T.S. Eliot said that “April is the cruelest month,” and judging by recent results, this month can’t end any sooner for the Northern Virginia Rampage, as they were shut out at home by the Virginia Royals 28-0 on Saturday.

On a beautiful day in Dumfries, at Chuck Coles Memorial Stadium, the Rampage were looking to get a win, and they came out with fire and intensity to start the game. Although their first offensive possession ended on a sack, the defense forced a turnover on downs and even had a sack of the Virginia Royals QB as the defense owned the first quarter. Unfortunately for them, then came the second quarter.

It started with a shanked punt that placed the Royals offense at the Rampage’s 32-yard line. The defense had the opportunity to hold serve, but on 4th down gave up a 22-yard pass, with the Royals running it in for the game’s first score. As with the case in several games this season, the defense was working with a short field, and the opposition capitalized again, scoring on a 17-yard QB run by Fuller to make it 16-0. Before the offense could see the field again, they saw their special teams fumble the next kickoff, once again, giving the Royals a short field and one play action pass later, they find the end zone for a 22-0 lead.

Just before the first half ended, however, the Rampage offense was moving down the field, aided by an unsportsmanlike penalty. After a 29-yard pass that placed them at the Royals’ 6-yard line, it looked as if they would get on the scoreboard and make the game close going into the second half. Them, this happened…

That made it 28-0, where the score remained until the game was called in the fourth quarter due to inclement weather.

Which was fitting, because when a team is going through the challenges that the Rampage are, it is the epitome of the old saying, “when it rains, it pours.”