Chicago Rush game notes

Published on April 20, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: FSN...Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM ... Ron Gleason, James "Big Cat" Williams, Sharon Jackson
Overall Series Record: Los Angeles leads 2-1
Last Meeting: April 25, 2004, Avengers 71, Rush 35
Coaches (regular season records):
Mike Hohensee (86-73 — 12th season)
Ed Hodgkiss (34-23 — 4th season)
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Paul Frerking (Umpire), Greg Shields (Head Linesman), Dave Chesney (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)

2005 Chicago Rush Schedule
January 30 @ Dallas L (OT), 65-66 11,229
February 6 Philadelphia W, 51-41 16,036
February 13 @ Colorado* W, 51-48 16,620
February 19 @ Columbus L, 39-52 17,171
February 25 Orlando L, 35-48 14,126
March 6 Nashville* W, 45-38 15,881
March 13 @ Grand Rapids* W, 48-45 8,110
March 20 New Orleans L (OT), 40-46 13,614
March 27 BYE
April 2 @ New York W, 44-43 11,719
April 10 San Jose W, 55-39 14,865
April 17 Colorado* W, 75-51 12,953
April 23 @ Los Angeles 9:30 p.m. FSN
May 1 Las Vegas Noon NBC
May 6 @ Arizona 9 p.m. FSN
May 15 Grand Rapids* Noon NBC
May 22 @ Nashville* 2 p.m. NBC

*Central Division Game ... All times Central


American Conference — Central Division
2005 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
Colorado 8-3-0 637 556 2-2
RUSH 7-4-0 548 517 4-0
Nashville 3-7-1 450 509 1-2
Grand Rapids 1-10-0 501 672 0-3


HEAD WEST YOUNG MEN: After back-to-back home games, the Rush heads west this week for a Saturday night matchup with the Los Angeles Avengers at Staples Center. The Avengers are coming off a 51-48 loss at Nashville and will be playing their first home game since the death of Al Lucas. It will be just Chicago's second trip to Los Angeles, not having played in LA since the 2001 season.

AVENGERS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORST LOSS: The Los Angeles Avengers are responsible for handing the Rush its worst loss in team history – a 71-35 defeat at Allstate Arena last season. LA used an interception return for a touchdown, a safety and a kick-recovery off the net to score 30 unanswered points in the second quarter, turning a close game into a 50-21 halftime lead, before cruising to victory.

Overall, the Rush and Avengers have met three times, with LA winning twice. At Allstate Arena in 2003, the Rush defeated LA 54-53 when Rush WR/DB Dameon Porter intercepted a Tony Graziani pass in the end zone with just one minute left in the game to save a Chicago win.

In 2001, Rush QB Billy Dicken was tackled on the Los Angeles 1-yard line as time expired, preserving a 55-47 Avengers win at Staples Center.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST SWEEPS CRUSH: Etu Molden scored a team record six touchdowns (five receiving, 1 return) and the Rush defense forced five defensive stops, as Chicago routed Colorado 75-51 Sunday at Allstate Arena. The win – Chicago's third in a row – moves the Rush to within one game of Colorado in the Central Division with five games to play, and completes a season sweep over Colorado – giving Chicago the season-ending tie breaker over the Crush if necessary.

TALK ABOUT A TRIFECTA: In the past three weeks the Rush has put together its longest winning streak of the season by defeating the Eastern Division-leading New York Dragons, the Western Division-leading San Jose SaberCats and the Central Division-leading Colorado Crush. The combined records of the three teams at the time they played Chicago was 20-7.

HOW ABOUT THE DEFENSE: In back-to-back weeks, the Rush has faced the team leading the league in scoring offense. Against San Jose two weeks ago, the Rush forced three turnovers and held an offense that was averaging 59.9 points per game to just 39 points. Last week against the new top-scoring offense, the Rush defense forced five stops and held the Crush to 51 points – nearly 8 points below its average of 58.6 points per game.

STREAKING: Chicago's current three-game winning streak is the team's longest of the 2005 season and the sixth streak in franchise history in which the Rush has won three games or more. The Rush had two three-game winning streaks in 2001, a four-game streak in 2002 and two four-game streaks in 2004. Overall, the Rush has won five of its last six games, with the only loss coming in overtime against New Orleans.

HOME COOKIN': With its win over Colorado Sunday, the Rush now has a 26-12 all-time record at home (including postseason). The Rush is 4-2 at home this year and was 7-2 at home in 2004, including a 59-49 win over Orlando in the AFL quarterfinals.

