Desperados quarterback and former Rampage star Clint Dolezel became the first quarterback in AFL history to throw for 900 career touchdown passes in the win, while Dallas receiver Marcus Nash found the end zone six times in the victory.
The Rampage jumped out to a fast start when MacPherson connected with Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.) for a 45-yard touchdown on the game's opening play. Grand Rapids' leading receiver put on a show against Dallas, logging 13 receptions for 195 yards and three scores overall.
Dallas went on to score the next 16 points thanks to its dominating defense. After a 17-yard touchdown catch by tight end Josh White, Desperados defensive lineman Daleroy Stewart sacked MacPherson in his own end zone, marking the second safety surrendered by Grand Rapids this season. Dallas converted on its next drive as well with a David Dixon three-yard rush, giving the home team a 16-6 lead.
Grand Rapids halted the Dallas streak when Chris Johnson (Americus, Ga.) pulled in a 16-yard touchdown catch on a perfect touch pass by MacPherson. The Desperados answered once again, however, as the 6-4, 220-pound Nash used his big frame to shield off Rampage defensive back Ahmad Hawkins (Hampton, Va.) for a seven-yard score.
The Desperados extended their lead over the Rampage after a 51-yard field goal by Grand Rapids kicker Brian Gowins (Birmingham, Ala.), his longest since the 2004 season. Nash's second touchdown catch of the game gave Dallas a 30-16 lead with six minutes remaining in the half.
Higgins put Grand Rapids back on the board with an important 25-yard touchdown catch on a fourth down play. Then, after a third Nash touchdown with 34 seconds left in the second quarter, Rampage receiver Jermaine Lewis (Waukegan, Ill.) out-dueled Desperados defensive back Donvetis Franklin for a jump ball in the end zone, making the score 37-30 in favor of Dallas at the half.
Nash continued his stellar night with a 15-yard touchdown catch to begin the second half. But Grand Rapids responded once again as Lewis caught his second straight touchdown from 17 yards out. The Rampage got their only defensive stop of the night when Ronald "Rock" Dillon (Memphis, Tenn.) tipped a Dolezel fourth-down pass. Grand Rapids and MacPherson then tied the game at 44-44 with a 16-yard pass to Johnson.
A 45-yard bomb from Dolezel to Nash gave Dallas a temporary seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter. But Grand Rapids kept pace, as Higgins collected his third touchdown of the night to knot the score at 51-51.
On Dallas' next drive, Dolezel tossed his 900th career touchdown pass and sixth of the night to Nash. The Desperados defense held strong once again, forcing Grand Rapids to settle for its second field goal and maintaining a four-point advantage.
Dolezel's eighth touchdown pass of the game, a three-yard floater to tight end Jeremy Calahan, pushed Dallas' lead to 65-54. Grand Rapids drove down inside the Desperados 10-yard line on its next possession, but could not pull any closer. The 3-7 Rampage will return home this Friday (May 16) to welcome the Tampa Bay Storm, while the 9-1 Desperados will host the Arizona Rattlers.
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