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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. | The Kansas City Brigade has been competitive in all but two of its games this year.
But both of the Brigade’s blowout losses have come at the hands of Arena Football League Central Division foe Grand Rapids Rampage.
Kansas City lost its seventh game in eight tries this season Friday night, falling to Grand Rapids 72-38 in front of 8,102 fans at Van Andel Arena.
On March 24, the visiting Rampage pounded Kansas City 92-52. The 92 points were the second-most points scored by a team in AFL history, and the most scored by a visiting team. And the 40-point loss was the largest loss in Brigade history.
The other six Kansas City contests this year have been one-touchdown games, but Brigade coach Kevin Porter refused to say Grand Rapids has his team’s number.
“We just started slow offensively and got in a huge hole,” Porter said. “That put pressure on our team to make plays. You can’t turn the football over in this game.”
Kansas City was its own worst enemy all night. The Brigade offense was stopped eight times during the game, including three interceptions, one fumble and four change of possessions.
The game started with a Kansas City turnover, as Grand Rapids defensive end Michael McFadden had one of his three sacks of Brigade quarterback D. Bryant, who fumbled the ball upon impact on the first snap of the game.
One play later, Grand Rapids was on the scoreboard with a 7-0 lead, a lead the Rampage would not relinquish the rest of the night.
“It’s disappointing to play like we did last week (a 55-53 win over Colorado), and then to not give ourselves a chance today,” Porter said. “That first play was indicative of the entire game.”
There were some bright spots for the Brigade.
In a homecoming game for Kansas City fullback/linebacker Chris Avery, he had four tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Avery spent his first six AFL seasons in Grand Rapids before signing with the Brigade as a free agent in November.
“We got off to a slow start, and you have to give Grand Rapids credit because they capitalized on our mistakes,” Avery said. “We had a chance to make a statement in our division tonight and we just didn’t get it done.”
Bryant ended his night by completing 24 of 47 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jerel Myers was Bryant’s main target all night, catching 10 passes for 115 yards and one score.
Friday’s loss did serious damage to Kansas City’s slim playoff hopes.
The Brigade is now two games behind Grand Rapids for the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference.
Kansas City co-owner Neil Smith, who flew into Grand Rapids on Friday for the game, was just as disappointed as his coach and Avery for the missed opportunity.
“On paper, we look good, but to play this poorly is disappointing,” said Smith.
“We haven’t had the chemistry yet, and I’m disappointed. We’ve been inconsistent throughout.”
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