Chicago Rush game notes

March 22, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release

The Quick Facts
TV: FSN Â¡K Dave Armstrong, Gary Reasons, Brent Stover
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James Â¡Â§Big CatÂ¡Â¨ Williams
Overall Series Record: Rush leads 6-5 (6-4 in regular season, 0-1 in postseason)
Series Streaks: Grand Rapids won the last meeting
Last Meeting: May 15, 2005, Grand Rapids 51, Rush 40
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (91-81, 7-9 Â¡X 13th season)
Sparky McEwen (7-17, 0-0 Â¡X 2nd season)
Officials: Riley Johnson (Referee), Rick Podraza (Umpire), Julian Mapp (Head Linesman), Paul Engelberts (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge)

2006 Chicago Rush Schedule
January 29 @ Colorado* L, 65-56 14,832
February 3 New York L, 51-47 14,947
February 12 Nashville* W, 56-55 (OT) 12,663
February 18 @ Los Angeles W, 65-46 12,554
February 26 San Jose W, 54-48 (OT) 12,950
March 5 Dallas L, 59-42 13,503
March 10 Colorado* L, 49-42 13,807
March 17 @ Nashville* L, 48-47 8,772
March 26 Grand Rapids* 2 p.m. FSN
April 2 @ Orlando 11 a.m. NBC
April 9 @ Philadelphia Noon NBC
April 15 @ Arizona 9 p.m. OLN
April 23 Las Vegas 3 p.m. CSN
April 29 @ Georgia 6 p.m. CSN
May 6 Utah 7 p.m. FSN
May 13 @ Grand Rapids* 3 p.m. OLN
* Central Division game

American Conference Â¡X Central Division
2006 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
Colorado 6-2-0 447 422 3-1
Nashville 5-3-0 401 339 3-1
RUSH 3-5-0 409 421 1-3
Grand Rapids 3-5-0 390 425 0-2

ITÂ¡Â¦S RAMPAGE WEEK: The Rush returns home to Allstate Arena Sunday to host Central Division rival Grand Rapids in a matchup of two teams with 3-5 records. The Rush has faced Grand Rapids 11 times in its franchise history Â¡Vmore than any other opponent Â¡V and holds a 6-5 edge in the series.

Chicago enters the game suffering through a three-game losing streak Â¡V its first since the team opened the 2003 season 0-3 Â¡V while Grand Rapids just snapped a three-game losing streak of its own with a 59-49 win over Utah last week.

RUSH FALLS ONE-POINT SHORT IN NASHVILLE: Trailing 48-41 with less than one minute remaining last week in Nashville, Rush quarterback Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio capped a four-play, 30 yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run to bring Chicago within one. With just 28 seconds left in the game Rush head coach Mike Hohensee went for the win and called for a two-point conversion. However, when receiver C.J. Johnson was tackled on the 1-yard line, and Nashville recovered the ensuing on-side kick, the Kats held on for a 48-47 victory.

The failed two-point conversion erased the momentum of a great 14-point fourth-quarter comeback by the Rush. Behind 41-27 with just 12 minutes remaining DÂ¡Â¦Orazio engineered two touchdown drives sandwiched around a Dennison Robinson interception. The two Rush TDs evened the score at 41-41 with just 4:34 left in the game.

RUSH-RAMPAGE SPLIT SERIES IN 2005: The Rush and Rampage split their series last season, with each team winning on the otherÂ¡Â¦s home field. Chicago beat the Rampage in Grand Rapids in March 2005 and the Rampage returned the favor at Allstate Arena last May.

Here is a brief recap of last yearÂ¡Â¦s games:

March 13, 2005 Â¡V Peter MartinezÂ¡Â¦s 33-yard field goal attempt missed wide right as time expired, and the Rush held on for a 48-45 win in Grand Rapids. After falling behind 24-13 at the half, the Rush outscored the Rampage 21-7 in the third quarter to take a 34-31 lead. With less than one minute left to play in the game and the Rush poised to score, the Rampage stopped Chicago on fourth and goal from the one-yard line setting up the final Grand Rapids drive that ended with the Martinez field goal attempt. Rush backup QB Todd Hammel started the game in place of an injured Raymond Philyaw and was named Offensive Player of the Game after completing 21 of 25 passes for 348 yards and six touchdowns.

