The Grand Rapids Rampage dropped to 0-3 on the season after losing to the Las Vegas Gladiators 51-14 at Van Andel Arena Sunday afternoon.

Rampage defensive specialist Cecil Doggette was down on the field for eleven minutes before being carted off after suffering a helmet-to-helmet collison on the game's opening kickoff. With his departure, former Rampage quarterback Clint Dolezel picked on the weakened Grand Rapids secondary en route to being named the Offensive Player of the Game after completing 17-of-26 for 222 yards with five touchdown tosses and an interception. The interception was by Rampage DS Raphael Ball, playing in his first AFL game since ArenaBowl XV. Ball would end up leading the Rampage in tackles with 7.0 and breakups (three).

Starting Rampage QB Robert Hall completed just 10-of-18 for 86 yards and an interception before being replaced by recently signed Anthony Buich. Buich, a three-year veteran in arenafootball2 quickly led the Rampage down for a score on his one-yard QB sneak and in the fourth quarter tossed his first AFL touchdown to Alvin Ashley.

Rampage OS Steve Smith didn't return a kickoff for a touchdown for the third week in a row, but posted another impressive game off the nets with five returns for 155 yards, including a 44-yard return that nearly went the distance if not for a tackle by Las Vegas kicker Daron Alcorn. In all, Smith compiled 192 all-purpose yards and has 623 on the year.

The Rampage head off to San Jose to take on the SaberCats Saturday night (2/28) and then are back on the road down to Dallas for a game with the Desperados (3/06), who are coached by former Rampage assistant coach Will McClay. On March 14, the Rampage return home for a nationally-televised contest on NBC with the Los Angeles Avengers. Kickoff is at noon and after the game, the Grammy award winning Blues Traveler will be rocking Van Andel Arena with a post-game concert.

PHOTO: Ramon Luster reaches for more yards on a catch from Robert Hall (Joe Provonche)