Grand Rapids Rampage Complete Second Week of Training Camp with Scrimmage Against Cleveland Gladiators

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – KENTWOOD – During the Grand Rapids Rampage’s second week of training camp, West Michigan football fans saw exactly why they should be excited for the upcoming 2008 Arena Football League season. The Rampage welcomed the Cleveland Gladiators for a preseason scrimmage last Tuesday, emerging with a 48-25 victory that included several strong individual performances by players hoping to make the cut.

“We thought that we would see some separation after the scrimmage,” said Steve Thonn, Rampage head coach and director of football operations, of the 37 players vying for a spot on the active roster. “But I think some guys showed us a little more than we thought they would. It’s a good thing that we’ve got a camp full of guys who are competing hard to stay here.”

The Rampage took advantage of their two days spent practicing with the Gladiators, testing out plays and developing chemistry against a common foe. After a light workout on Wednesday, the players returned to MVP Sports Spot in Kentwood for two more days of intrasquad practices. Grand Rapids will travel to Dallas next week to scrimmage against the Desperados and New Orleans VooDoo.

“As important as the last scrimmage was, this next one may be even bigger,” said Thonn. “Now we’re going against one of the league’s top teams in Dallas and a New Orleans team that did a lot of good things in the offseason. I think that the Arena Football rookies’ eyes are going to be wide open after this trip.”

Fortunately, the Rampage have thus far avoided serious injuries that have plagued other AFL teams this preseason. However, Grand Rapids did place offensive lineman Juan Porter (Cleveland, Ohio) and receiver Alvance Robinson (Dayton, Ohio) on its injured reserve list. Meanwhile, the Rampage signed linebacker Sarth Benoit (Spring Valley, N.Y.), who spent last season in the AFL with the Las Vegas Gladiators, and quarterback Juston Wood (Portland, Ore.), who started three games for the Philadelphia Soul last year.

Grand Rapids’ 2008 regular season will kick off on March 10 when the Rampage welcome the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats to Van Andel Arena.

For video highlights of the Rampage’s scrimmage against the Gladiators, click HERE:http://www.rampagefootball.com/fanzone/audiovideo/index.html?c=72&id=845&t=0

For photos from the scrimmage against Cleveland, click HERE:http://www.rampagefootball.com/fanzone/photogalleries/index.html?c=73

For Grand Rapids’ most up-to-date roster, click HERE:http://www.rampagefootball.com/team/roster/

To visit a Rampage practice, check the team’s training camp schedule HERE:http://www.rampagefootball.com/schedule/practice/

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