May 15, 2005 Â¡V Grand Rapids held the Rush to just 12 points through three quarters building a 38-12 lead, before the Rush mounted a furious comeback. Chicago outscored the Rampage 28-10 in the first 13 minutes of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 48-40 with 1:40 left. However, the Rush was unable to recover an onside kick, allowing the Rampage to run the clock down and kick a 17-yard field goal for its final 11-point margin of victory. The win was the first for Grand Rapids at Allstate Arena since May 19, 2001.

Here is a look at the Rush-Rampage Series Results:
2001: Grand Rapids 54, Rush 52 (May 19 @ Chicago)
Grand Rapids 79, Rush 58 (July 7 @ GR)
Grand Rapids 53, Rush 21 (August 5 @ GR)*
2002: Rush 71, Grand Rapids 59 (May 4 @ Chicago)
Rush 56, Grand Rapids 50 (July 6 @ GR)
2003: Grand Rapids 48, Rush 34 (March 29 @ GR)
Rush 54, Grand Rapids 46 (April 27 @ Chicago)
2004: Rush 50, Grand Rapids 30 (February 8 @ Chicago)
Rush 63, Grand Rapids 35 (May 8 @ GR)
2005: Rush 48, Grand Rapids 45 (March 13 @ GR)
Grand Rapids 51, Rush 40 (May 15 @ Chicago)
*AFL playoffs

FAMILIAR FACES: Three members of the Rampage team that comes to Allstate Arena this week will be very familiar with their surroundings. Rampage QB Chad Salisbury, DS Marvin Taylor and defensive coordinator Stan Davis all spent time with the Rush. Salisbury was the teamÂ¡Â¦s backup quarterback in 2003 and 2004, while Taylor was with the Rush from 2002 to 2003. Davis was one of Mike HohenseeÂ¡Â¦s original assistant coaches and spent three seasons (2001-2003) in Chicago.

LONG LOSING STREAKS NOT IN RUSH NATURE: The current three-game losing streak for the Rush is only the third losing streak of three games or more in the teamÂ¡Â¦s history. The other two streaks are a four-game losing streak during the teamÂ¡Â¦s inaugural 2001 season and a three-game losing streak to open the 2003 season.

THREE GAME ROAD TRIP LOOMS: After this weekÂ¡Â¦s home game against Grand Rapids, the Rush embarks on a three-game road trip Â¡V the longest in team historyÂ¡V before returning to Chicago April 23. The Rush will travel to Orlando, Philadelphia and Arizona during its trip Â¡V three cities in which the Rush has never won a regular season game, going a combined 0-4. The Rush did, however, win a postseason game in Orlando, defeating the Predators 41-26 at the TD Waterhouse Centre in the first round of the 2001 playoffs.

FANTASTIC FINISHES: Four of ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s eight games this season, including the first meeting with Nashville, have been decided on the gameÂ¡Â¦s final play.

Dating back to last seasonÂ¡Â¦s American Conference Semifinal in Colorado, five of ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s last nine games have been decided on the final play.

Games decided on final play:
June 5, 2005 Â¡V Colorado QB John Dutton connects with Andy McCullough on a 22-yard touchdown pass in overtime for the 49-43 win.

January 29, 2006 Â¡VDutton hit Colorado OS Damian Harrell with an 11-yard TD pass with one-second left, breaking a 56-56 tie. After a safety on the ensuing kickoff, the Crush had handed Chicago a 65-56 defeat.

February 3, 2006 Â¡V Rush QB Matt DÂ¡Â¦OrazioÂ¡Â¦s one-yard touchdown scramble as time expired was nullified by a Rush penalty, turning a 53-51 Rush win into a 51-47 loss to New York.

February 12, 2006 Â¡V DÂ¡Â¦OrazioÂ¡Â¦s TD pass to C.J. Johnson and two-point conversion pass to Cornelius White in overtime gave the Rush a 56-55 win over Nashville.