RECORD GAME FOR MOLDEN: WR/LB Etu Molden enjoyed one of the best games of his AFL career Sunday against Colorado. Molden caught eight passes for 152 yards and five touchdowns, tying the team record for receiving touchdowns in a game set by Antonio Chatman in 2002. Molden also added a sixth touchdown on a fourth-quarter return of an onside kick, setting a Rush team record for touchdowns and points scored (36) in a game. In his second season Molden leads the Rush in receptions (74), receiving yards (924) and touchdowns (26).

MOLDEN NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Molden's performance Sunday earned him two weekly awards – the AFL Offensive Player of the Week and the AFLWA Player of the Week award. It is the first time in his career Molden has won either award.

MOLDEN FOR IRONMAN OF THE YEAR: After making the All-Rookie team in 2004, Etu Molden is making a strong case for the league's U.S. Army Ironman of the Year award. Molden ranks 12th in the AFL in receptions and receiving yards and 6th in scoring. On defense, Molden has recorded 21.5 tackles and three interceptions.

PHILYAW ON FIRE: Since returning to the lineup March 20, after missing two games with a sprained MCL in his right knee, QB Raymond Philyaw has been playing his best football of the season. In four games Philyaw has completed 98 of 136 passes (72%) for 1,094 yards, 21 touchdowns and only three interceptions. In Sunday's win over Colorado, Philyaw completed 27 of 37 passes for 321 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. The eight TD passes ties a team record set by Billy Dicken in 2001.

HOMECOMING WEEKEND: Defensive specialist Russell Shaw and offensive specialist Henry Douglas will be enjoying a homecoming of sorts this weekend in Los Angeles. Shaw is from LA, and spent his first four seasons in the AFL playing for the Avengers (2001-04), while Douglas spent his 2004 rookie year as the backup to former Avengers' All-Arena OS Chris Jackson.

CAREER YEAR ON BOTH SIDES FOR SHAW: Given an opportunity to play for the first time in his five-year AFL career, WR/DB Russell Shaw is making the most of his opportunity. Through 11 games, Shaw already has set career-highs by catching 30 passes for 369 yards. In addition, Shaw has recorded career-highs on defense with 36.5 tackles, eight passes broken up and three interceptions. For the past two weeks, Shaw has proved his versatility, moving to DS against San Jose and Colorado to fill in for the injured Todd Howard.

DOUGLAS TRULY SPECIAL: Offensive specialist Henry Douglas is thriving in the Rush system this season. Douglas is the team's second-leading receiver, catching 70 passes for 819 yards and 15 touchdowns. Douglas also has returned 46 kicks for 886 yards and three touchdowns. Despite missing two-and-a-half games with a groin injury, Douglas ranks 5th in the AFL with 1,7461 all-purpose yards.

OT NOT KIND: The Rush has struggled in overtime in 2005, falling in both of its chances this year. The Rush lost the season opener in Dallas, 66-65, when Etu Molden's game-winning two-point conversion attempt fell one-yard short of the end zone. Against New Orleans on March 20, Rush QB Raymond Philyaw threw his only interception of the game on Chicago's first possession in OT, and VooDoo QB Andy Kelly capitalized, leading New Orleans on a 47-yard drive for the game-winning TD.

BETTER AFTER THE BREAK?: The Rush reached the midpoint of its season with a 4-4 record. Here is a look at the team's record in the first and second halves of the past four seasons:

First Half Second Half Final Record
2001 4-3 3-4 7-7
2002 4-3 5-2 9-5
2003 3-5 5-3 8-8
2004 6-2 5-3 11-5
2005 4-4 3-0 ?

ZERO SUM GAME: For most the 2005 season, the Rush has found itself on the negative side when it comes to turnover margin – quite a change from last year when the Rush finished tied for the league lead in turnover margin at +15. However, since the bye week the Rush has turned things around. The Rush only has turned the ball over twice since the bye week, while forcing six opponents' turnovers. The Rush now has forced as many turnovers (17) as it has committed, bringing its turnover margin for the season to 0 and ranking the Rush 10th in the AFL.

