-yard line. On the next play, Marvin Tyles sacked Stanfill in the end zone for a safety making it 31-24 with 7:46 to go in the fourth quarter. After trading punts, the Sabercats had one last gasp, but Stanfill's prayer was picked off by Orville Brill to seal the game.
Grand Rapids (1-0) gained 450 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 136 yards on 26 carries. Harrell led the team with 73 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Wayne went 24-of-31 passing for 333 yards and a TD. He was sacked twice, losing 19 yards. Kinzer was the leading receiver with 11 catches for 204 yards. The Rampage visit the New York Dragons next week.
San Jose (0-1) gained 377 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 81 yards on 21 carries. Alan Sale led the team with 65 yards on 15 carries. Stanfill went 23-of-41 passing for 311 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 32 yards. Teddy Stacy caught 4 passes for 55 yards. Costigan caught 4 passes for 33 yards. The Sabercats open their home schedule next week against the Los Angeles Avengers.
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