February 26, 2006 Â¡V DÂ¡Â¦OrazioÂ¡Â¦s 12-yard TD pass to Buchie Ibeh with 11 seconds remaining forced overtime vs. San Jose. Then, after a Jeremy Unertl interception on San JoseÂ¡Â¦s first possession of OT, DÂ¡Â¦OrazioÂ¡Â¦s 27-yard TD pass to Cornelius White gave the Rush a 54-48 win.

OWNING THE DIVISION: The Rush enters this weekÂ¡Â¦s game 1-3 this year against Central Division opponents. The sub-.500 division mark is rare for the Rush, which came into the 2006 season with a 11-3 record against Central Division opponents over the past two years.

OVERTIME TURNAROUND: Entering this season the Rush was 2-4 all time in overtime and had lost its last three overtime games overall. This year, however, things are different as Chicago has won both times it has gone to OT. ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s February 12 overtime win over Nashville was the first overtime victory for the Rush since it defeated Indiana on May 18, 2003.

HIGH SCORING OFFENSE: The Rush offense has scored 409 points in the seasonÂ¡Â¦s first eight weeks, an average of 51.1 points per game. The Rush franchise record for points scored in a season is 847 (52.9 ppg) set during the 2004 season.

BETTER AFTER THE BREAK?: After going 3-5 in the first half of the season, the Rush needs to post at least five wins during the second half to avoid suffering its first losing season in franchise history. History should be on ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s side, as the team has won five games in the second half of each of the last four seasons. Here is a look at the teamÂ¡Â¦s record in the first and second halves of the past five 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 5-3 9-7
2006 3-5 ?

INJURIES TAKING THEIR TOLL: After losing linemen John Moyer and D.J. Bleisath during the March 5 loss to Dallas, the Rush escaped its game with Colorado last week injury free.

Here is a complete recap of the current Rush injuries:
ÆÂ¨ OL/DL John Moyer will be out until mid-April after spraining his right knee late in the first half March 5 vs. Dallas.
ÆÂ¨ OL/DL D.J. Bleisath will be out until late April after suffering a sever ankle sprain early in the third quarter March 5 vs. Dallas.
ÆÂ¨ DS Tony Lukins is on Injured Reserve and has missed the teamÂ¡Â¦s last four games after suffering ankle and hamstring injuries February 12 vs. Nashville.
ÆÂ¨ FB/LB Levelle Brown is on IR and out for the season after he dislocated his shoulder when the team was practicing in Columbus during training camp in January. He underwent surgery March 15.
ÆÂ¨ Kicker Keith Gispert is on IR after he was hurt in pregame warmups prior to the season opener in Colorado.

HOHENSEE EXTENDED THROUGH 2009: The Rush announced earlier this season it has extended head coach Mike HohenseeÂ¡Â¦s contract through the 2009 season.

The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 51-42 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the teamÂ¡Â¦s five seasons. During his tenure the Rush has won two Central Division titles (2002, 2004) and advanced to the AFL semifinals three times (2002, 2004, 2005).

One of only four men to be involved in the Arena Football League in each of the leagueÂ¡Â¦s 20 seasons, Hohensee has taken his teams to the playoffs nine times and won five division titles in his 12 previous seasons as a head coach. His 98 career victories rank him third in AFL history behind Tampa BayÂ¡Â¦s Tim Marcum and UtahÂ¡Â¦s Danny White.

Hohensee originally was hired on September 26, 2000. He
ÆÂ¨ has a regular season record of 91-81 (including a
47-37 mark with the Rush).
ÆÂ¨ has a career 7-9 mark in the postseason.
ÆÂ¨ has led the Rush to five-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
ÆÂ¨ is 6-5 all-time vs. Grand Rapids.

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 178 @ Georgia
Danny White Utah 144 vs. Las Vegas
Mike Hohensee Rush 98 vs. Grand Rapids
Mike Dailey Colorado 93 vs. Columbus
Perry Moss 86
Darren Arbet San Jose 85 @ Nashville

McMILLEN BECOMES AFLÂ¡Â¦S TOP RUSHER: Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen became the AFLÂ¡Â¦s all-time leading rusher last week when he rushed for four yards in the teamÂ¡Â¦s game at Nashville. McMillen now has 1,386 rushing yards in his 12-year career, four more than former record holder Les Barley.

