ROCK ISLAND – The Midwest Rampage (2-2) dropped their first two games of the season, but have won two straight after knocking off the Quad City Stallions 8-2 on Saturday.

The Stallions (1-3) got on the board first after the Rampage intercepted their opening-drive pass on the 1-yard line but quarterback Clint Howard was sacked two plays later in the endzone for a safety to give the Stallions a 2-0 lead.  The game went back and forth until four minutes remained in the contest as the Rampage drove 75-yards and scored on a two-yard run from Dan Schaa.  Tight end Zach Klaver then caught the two-point conversion pass from Howard to secure the win.

“Athletically, the Stallions are one of the best teams we’ve played this season,” said Rampage head coach Chris Hansen.  “Their defense is very fast and aggressive and offensively they have some great skill players with exceptional speed.  However, for the first time on special teams, especially punt, we played a complete game which is just what we needed considering one major mistake would have made a difference in the game.”

The Rampage “Black Plague” defense held the home team to just 68-yards on the ground and 136 in the air and marked the second game in a row they limited an opponent to under 100 yards rushing; last week the Capital City Crush only netted 7 total rushing yards as the Rampage won 20-18.  On five different occasions the Stallions went for it on 4^th down but were stopped by the Rampage all but once. 

The Stallions biggest threat came early in the 3^rd quarter after receiver Kevin Kannuan mishandled a reception and it was intercepted and returned inside to the Rampage 20-yard line; Quad Cities then advanced to the Rampage 9-yard line before a holding penalty pushed them back.  Three plays later on 4^th-and-3 the Stallions' ball carrier was tackled short of the 1^st down.  Defensively, while both linebacker John Elkin and free safety collected 14 tackles, the Rampage defensive backfield consisting of Dirk Timm, Josh Chambers, and Joe Stattelman knocked down a total of 11 Stallion passes and intercepted 3 balls.

On the flip side, the Rampage offense was led by Howard who completed 11 of 20 passes for 165 yards.  Although the Central College graduate tossed two interceptions, Howard spread the wealth by completing passes to six different receivers including 4 to Andrew Goeb for 58 yards and three to Clint Foth for 48 yards.  On the ground, running back Jake Thoma earned 85-yards on 20 tough carries while Schaa had 6 carries for 34 yards along with his game-winning touchdown and the Rampage rushing attack seeming frustrated the Stallions the entire game.

The lone touchdown of the game occurred with 2:40 on the clock and on the ensuing kickoff linebacker Bret Hilpipre—who had 10 tackles—forced a fumble recovered by Timm.  After nearly turning the ball back over to the Stallions, the Rampage then punted with :40 seconds left and four plays later Chambers intercepted his first pass of the season as time expired.

The Rampage will enjoy Memorial Holiday off before they travel to Ralston, Nebraska, on June 5 to take on the Nebraska Wildcats.