Grand Rapids Rampage Defense Wins it, Columbus Destroyers Go Down 63-60 - AFL

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite scoring nine touchdowns on the night, the Grand Rapids Rampage offense needed its defense to make a key fourth-down stop in the game’s closing seconds to clinch a key 63-60 victory over the Columbus Destroyers tonight. Rampage defensive back William “Roc” Haith (Washington, D.C.) forced an incomplete pass in the end zone with less than 10 seconds remaining, sealing his team’s second straight victory.

Rampage kickoff return specialist Chris Martin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who entered the game leading the Arena Football League in kickoffs returned for touchdowns with four, brought back two more to earn Ironman of the Game honors. Meanwhile, Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy threw for 343 yards and six touchdowns, but failed to connect with his star receiver Derrick Lee in a final effort for a come-from-behind win.

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Grand Rapids’s defense started the game strong, keeping Columbus out of the end zone with a red zone stand and forcing the Destroyers to settle for a field goal. The Rampage then took their first lead of the game with a Terrell Browden (Baton Rouge, La.) five-yard touchdown rush, his third of the season.

Columbus scored its first touchdown of the night when Lee out-jumped Haith for a 27-yard score. Rampage receiver Chris Johnson (Americus, Ga.) answered with a 22-yard touchdown grab of his own, however. Following a C.J. Johnson 15-yard touchdown catch for Columbus, Martin brought his Arena Football League-leading fifth kickoff back for a touchdown, giving the visitors a brief 21-17 lead.

Both teams traded second quarter touchdowns, as C.J. Johnson and Harold Wells found pay dirt for the Destroyers while Rampage fullback T.J. Watkins (North Augusta, S.C.) and receiver Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.) scored for Grand Rapids. With 40 seconds remaining in the second quarter, C.J. Johnson logged his third touchdown of the night, giving Columbus a 38-35 advantage. The Destroyers held onto the lead into the break thanks to a Matt Thomas interception off of the nets on the half’s final play. 

The Rampage received a momentum boost at the start of the second half when Martin brought back his second kickoff return for a touchdown of the game. Columbus kept pace with a big play of its own, however, as Lee came back on a deep pass by Nagy, freeing himself from Grand Rapids defender Haith and scoring from 47 yards out.

After a Cole Magner (Palmer, Alaska) 12-yard touchdown catch, the Rampage gained the game’s first double-digit lead thanks to a fourth-down stop by the team’s defense. Magner came right back on Grand Rapids’ next drive, making a one-handed over-the-shoulder 27-yard catch to put the Rampage up, 56-45, after three quarters.

Columbus narrowed the gap at the start of the fourth quarter thanks to a Calvin Russell five-yard touchdown catch. But Chris Johnson’s second touchdown catch of the night restored Grand Rapids’ 11-point edge with less than seven minutes remaining.

Another C.J. Johnson touchdown grab and a two-point conversion rush by Rasheed Marshall tightened the Grand Rapids lead to a field goal. Then the Destroyers caught a break when a sack by Michael Landry caused MacPherson to fumble, leading to one final chance for the home team to steal a late victory.

The Destroyers used a pair of Wells rushes to run the clock down to 13 seconds. After an incomplete pass by Nagy, Columbus was faced with a decision to attempt a 26-yard field goal to tie the game or go for a win.

With nothing to lose, the 3-12 Destroyers dialed up a fourth-down pass intended for their star receiver, Lee. Haith’s coverage forced an incomplete pass, however, sending Grand Rapids one step closer to a playoff berth. Grand Rapids (5-10) can clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2003 with a win next Saturday (June 21) at New Orleans.

Score by Quarter	1	2	3	4	Final	Record
Grand Rapids Rampage	14	21	21	7	63	(5-10)
Columbus Destroyers	10	28	7	15	60	(3-12)

LEADERS

PASSING: NAGY, Matt (CMB) 24-38-343-6; MacPHERSON, James (GRA) 23-32-301-5
RECEIVING: JOHNSON, C.J. (CMB) 9-162-4; MAGNER, Cole (GRA) 9-102-2

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Offensive: C.J. Johnson (CMB)
Defensive: Ahmad Hawkins (GRA)
Ironman: Chris Martin (GRA)

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