Earlier this season, as part of the leagueÂ¡Â¦s celebration of its 20th season McMillen was named one of the AFLÂ¡Â¦s 20 Greatest Players of all-time. In his 12th season, he ranks first on the AFLÂ¡Â¦s all-time rushing list and third all-time in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns. He has won two ArenaBowl championships (1997 with Arizona and 2002 with San Jose) and is the only player in AFL history to rush for 100 or more yards in seven-consecutive seasons.

The AFLÂ¡Â¦s All-Time Rushing Yards list
Player Seasons Team Yards
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,386
Les Barley 1992-2001 Â¡X 1,382
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,294
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 Â¡X 1,241

The AFLÂ¡Â¦s All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 Â¡X 438
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 438
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 435
Les Barley 1992-2001 Â¡X 425

The AFLÂ¡Â¦s All-Time Rushing Touchdowns list
Player Seasons Team Rushing TDs
Barry Wagner 1992-present San Jose 125
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 Â¡X 93
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 78
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 76
Les Barley 1992-2001 Â¡X 71

DÂ¡Â¦ORAZIO AMONG AFL LEADERS: Rush QB Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio enters this weekÂ¡Â¦s game against Grand Rapids as the AFLÂ¡Â¦s fifth-ranked passer with a 120.2 quarterback rating. On the season, DÂ¡Â¦Orazio has completed 184 of 268 passes for 2,080 yards and 34 touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions. He has set a Rush team record by attempting 224 consecutive passes without throwing an interception, breaking Raymond PhilyawÂ¡Â¦s team record of 199 set in 2004.

DÂ¡Â¦Orazio also enters this weekÂ¡Â¦s game ranked first in the league in rushing with 44 carries for 124 yards.

Brief DÂ¡Â¦Orazio Bio Â¡V Prior to 2006 DÂ¡Â¦Orazio spent four seasons in the AFL with Milwaukee, Buffalo and Columbus, but only played in 16 career games, with 13 of them coming last season. Entering the year he had connected on 206 of 326 passes for 2,308 yards, 40 touchdowns and seven interceptions and had carried the ball 49 times for 178 yards and seven touchdowns.

DÂ¡Â¦ORAZIO GREAT IN CLUTCH: Rush QB Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio is at his best when it counts the most. Through eight games DÂ¡Â¦Orazio leads all AFL quarterbacks in third down passing, completing 32 for 43 for 405 yards and eight TDs for a 142.9 rating on third down. In addition, he ranks second in the league in fourth quarter passing, converting 50 of 66 attempts for 566 yards and 10 TDs in the fourth quarter for a QB rating of 138.8.

JOHNSON BECOMING A HUGE THREAT: Second year offensive specialist C.J. Johnson is proving to be a threat every time he touches the ball. Johnson is the teamÂ¡Â¦s leading receiver, catching 53 passes for 606 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, including a career-high 12 catches March 5 vs. Dallas. But running great routes is not the only way Johnson can hurt a defense Â¡V so far this season Johnson has attempted three passes, completing all three for touchdowns, and returned two missed field goals for TDs (50-yard return vs. Nashville and a 56-yard return vs. San Jose).

SMITH MAKING PUSH FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: After winning the af2Â¡Â¦s Lineman of the Year award in 2005, Rush rookie lineman Khreem Smith is showing AFL teams his 17 sacks in 16 regular season games last year was no fluke. So far this season, Smith has caused constant problems for opposing offensive lines, registering 12.0 tackles, a team-leading 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one pass broken up and one blocked kick. Smith has set the Rush rookie record for sacks in a season and has tied John MoyerÂ¡Â¦s team record for forced fumbles in a season. He currently is tied for second in the AFL in sacks and is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles.

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: New Rush DS Jeremy Unertl has spent six games in a Rush uniform since his trade from Columbus and has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Game three times Â¡V February 12, vs. Nashville, February 18 at Los Angeles and February 26 vs. San Jose. Last week at Nashville Unertl recorded 5.5 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass broken up. The interception was his fourth since joining the Rush, the most by any Rush player in one season since Dameon Porter had four interceptions in 2003.

