ArenaBowl XV

Last updated
ArenaBowl XV
ArenaBowl XV.png
1234Total
NAS14714742
GR1423141364
DateAugust 19, 2001
ArenaVan Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
MVP Terrill Shaw, OS, Grand Rapids
  • Demo Odems, WR/DB, Grand Rapids (Ironman of the Game)
Attendance11,217
Winning coach Michael Trigg
Losing coach Pat Sperduto
TV in the United States
Network ABC
Announcers Brent Musburger, Gary Danielson, and Lynn Swann

ArenaBowl XV was the 2001 edition of the Arena Football League's championship game, pairing the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Central Division with the Nashville Kats of the Southern Division. The Grand Rapids offense, led by quarterback Clint Dolezel and MVP Terrill Shaw, was able to outmatch the Nashville defense, and Grand Rapids won the game, 64–42. [1]

Contents

Game summary

The Grand Rapids Rampage scored an ArenaBowl-record (at the time) 64 points as they sent a sellout crowd home from Van Andel Arena happy with a 64–42 victory over the Nashville Kats to claim their first ArenaBowl title in team history.

Grand Rapids quarterback Clint Dolezel connected with offensive specialist Terrill Shaw for five touchdowns, and threw two others to Demo Odems as the Rampage offense dominated one of the league's marquee defenses.. Shaw caught 12 passes for 172 yards on the day en route to being named the game's MVP, while Nashville's top receiving threat, Cory Fleming was held to just four catches and no receiving touchdowns.

The game marked the first championship for Rampage coach Michael Trigg in his 10-year coaching career, and the first in the history of the organization. Meanwhile, it was the second consecutive ArenaBowl defeat for the Kats, and the last game the team would play before moving to Atlanta to become the Georgia Force. The city of Nashville would be left without AFL football until a reincarnation of the Kats began play in 2005.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

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References

  1. "Rampage down Kats in Arenabowl". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 19, 2001. Retrieved July 19, 2017.