PHOENIX — James MacPherson threw for 285 yards and five touchdowns, and the Grand Rapids Rampage made four stops inside the 2 in the final minute to preserve a 48-41 victory against the Arizona Rattlers on Monday night in the wild-card round of the Arena Football League playoffs.
Kenny Higgins had 12 catches for a 177 yards and two touchdowns for the Rampage. MacPherson also ran for a touchdown.
The Rampage play at Chicago on Sunday.
Jeff Smoker was 17-for-24 for 233 yards with four touchdown passes an one interception. He also ran for a score, but was dropped for a loss by Rampage defensive back William Haith on fourth-and-goal with 4 seconds left in the game.
GLADIATORS 69, PREDATORS 66: Raymond Philyaw threw eight touchdowns passes.
Fourth-seeded Cleveland won the wild-card game and advanced to play the No. 2 seed Georgia Force.
Cleveland's Brandon Hefflin recovered a fumble with 2:04 to play and had two interceptions, including one in the end zone with 10.8 seconds left in the first half. That led to Jason Ball's 27-yard field goal that gave Cleveland its first lead, 34-33.
T.T. Toliver caught four of eight TD passes thrown by Shane Stafford and returned a kickoff 57 yards to score for Orlando.