Against San Jose February 26, Unertl picked off two Mark Grieb passes becoming the first Rush player with two interceptions in a game since Marvin Taylor picked off two Aaron Garcia passes on June 30, 2002.

Originally signed by the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2004, Unertl (6-1, 210, Wisconsin-LaCrosse) is in his third year in the AFL. He played in six games as a rookie with Las Vegas in 2004 and split the 2005 season between Las Vegas and Columbus, playing seven games for the Gladiators and five for the Destroyers. Entering 2006, he has recorded 64.5 tackles, two interceptions and five passes broken up, and caught 14 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

WRIGHT MAN FOR RETURNS: With the trade of Henry Douglas to Columbus on February 7, the Rush coaches turned to Carlos Wright to handle kickoff returns. Wright has proven to be a wise choice for the job, returning 30 kickoffs for 682 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks 2nd in the AFL, averaging 22.7 yards per return. Last week in Nashville, Wright returned five kicks for 166 yards. He returned one kick for a TD and another to the Kats 2-yard line.

MOLDEN BACK IN LINEUP: Rush WR/LB Etu Molden returned to the teamÂ¡Â¦s lineup March 10 vs. Colorado after missing three games with a shoulder injury suffered February 12 vs. Nashville. The teamÂ¡Â¦s leading receiver the past two seasons, has caught 12 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the two games since his return, giving him 25 receptions for 288 yards and four TDs on the season.

MOLDEN BREAKS CHATMAN RECORDS: This season Rush WR/LB Etu Molden has moved past former offensive specialist Antonio Chatman for franchise records for career receptions, career receiving yards and total touchdowns, and has tied ChatmanÂ¡Â¦s team record for receiving TDs.

Molden led the Rush in all receiving categories in both 2004 and 2005, catching 96 passes for 1,158 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Overall, Molden scored 30 TDs in 2005 (25 receiving, 4 rushing, 1 return).

Career Numbers Chatman Molden
Games 30 36
Receptions 197 222
Yards 2,676 2,726
Receiving TDs 52 52
Total TDs 62 66

DAN THE MAN: The Rush signed kicker Dan Frantz to a one-year contract February 11, to handle the kicking duties until Keith Gispert is healthy. Frantz has done exactly what he has been asked in his five games with Chicago, converting 32 of 35 extra point attempts (91.4%) and eight of 13 field goal attempts (61.5%), including a career-long 52-yarder vs. Dallas. February 18 in Los Angeles, Frantz was 8-for-8 on PATs and 3-for-3 on field goals for 17 points, breaking GispertÂ¡Â¦s record of 15 kicking points in a game set at Detroit on May 2, 2004. FrantzÂ¡Â¦s three field goals vs. LA and again vs. Dallas March 5 tied the Rush record for field goals in a game held by Gispert and David Cool.

Frantz comes to Chicago after spending the first two years of his AFL career with the San Jose SaberCats, winning an ArenaBowl title as a rookie in 2004. In San Jose, Frantz played in 31 regular season games and converted 209 of 245 PATs (85.3%) and nine of 23 field goals (39.1 %). He tore the ACL in his right knee May 14, 2005, at Arizona and missed the teamÂ¡Â¦s final regular season game and the playoffs last year.

KICKER CAROUSEL: Frantz is the third kicker the Rush has had under contract this season and the 15th in franchise history. The Rush lost Keith Gispert to a pulled abductor muscle during pregame warmups Week 1 in Colorado, forcing head coach Mike Hohensee to use backup quarterback Michael Bishop and defensive specialist Todd Howard to handle kickoffs during the game. The Rush then signed Steve Azar to handle the kicking duties for Week 2, but after Azar was just 3 for 5 on PAT attempts and missed his only field goal try vs. New York, he was released.

