UNIONDALE, NY-The New York Dragons scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Grand Rapids Rampage 23-10 in a Week 13 AFL game.
The Rampage started the game moving into scoring position, but George Tibbs missed a 49-yard field goal. After a New York punt, Bobo Cushing fumbled and Vance Bicker recovered for the Dragons at the Grand Rapids 30-yard line. Three plays later, Freddy Ashercraft scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to put New York up 7-0 with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts through the remainder of the first and into the second quarter. Dusty Mills sacked Curtis Wayne causing Wayne to fumble and Granby DeBose recovered for the Dragons at the New York 44-yard line. The Dragons tried a fake punt from the Rampage 45, but Tyrell Tadwell's pass to Eric Sax fell incomplete. Following that play, the Rampage drove 51 yards on 7 plays. Tibbs finished it off with a 21-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 3:44 remaining in the half. Following a three-and-out by the Dragons, Grand Rapids was on the move again with an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Wayne would finish the drive with a 10-yard scramble with 30 seconds to go, and Grand Rapids went into halftime with a 10-7 lead.
The Dragons got the ball to start the second half, and moved the ball 51 yards on 9 plays. George Larron scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to give New York a 14-10 lead with 10:02 remaining in the third quarter. The Rampage went three-and-out, and New York moved down the field again, only for Burt Hamrick to miss a 43-yard field goal. Grand Rapids would move down the field, but Tibbs would miss a 45-yard attempt. After a 4-play, 39-yard drive, Hamrick would attempt another 43-yard field goal. This kick went through the uprights, and the Dragons extended their lead to 17-10 with 22 seconds remaining in the third.
Both teams traded punts, but Nikolai Vilmer fumbled on the return and it was recovered by Sax at the Rampage 27-yard line. Following a 6-play, 12-yard drive, Hamrick kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 20-10 with 9:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Omar Wheeley intercepted Wayne's pass on the Rampage's next possession, and returned it 11 yards to the Grand Rapids 14-yard drive. After three plays netted six yards, Hamrick drilled a 25-yard field goal to go up 23-10 with 7:29 remaining.
New York (7-6) gained 239 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 111 yards on 33 carries. Larron (16 carries) and Ashercraft (8 carries) each ran for 42 yards and a TD. Faron Emerson was 13-of-29 passing for 135 yards, and was sacked once for a 7-yard loss. Ashercraft led with 3 catches for 9 yards. Melvin Betts caught 2 passes for 48 yards. The Dragons will host the Iowa Barnstormers next week.
Grand Rapids (8-5) gained 330 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 122 yards on 28 carries. Toby Harrell led the team with 41 yards on 12 carries. He also caught 5 passes for 56 yards. Wayne went 21-of-39 passing for 233 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Vilmer caught 5 passes for 82 yards. The Rampage will host the Dallas Desperados next week.
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