GRAND RAPIDS-The Detroit Drive scored 39 unanswered points in blowing past the Grand Rapids Rampage 39-15 in a Week 8 AFL game.
The game didn't start out very well, as the Drive went three-and-out and Delbert Alonso was tackled at the Rampage 13 after a botched snap on the punt. On the following play, Curtis Wayne hit Nikolai Vilmer for a 13-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 13:38 to go in the first. After both teams traded punts, Detroit went on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Lou Couch throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Patch Brolie to tie the game at 7 with 5:28 remaining in the first. Hudie Naylor fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Hoyle Swindle recovered for the Drive at the Grand Rapids 45. After a 5-play, 18-yard drive, Cletis Frayer kicked a 44-yard field goal with 2:19 remaining in the first quarter to go up 10-7.
The second quarter was fairly slow as both teams punted to start the quarter. George Tibbs missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with 6:11 left in the second quarter, and Detroit would then drive 55 yards on 10 plays. Couch ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly to extend the Drive's lead to 17-7 with 1:58 to go in the half. After the Rampage went three-and-out, Detroit hurried down again with a 7-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a 36-yard field goal by Frayer with 4 seconds remaining in the half to go into the locker room up 20-7.
Grand Rapids punted to start the second half, and Detroit was on the move again, going 65 yards on 10 plays. Frayer finished it off with a 31-yard field goal to make it 23-7 with 7:54 left in the third. After another Rampage three-and-out, the Drive had a 4-play, 35-yard drive, ending with a 33-yard field goal by Frayer to make it 26-7 with 3:35 left in the third.
Grand Rapids punted once again, and Detroit marched downfield again going 55 yards on 8 plays. Frayer kicked his fifth field goal of the game, this one from 26 yards out to go up 29-7 with 12:58 to go in the game. The Rampage's desperation would come up to bite them as T.T. Presley intercepted Wayne and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to go up 36-7 with 12:19 to go. Another Wayne interception, this time by Stan Florin, would set Detroit up for a 7-play, 28-yard drive, and Frayer would kick field goal number six, another 26-yarder, to make it 39-7 with 8:31 to go in the game. The Rampage would finally get something going with a 6-play, 59-yard drive. Wayne would throw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bud Tyrer and the two-point conversion was good. But it was too little too late, as they were down 39-15 with 6:36 to go in the game. Not much of note happened after that.
Detroit (6-2) gained 427 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 183 yards on 39 carries. Brolie led the team with 49 yards on 11 carries. Couch ran for 44 yards on 7 carries. Couch went 22-of-35 passing for 269 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Kelly led the receivers with 7 catches for 75 yards and a TD. Next week, the Drive visit the Chicago Rush.
Grand Rapids (4-4) gained 177 yards of total offense. The Rampage were held to 51 yards rushing on 20 carries. Toby Harrell led the team with 19 yards on 8 carries. Wayne was 10-of-26 passing for 130 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 4-yard loss. Clift Gregory led Grand Rapids with 4 receptions for 46 yards. Tryer caught 2 passes for 52 yards and a TD. The Rampage go on the road to face the Iowa Barnstormers next week.
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