ALBANY, NY-Sinbad Gargaro survived a three-interception game and threw two touchdown passes to lead the Albany Firebirds past the Grand Rapids Rampage, 24-14 in a Week 4 AFL game.
Gargaro began the game completing four straight passes, but Abdul Fowler fumbled at the Grand Rapids 10, and Mercury Gross recovered for the Rampage. The teams would trade punts afterward, and the Firebirds would then move the ball 72 yards on 8 plays, with Fowler running in it from the 8 with 3:31 remaining in the first to put Albany up 7-0.
Grand Rapids would get the ball on their next possession, and drive 70 yards and take 24 plays to do so. Toby Harrell finally put an end to the drive scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Wayne to tie the game at 7 with 8:27 to go in the half. On Albany's next possession, Orville Brill stepped in front of a Gargaro pass and intercepted it, returning it to the Firebirds' 37-yard line. Six plays later, Wayne hit Ricardo Pearson for a 22-yard touchdown pass to put the Rampage up 14-7 with 5:57 to go in the second. Albany and Grand Rapids both punted, and the Firebirds found themselves at their own 20 with 1:46 to go in the half. Gargaro and the Firebirds flew down the field in 10 plays, and Gargaro ended the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Teddy Hartley with ten seconds left to go into halftime with a 14-14 tie.
The third quarter was a battle for field position as both punters got a workout. Gargaro had a pass intercepted by Derwin Vardeman and returned to the Firebirds' 30, but George Tibbs missed a 43-yard field goal with 6:13 left in the third. Two plays later, Gargaro would scramble loose for a 38-yard gain to the Rampage 24 that set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Pitts two plays after that to put Albany up 21-14 with 3:56 to go in the third. Both teams punted as the game drew early into the fourth quarter.
With 12:34 left in the fourth, Grand Rapids faced a fourth-and-2 at the Albany 32-yard line. Wayne decided to go for broke and tried to hit Clift Gregory for a first down, but the pass fell incomplete. Albany was moving the ball efficiently, but Brill got his second interception of the game, and returned it to his own 44. The Rampage couldn't make anything out of it, however, as Jimmy Loggeman intercepted Wayne three plays later, and returned it to the Rampage 42. After seven plays netted 36 yards, Albany sent Dom Wenning to connect on a 23-yard field goal with 3:07 remaining in the game to put the Firebirds up 24-14. Wayne would get intercepted again, this time by Hershel Sanderson to put an end to any Rampage comeback hopes.
Albany (3-1) gained 410 yards of total offense. The Firebirds gained 124 yards rushing on 29 carries. Scooter Colby led the Firebirds with 52 yards rushing on 11 carries. Fowler gained 37 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Gargaro was 23-for-38 passing for 286 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT and was not sacked. Harley was the Firebirds' leading receiver with 10 catches for 113 yards and a TD. Next week, the Firebirds host the New York Dragons.
Grand Rapids (1-3) gained 238 yards of total offense. The Rampage gained 105 yards rushing on 25 carries. Harrel led the Rampage ground game with 80 yards on 15 carries. Wayne was 15-for-35 passing for 157 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 24 yards. Nikolai Vilmer was the leading receiver for Grand Rapids with 4 catches for 42 yards. Joe Foss caught 3 passes for 66 yards.The Rampage go on the road to play the Detroit Drive next week.
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