First-Place Rush Look To Keep Road Record Perfect
May 9, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush (4-3) travel to Ohio this weekend to take on the Cleveland Gladiators (1-5) Saturday at 6:00.
The Rush are looking to bounce back into the win column following a 72-41 defeat at the hands of the Eastern Division-leading Philadelphia Soul this past weekend. An early kickoff recovery by Andrae Thurman set the tone for the game, enabling Philadelphia to establish a two-score lead just five minutes into the first quarter. After that, the Rush were simply unable to stop the Soul offense. Of Philadelphia's twelve offensive possessions, the only one that did not result in a score was the final eleven-second drive to end the game.
The 41 point output by the Rush offense was the lowest showing since their season-opening loss to the Iowa Barnstormers. One positive was receiver Jared Jenkins. In just his fifth game with the Rush, Jenkins continued his rise into the ranks of the league elite, hauling in eight receptions for 121 yards and four touchdowns.
Week 7 was not kind to Cleveland either. The Gladiators fell to the San Jose SaberCats 56-36 in a game which was lost mostly on special teams (two kickoff return touchdowns allowed) and offense (only 4.3 yards per gain). Offensive miscues have increasingly become an issue for the Gladiators this season. After defeating the Soul in Week 5 to earn their only victory, they have averaged only 38 points per game in the past two weeks. Cleveland's difficult early season schedule has undoubtedly made every single play they've run far more crucial. Every one of their first six opponents claim a spot within the top seven of the most recent AFL Coaches' Poll (Chicago comes in at eight).
One of the bright spots for Cleveland this season is Dominick Goodman, who leads the team in receiving with 40 receptions for 367 yards and six touchdowns. Goodman has established an impressive resume in his short time in Cleveland. The 6'1 receiver out of Cincinnati has been responsible for 3,449 receiving yards and 56 total touchdowns in 38 games played.
His name should be familiar to Rush fans, as it was Goodman who hauled in a 30-yard Hail Mary off the rebound net to defeat Chicago in last year's Week 19 matchup, sending Chicago into the offseason on a sour note.
The game still resonates with Head Coach Bob McMillen. "Obviously it was a tough way to go into the offseason," said McMillen. "Our guys have remembered that feeling for the past ten months and are ready to get back in there. On the flip side, we need to keep in mind that this is one game out of many and we still have a long season ahead of us."
The Rush face a tough schedule of their own in the near future. Week 9 welcomes the Arizona Rattlers into town, and then the Rush will hit the road, traveling a combined 4,000 miles to face New Orleans and Orlando in consecutive weeks. Despite last week's loss, the Rush still hold the top spot in the National Conference's Central Division.
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Arena Football League Stories from May 9, 2013
- Blaze Add Three to Active Roster - Utah Blaze
- Pittsburgh Power Energize Roster with New Quarterback, Kicker & Wide Receiver - Pittsburgh Power
- SaberCats Host Tampa Bay on Friday in Cross-Conference Battle - San Jose SaberCats
- First-Place Rush Look To Keep Road Record Perfect - Chicago Rush
- Tampa Bay Brings in Offensive Lineman - Tampa Bay Storm
- Jacksonville aims to get back on winning track in Saturday matchup - Jacksonville Sharks
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