UNIONDALE, NY-The Grand Rapids Rampage controlled the ball for nearly 42 minutes, and tripled the New York Dragons' offensive yardage in a 37-10 blowout in an AFL Week 2 game.
After the Dragons punted to start the game, the Rampage traversed 59 yards on 11 plays, and George Tibbs kicked a 44-yard field goal to give Grand Rapids a 3-0 lead with 6 minutes left in the first quarter. After another New York punt, the Rampage went on a 4-play, 19-yard drive and Tibbs nailed a 41-yard field goal with 1:40 to go in the first to extend the lead to 6-0.
After Bobby Harpole recovered a George Larron fumble at the Dragons' 40-yard line, the Rampage would wrap up a 6-play, 17-yard drive with another Tibbs field goal, this one from 40 yards out, to make it 9-0 with 13:33 left in the second quarter. After another New York punt, Grand Rapids started to flex some offensive muscle as they wrapped up a 4-play, 62-yard touchdown drive with a 60-yard bomb from Curtis Wayne to Toby Harrell to make it 16-0 with 10:02 left in the half. After another three-and-out by the Dragons, the Rampage drove 44 yards on 8 plays. Wayne ended the drive on a 15-yard quarterback keeper, and Grand Rapids went up 23-0 with 4:55 left in the second. The Dragons attempted a fake punt, but Tyrell Tadwell's pass to Max Getson fell incomplete, and Grand Rapids took over again in New York territory. But Tibbs missed a 27-yard field goal attempt near the end of the half.
As the third quarter began, the Rampage were on the move again with a 5-play, 72-yard drive. Wayne completed the drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Lester Gartman and the score was 30-0 with 12:05 remaining in the third quarter. The teams would trade punts, then Tibbs would line up for a 51-yard field goal attempt. However, Hugh Strickland knifed through the line and blocked the kick, and returned it 27 yards to the Grand Rapids 27-yard line. But the Dragons would lose seven yards on the next three plays and settled for a 51-yard field goal by Jose Trust to make it 30-3 with 6:23 to go in the third.
Grand Rapids recovered from that act of generosity, and went on a 14-play, 82-yard drive. At the start of the fourth quarter, Wayne put the capper on the drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tamlin Wagener to make it 37-3 with 14:51 to go in the fourth quarter. On New York's next drive, they got as close as the Rampage 40-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth down. The Rampage would punt, but the Dragons were victimized by a Faron Emerson interception thrown to Derwin Vardeman at the Grand Rapids 17-yard line. Grand Rapids would punt again, and New York finally put together a 4-play, 37-yard touchdown drive, ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Emerson to Chase Hamil making it 37-10 with 2:45 to go in the game. An onside kick failed, and the Rampage were content to run out the clock.
Grand Rapids (2-0) gained 445 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 177 yards on 46 carries. Harrell led the team with 81 yards on 19 carries. Wayne was 20-of-29 passing for 285 yards and 3 TD. He was sacked three times, losing 17 yards. Clift Gregory was the leading receiver with 4 catches for 40 yards. The Rampage host the Albany Firebirds next week.
New York (0-2) gained 143 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for just 14 yards on only 10 carries. Freddy Ashercraft (5 carries) and Larron (3 carries) each gained 7 yards. Emerson was 16-of-36 passing for 142 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 13 yards. Hamil (52 yards, TD), Larron (22 yards) and Ardell Ashmore (12 yards) each caught 3 passes in the game. The Dragons visit the Detroit Drive next week.
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