GRAND RAPIDS-The Grand Rapids Rampage scored two touchdowns in the last two minutes to defeat the Milwaukee Mustangs, 31-20 in a Week 7 AFL game to earn their third straight win.
Milwaukee started the game with a punt. Grand Rapids then drove 70 yards on 12 plays, ending it with a 27-yard field goal by George Tibbs to give the Rampage a 3-0 lead with 5:37 to go in the first quarter. The Mustangs responded with a 15-play, 57-yard drive that ended with Rock Philbrook kicking a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 14:42 remaining in the second quarter.
Grand Rapids would then drive 54 yards on 10 plays, with Hudie Naylor scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Rampage a 10-3 lead with 9:21 remaining in the half. Milwaukee answered after getting a good return off a short kickoff. The Mustangs would drive 48 yards on 10 plays, and Chester Brice ran in from the 1 with 4:27 remaining in the second to tie the game at 10. Both teams would trade punts, and the Rampage found themselves at their own 2-yard line at the 2-minute warning. But thanks to a pair of big passing gains, Grand Rapids flew down on a 10-play, 98-yard drive, and Curtis Wayne finished it off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nikolai Vilmer with 8 seconds left to give the Rampage a 17-10 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter was a slow offensive showing dominated by punting. The Mustangs made the only scoring threat, as Philbrook missed a 49-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Wayne was intercepted by Bren Urich at the Mustangs' 40-yard line.
After the interception, the Mustangs punted, and Grand Rapids moved into position for Tibbs to attempt a 54-yard field goal, but missed it. On the ensuing possession, the Mustangs faced a 4th-and-3 at the Rampage 34. Needing a touchdown, JC George completed a 31-yard pass to Rocky Coggins for a first down. On the next play, George ran in for a 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 17 with 7:43 left in the fourth. The Rampage would punt, and Milwaukee would go on a 6-play, 29-yard drive, and Philbrook would kick a 48-yard field goal to put the Mustangs up 20-17 with 3:09 left in the game. Toby Harrell would return the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to the Rampage 46. Three plays later, Wayne hit Ricardo Pearson for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:49 remaining to give Grand Rapids a 24-20 lead. After the Mustangs were stuffed deep in their own territory, Harrell would score on a 2-yard touchdown run with 42 seconds to go, and Milwaukee would drop their third straight game.
Grand Rapids (4-3) gained 320 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 165 yards of 30 carries. Harrell led the team with 58 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Wayne went 12-of-25 passing for 182 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 27 yards. Eight different Rampage receivers caught a pass, and Joe Foss led the team with 3 catches for 33 yards. Next week, the Rampage host the Detroit Drive in a rematch of a 20-17 victory for Grand Rapids in Week 5.
Milwaukee (4-3) gained 352 yards of total offense. The Mustangs ran for 116 yards on 28 carries. Nigel McClain led the team with 37 yards on 10 carries. George went 22-of-41 passing for 247 yards. He was sacked three times, losing 11 yards. Heinie Clausen led the Mustangs with 8 catches for 70 yards, The Mustangs will host the Iowa Barnstormers next week, a rematch of an Iowa victory in Week 5, by a 20-17 overtime score.
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