Chicago Rush Game Notes

Published on April 1, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
Radio: ESPN Radio 1000 AM ... Tom Dore, John Jurkovic
Regular Season Series Record: 2-2
Last Meeting: June 22, 2002 ... Rush won 52-38
Coaches (regular season records): Mike Hohensee (63-62 — 10th season) Al Luginbill (5-4 — 1st season)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Rick Lowe (Umpire), Brent Durbin (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (Line Judge), James Anderson (Back Judge)

RISE AND SHINE: Chicago and Detroit are meeting this Friday in a morning matinee beginning at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. The teams were Central Division rivals the last two seasons before the Fury was moved to the Eastern Division. Last season, the Rush swept the Fury in two meetings, winning 53-17 in Chicago and 52-28 at the Palace.

The Rush had its chances in Grand Rapids but couldn't take advantage and dropped a 48-34 decision. Chicago committed four turnovers and did not capitalize on two Rampage turnovers. Antonio Chatman returned his fourth kickoff of the season for a touchdown and caught a pair of receiving scores. On defense, John Moyer recorded his fourth sack of the season while Dameon Porter collected his third interception of the campaign.

The Fury defeated Buffalo 34-14 behind its defense, which didn't allow a second-half point. Detroit quarterback Andy Kelly was 26-of-35 for 231 yards and 4 touchdowns while Marcus Nash and Ron Carpenter led the defense.

Next week, the Rush will travel to Denver to take on the expansion Colorado Crush and former offensive specialist Joe Douglass. The Fury will head west to play the San Jose SaberCats.

SENIORITY LIST: In the franchise's 37 games, only one player has appeared in every game — Dameon Porter. Three other players have appeared in 30-plus games — Cornelius Bonner (36 games), Billy Dicken (33) and Jamie McGourty (31).

SACKMASTER: Rush lineman John Moyer has 4.0 sacks this season, becoming the Rush's all-time leader with 8.0. Moyer tied for 8th in the league last season with his 4.0 sacks. Moyer's sacks this year have him ranking 4th in the league.

Moyer is also second among Rush linemen with 12.5 tackles.

SIMPLY THE BEST: Here is a recap of some of the best Rush performances in the month of March.

DeJuan Alfonzo — made 18.5 tackles in 4 games James Baron — had 2.0 sacks in 5 contests

Levelle Brown — scored 3 touchdowns, rushed for 46 yards and recorded a sack in only 2 games

Antonio Chatman — scored 17 touchdowns in 5 games ... caught 35 passes for 513 yards and 13 touchdowns ... returned 22 kickoffs for 638 yards and 4 scores (29.0 average)

Lindsay Fleshman — played in 5 games, catching 22 passes for 286 yards and 5 touchdowns ... also rushed for a pair of scores

Bob McMillen — rushed 7 times for 29 yards in 5 contests (4.1 yards per rush)

John Moyer — registered 3.0 sacks in 5 games

THAT'S WHY HE'S SPECIAL: Offensive specialist Antonio Chatman has scored 18 touchdowns in his last 6 contests. As a receiver, Chatman has caught 40 passes for 548 yards (13.7 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns. He is averaging 28.6 yards per kick return in the 6 games (27-774) with 3 touchdowns. Chatman has also returned 2 missed field goals for 56 yards.

For the season, Chatman has caught 67 passes for 838 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is on pace to record 119 receptions and 1,490 yards, both of which would shatter existing Rush records. Chatman is also on pace to record 1,929 combined return yards, which would break his own team record of 1,608.

RECORD BOOK: Antonio Chatman has returned kickoffs for touchdown in back-to-back games — the first time in Rush history. Chatman has returned four kickoffs for touchdowns this season, to break Joe Douglass' 2001 team record. Chatman is also the Rush career leader with six career kick returns for touchdown.

As a return man, Chatman has 15 100-plus yard games in his 23 career contests. He has reached the 200-yard mark in returns twice — March 9, 2003, against San Jose (263 yards) and June 15, 2002, at San Jose (245).

Chatman has recorded at least 100 all-purpose yards in every game that he has started.

