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GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (Ticker) -- A pair of interstate Central Division rivals meet for the right to play in Arena Bowl XV when the top-seeded Grand Rapids Rampage host the fifth-seeded Indiana Firebirds on Sunday. Both teams are coming off their biggest victories of the season. Indiana posted a 68-31 road win over Tampa Bay and Grand Rapids won its fourth straight game with a 53-21 victory over Central Division foe Chicago. The Firebirds, who posted a 17-point victory over the Carolina Cobras in the opening round of the postseason, forced six turnovers last week, including two interceptions by Jay Jones, one of which was returned 47 yards for a touchdown to open the third quarter. Raymond Philyaw completed 19-of-31 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns, including three to "Touchdown" Eddie Brown, who earned the nickname from Philyaw after recording six TDs against San Jose on July 15. As evidenced by their playoff games, both teams can put points on the board. The Firebirds averaged 58.1 points per game during the season, third-best in the league, and the Rampage were right behind at 57.2. Indiana allowed 51.2 points per game, was the least-penalized team in the league and had a plus-20 turnover margin during the season, second-best in the league. Grand Rapids' 32-point victory over Chicago was its first postseason win. The Rampage have only had three victories of more than 15 points this season. This will be the fourth meeting between the teams and third this year. The Rampage squeaked out a one-point overtime win at home in the season opener and held on for an 80-74 triumph in Week 11. The Firebirds, who operated out of Albany, New York, for the first 11 years of the franchise's existence, defeated Orlando in ArenaBowl XIII, 59-48, to win the franchise's first and only title. This is Grand Rapids' first appearance in the semifinal round.
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