MCMILLEN AIMS FOR TOP SPOT ALL-TIME: Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen rushed for eight yards vs. Colorado, giving him 126 for the season and 1,276 for his career. He is the first player in AFL history to rush for 100 or more yards in seven-consecutive seasons and currently sits in second place all-time on the league's career rushing list. Les Barley is the AFL's all-time leading rusher with 1,382 career yards. If McMillen averages 21 yards per game over the season's final five weeks, he will finish the season as the league's all-time leading rusher.

The AFL's All-Time Rushing list
Player Seasons Team Yards
Les Barley 1992-2001 — 1,382
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,276
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,242
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 — 1,241

MOORE BACK FOR MORE: Tuesday, the Rush announced it had signed lineman Frank Moore to a two-year contract extension through the 2007 season. Moore has started 43-consecutive games at center since signing with the Rush as a free agent prior to the 2003 season. During his time in Chicago, Moore has anchored an offensive line that has consistently ranked among the AFL's best, surrendering only 22 sacks in the past three seasons. In addition to his stellar play on offense, the seven-year veteran has recorded 44.5 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 86 career games.

KICKIN' KEITH: Rush kicker Keith Gispert continues to be one of the AFL's most consistent kickers. Gispert connected on nine of 11 PAT attempts last Sunday against Colorado, bringing his season totals to 62 of 71 extra-point attempts (87.3%) and eight of 11 field goal attempts. Last season Gispert connected on 95 of 108 PAT attempts (87.9%) and 12 of 22 field goal attempts.

THE OLD MAN CAN STILL PLAY: Backup QB Todd Hammel has played in four games for the Rush this season (two starts), including the 150th game of his career April 17 vs. Colorado. Hammel has shown that after 14 years he still can throw the ball, completing 47 of 64 passes for 649 yards and 12 touchdowns and posting a passer rating of 125.5. He is 2-0 as a starter this year and was named Offensive Player of the Game after completing 21 of 25 passes for 348 yards and six touchdowns and leading the Rush to a 48-45 win in Grand Rapids March 13.

BLOCK THAT KICK: March 6 against Nashville, lineman John Moyer blocked his second kick of the season, and seventh since the start of the 2004 season – a Gary Kral extra-point attempt on the final play of the first half. In the season opener against Dallas, Moyer blocked a Carlos Martinez 22-yard field goal attempt – also on the final play of the first half. In 2004 the Rush special teams blocked nine kicks – two field goals and seven extra points.

HOHENSEE NOW IN 3RD PLACE ALL-TIME: With Chicago's 51-48 win in Colorado February 13, Rush head coach Mike Hohensee moved into sole possession of third place on the AFL's all-time wins list. Hohensee, in his 12th season as a head coach in the AFL, was hired as the first coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000. He
8 has a regular season record of 85-73 (including a
41-29 mark with the Rush).
8 has a career 6-8 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to four-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
8 is 1-3 all-time vs. Los Angeles

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 173 @ Nashville
Danny White 141
Mike Hohensee Rush 92 @ Los Angeles
Perry Moss 86
Mike Dailey Colorado 83 vs. San Jose
Michael Trigg 80

MOYER 8TH ALL-TIME: Rush lineman John Moyer recorded his fourth sack of the season April 2 against New York. The sack was Moyer's 32nd of his career and 27th as a member of the Rush. This season Moyer has moved past Joe March into eighth place all-time. Next up for Moyer is San Jose's Joe Jacobs with 34.5 career sacks. Moyer holds both the Rush season and career records for sacks.

Here are Chicago's season and career sack leaders:
Player Season Player Career
John Moyer 10.0 (2004) John Moyer 26.0
John Moyer 9.0 (2003) James Baron 10.0
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) Anthony Hutch 6.5
John Moyer 4.0 (2005) Jamie McGourty 5.5
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) Riley Kleinhesselink 5.0
James Baron 4.0 (2003) Tony Henderson 4.0
Tony Henderson 4.0 (2001)
James Baron 3.0 (2004)
James Baron 3.0 (2002)
Jamie McGourty 3.0 (2004)

THE OLD GUYS: In addition to the six rookies on the Rush roster, the team also features many players with a wealth of AFL experience. Todd Hammel leads all Rush players with 150 career games, followed by Bob McMillen (122), John Moyer (91), John Sikora (87) and Frank Moore (86).

INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this week's injury report to the AFL.
Out – Jon McCall (finger), Jamie McGourty (toe), Johnathan Taylor (elbow), Carlos Wright (left quad), Colin Greczek (left fibula fracture)
Probable – Todd Howard (hip flexor strain), Tony Lukins (right groin)

TALE OF THE TAPE:
Chicago Category Los Angeles
11 Games 11
49.8 (10) Scoring Offense 51.6 (8)
47 (5) Scoring Defense 48.6 (7)
298.5 (4) Total Offense 279.9 (10)
300.1 (13) Total Defense 296.4 (11)
43-52, 82.7% Red Zone Offense 49-58, 63.8%
32-43, 67.4% Red Zone Defense 40-55, 69.1%
274.2 (6) Pass Offense 259.6 (9)
278 (12) Pass Defense 283.5 (15)
24.4 (5) Rushing Offense 20.3 (8)
22.1 (10) Rushing Defense 12.8 (2)
548 (10) Scoring 568 (8)
86 (8) Scoring (Kicking) 138 (1)
66-1034-3 Kickoff Returns 50-778-0
15.7 Kick Return Average 15.6
8-155-1 Missed Field Goal Returns 3-40-0
19.4 Missed FG Return Avg. 13.3
0, (10) Turnover Margin +14, (1)
8-11, 72.7% Field Goals 26-31, 83.9%
62-71, 87.3% PAT Kicking 60-68, 88.2%
7-27 yards Sacks By 11-55 yards
5-28 Sacks Against 16-79
35-63, 55.6% Third Down Conversion 40-84, 47.6%
6-14, 42.9% Fourth Down Conversion 5-10, 50%
90-570 Penalties (#-Yards) 74-428
91-610 Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 86-557
BOLD – AFL Leader

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2005 AFL league leaders:

Henry Douglas: all-purpose yards (T-5th-1754), missed field goal returns (3rd - 5), scoring (16-108 points)

Keith Gispert: scoring (kicking) (9th-86 points), touchbacks (6th-26), field goal percentage (2nd-72.7 percent)

Jamie McGourty: fumbles recovered (T-17th-2)

Bob McMillen: rushing (6th-126 yards) rushing attempts (T-2nd-46), third and one rushing percentage (8th-71.4 percent)

Etu Molden: receiving yards (12th-933), interceptions (T-19th-3), first downs (T-10th-52), scoring (6th-156 points), yards from scrimmage (11th-952), all-purpose yards (12th-1112)

John Moyer: sacks (T-8th—4), fumbles recovered (T-4th-3), tackles for loss (T-7th-6), forced fumbles (T-7th-3)

Raymond Philyaw: completion percentage (1tst-68.8),
passer rating (6th-116.2 percent)

Jeroid Johnson: combined tackles (17th-51), passes defended (T-9th-10), fumbles recovered (T-4th-3), fumbles forced (T-7th-2)

Russell Shaw: interceptions (T-19th-3)

Jeremy McDaniel: yards per rush (3rd-9)

Charlie Cook: yards per rush (4th-8)

RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won individual game awards for their play this season:

Offensive Player of the Game:
Raymond Philyaw (2/6 vs. Philadelphia, 4/10 vs. San Jose)
Henry Douglas (2/13 @ Colorado, 4/2 @ New York)
Etu Molden (3/6 vs. Nashville, 4/17 vs. Colorado)
Todd Hammel (3/13 @ Grand Rapids)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Russell Shaw (2/6 vs. Philadelphia, 4/17 vs. Colorado)
Todd Howard (3/6 vs. Nashville, 3/13 @ Grand Rapids, April 2 @ New York)
Jeroid Johnson (3/20 vs. New Orleans)
Charles Pauley (April 2 @ New York)
Etu Molden (4/10 vs. San Jose)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game:
Henry Douglas (1/30 @ Dallas)
John Moyer (2/6 vs. Philadelphia)
Etu Molden (3/6 vs. Nashville, 3/13 @ Grand Rapids, 4/17 vs. Colorado)
Bob McMillen (3/20 vs. New Orleans, 4/10 vs. San Jose)

RUSH WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:

Offensive Player of the Week:
Raymond Philyaw (Week 11 vs. San Jose)
Etu Molden (Week 12 vs. Colorado)

RUSH PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Practice for the week of April 18:
Monday, April 18 – Player Meetings 10 a.m.
Tuesday, April 19 – Off
Wednesday, April 20 – 12:35 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Thursday, April 21 – 8:35 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Friday, April 22 – 1 p.m. at Staples Center in LA

All practices this week will be held at the team's Hoffman Estates practice facility, Poplar Creek Sports Centre, except Friday's walk-thru in Los Angeles.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 20, 2005


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