CHATTIN' WITH A LEAGUE LEADER: Antonio Chatman is leading the AFL with 1,923 all-purpose yards. Chatman is on pace to record 3,418 all-purpose yards, which would be the 2nd-highest total in league history (3,459 yards by Lamont Cooper in 2001).

Chatman is also among the league leaders in 12 other categories, including scoring, receptions and kick return touchdowns.

BOBBY MAC: Fullback Bob McMillen has moved into 5th place on the AFL's career rushing attempts list with 251 attempts. In addition, McMillen is one yard away from moving into 7th place in all-time rushing yards. He has 792 yards with Cedric McKinnon sitting at 793 yards.

BACK TO BUFFALO: Since allowing a league-low 13 points to the Buffalo Destroyers March 1, the Rush defense has given up an average of 55.3 points per game.

Last season against the Fury, the Rush surrendered 55 points in 2 contests. Chicago allowed 17 points in the first meeting at Allstate Arena and 38 points in the June rematch at the Palace.

COACH MIKE HOHENSEE is in his 10th season as a head coach in the Arena Football League. Hohensee was hired as the first coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000.

- has a regular-season record of 63-62 (including an 19-19 mark with the Rush) ... has a career 5-6 mark in the postseason.

- has a 2-3 record against Detroit teams during his career ... against the Drive 0-1 and vs. the Fury 2-2.

- signed a two-year contract extension through the 2005 season on August 1, 2002.

- became the sixth coach in league history to record 60 regular-season victories when the Rush defeated Dallas (58-52 in overtime) July 13, 2002.

300-YARD GAMES: The Rush has played 37 regular season games in its two-plus year history. Chicago's pass defense has allowed six 300-yard games with the Rush going 3-3 in those contests. Aaron Garcia and Clint Dolezel have shredded the Rush defense for 5 of the 6 games.

Quarterback Date Yards
Clint Dolezel 7/7/01 @ Grand Rapids 342
Clint Dolezel 5/4/02 vs. Grand Rapids 321
Donnie Davis 5/18/02 vs. Georgia 304
Aaron Garcia 6/30/02 vs. New York 303
Aaron Garcia 3/23/03 vs. New York 339
Clint Dolezel 3/29/03 @ Grand Rapids 317

RUSH TRY RUSHING: Chicago has rushed for 142 yards (50 attempts) so far this season in 9 games. Last season, the rushing attack netted 103 yards on 80 carries. The club record set in 2001 is 174 yards.

ROSTER CHANGES: The Rush waived two players on Monday. Wide receiver/defensive back Halakilangi Muagututia was waived off the active roster while lineman Willie Watson was cut from the practice squad.

The Rush is expected to sign wide receiver/defensive back Anthony Griffin off its practice squad this week. Griffin, who is looking to make his AFL debut, signed with the Rush during training camp but was cut and re-signed to the practice squad January 30.

MINI-STREAKS: The Rush defensive unit has intercepted a pass in each of the last 6 games after being shutout in the first 3 contests of the season. Last season, the Rush led the AFL with 22 picks.

The defense has also picked up sacks in each of the last 5 games. A test will come this week as Detroit has allowed a league-low 3 sacks.

ROUGH ROAD: Chicago, the defending Central Division champions, has started the season 0-3 in the division. The Rush has dropped road contests in each of its rival's arenas — 46-38 at Dallas, 28-23 at Indiana and 48-34 in Grand Rapids.

The remaining 3 division tilts will take place at Allstate Arena — April 20 vs. Dallas, April 27 against Grand Rapids and May 18 vs. Indiana.

LAST YEAR VS. THE FURY: Chicago played one of its better games against Detroit last season in the first meeting and one of its best quarters of the season in the rematch.

In game one, the Rush dominated from the beginning by jumping out to a 36-0 lead. Chicago would cruise to a 53-17 victory. Quarterback Billy Dicken, in limited action, completed 10-of-14 passes for 147 yards and 4 touchdowns. The defense recorded 4 interceptions.

The rematch two week later was a different story for three quarters, as the Fury led 38-28 with 14 minutes remaining in the game. The Rush would take over from there and scored 24 unanswered points. Chicago scored on 2 touchdown passes, a safety, a field goal and an interception return for a 52-38 win.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 1, 2003


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