GRAND RAPIDS-The Colorado Crush had nothing to play for, and played like it. The Grand Rapids Rampage had nothing to play for, but played inspired and destroyed the Crush 45-0 to wrap up the AFL season for both teams.
The first quarter started slowly. Colorado punted to the Grand Rapids 1-yard line, and the Rampage drove to the Crush 1-yard line. But Toby Harrell fumbled and Stan Dinn recovered for the Crush. Colorado would move the ball, but still had to punt. Following that punt, Grand Rapids drove 72 yards on 9 plays. Bobo Cushing finished it off with a 13-yard touchdown run to put the Rampage up 7-0 with 12:51 remaining in the second quarter.
Following that score, the floodgates began to open. After Earl Ginger missed a 56-yard field goal attempt, the Rampage went 54 yards on 2 plays. Curtis Wayne fired a 30-yard touchdown pass to Nikolai Vilmer to put Grand Rapids up 14-0 with 6:28 remaining in the half. Following a Colorado punt, the Rampage again took two plays to score. Wayne threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Lester Gartman to finish off the 61-yard drive to make it 21-0 with 4:04 to go in the second quarter. Colorado punted again, and Vilmer took off on a 51-yard punt return to the Colorado 4-yard line. Two plays later, Hudie Naylor scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0 with 2:17 to go in the half. Gitch Wild fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and George Tibbs recovered for the Rampage at the Colorado 33-yard line. Six plays later, Harrell scored on a 1-yard touchdown run making it 35-0 with 46 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The third quarter went much as the first quarter did with both teams trading punts. Then the Rampage went on a 17-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Tibbs kicking a 23-yard field goal to put Grand Rapids up 38-0 with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter. Colorado was turned away on fourth down, and Grand Rapids drove 55 yards on 15 plays. Naylor finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:43 to go in the game.
Grand Rapids (11-5) gained 484 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 142 yards on 35 carries. Cushing led the team with 42 yards on 7 carries and a TD. Wayne went 20-of-28 passing for 342 yards and 2 TD and was not sacked. Gartman led the receivers with 5 catches for 124 yards and a TD.
Colorado (7-9) gained 191 yards of total offense. The Crush ran for 78 yards on 22 carries. Valentine Millstone led the team with 30 yards on 11 carries. Howton Thom went 19-of-38 passing for 140 yards. He was sacked three times, losing 27 yards. Wild led the receivers with 6 catches for 42 yards.
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