ASAD SEES ACTION: After nearly a year and a half on the Rush roster, quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq took his first snaps from center in the fourth quarter of the teamÂ¡Â¦s March 5 game vs. Dallas. Abdul-Khaliq completed three of five passes for 47 yards and his first career touchdown pass Â¡V a 26-yard completion to Buchie Ibeh.

PROTECT THAT QB: The Rush offensive line gave up two sacks last week at Nashville, giving the line a total of 15 sacks allowed this season. The Rush line gave up a total of 13 sacks in the last two seasons combined. The Rush record for sacks allowed is 19, set in the teamÂ¡Â¦s inaugural 2001 season.

UNDER PRESSURE: The Rush defensive line has been causing havoc for opposing quarterbacks so far this season. Through seven games the Rush has 12 sacks Â¡V third-most in the AFL and just one shy of the 13 the team had in 2005. Rookie Khreem Smith leads the club with 4.5 sacks and D.J. Bleisath is second with 3.0 sacks. The Rush team record for sacks in a season is 23, set during the 2004 season.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: One of the best trends through the first half of the 2006 season involves ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s success on the turnover front. After finishing the 2004 season tied with Los Angeles for the best turnover ratio in the AFL at +15, the Rush dipped to 16th last year with a -6 ratio. Through eight games this season the Rush is sixth in the league with a +3 ratio.

JOHN MOYER 8TH ALL-TIME IN SACKS: Rush lineman John Moyer combined with FB/LB Bob McMillen on a sack of Aaron Garcia February 3 vs. New York, bringing his career total to 34.5 Â¡V including 29.5 as a member of the Rush. Moyer is currently in eighth place on the AFLÂ¡Â¦s all-time list for career sacks and needs just two more sacks to pass Andre Bowden for seventh place.

Here are ChicagoÂ¡Â¦s season and career sack leaders:
Player Season Player Career
John Moyer 10.0 (2004) John Moyer 29.5
John Moyer 9.0 (2003) James Baron 10.0
John Moyer 6.0 (2005) Anthony Hutch 6.5
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) Jamie McGourty 5.5
Khreem Smith 4.5 (2006) Riley Kleinhesselink 5.0
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) Khreem Smith 4.5
James Baron 4.0 (2003) Bob McMillen 4.5
Tony Henderson 4.0 (2001) D.J. Bleisath 4.0
D.J. Bleisath 3.0 (2006)
James Baron 3.0 (2004)
James Baron 3.0 (2002)
Jamie McGourty 3.0 (2004)

CALL MOYER MR. TOUCHDOWN: Everyone knows that Moyer is one of the gameÂ¡Â¦s best pass rushers, but what makes Moyer special is his ability to excel on offense and special teams in addition to defense. Moyer has proven to be a very capable receiver, catching three passes for 44 yards and three touchdowns on the season, including a 30 yard touchdown pass from Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio February 12, against Nashville. Dating back to last season, Moyer has caught 11 passes with eight of them going for touchdowns.

THREE JACKS: With the combination of Etu Molden, Cornelius White and DeJuan Alfonzo, the Rush might have the best trio of Â¡Â§JackÂ¡Â¨ linebackers in the AFL. Both Molden and White were named to the AFLÂ¡Â¦s All-Ironman team in 2005 and Alfonzo always seems to make something happen when he is on the field.

Molden, the teamÂ¡Â¦s leading receiver in 2004 and 2005 returned to the lineup two weeks ago after missing three games with a shoulder injury. He has recorded 25 receptions for 288 yards and 4 TDs on the season.

White has caught 36 passes for 463 yards and is tied for the team lead with 7 touchdowns. On defense he has 20.5 tackles, 2 passes broken up, 1 fumble forced and 1 fumble recovery.

Alfonzo missed the teamÂ¡Â¦s first three games while nursing an Achilles injury, but returned February 18 at Los Angeles. He has caught six passes for 63 yards and scored two touchdowns, and recorded 17.0 tackles and forced two fumbles in five games. Alfonzo now has 154.0 tackles while playing for the Rush, just 12.5 shy of Cedric WalkerÂ¡Â¦s team record of 166.5 career tackles.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Chicago
Category Grand Rapids
8 Games 8
51.1 (9) Scoring Offense 48.8 (14)
52.6 (9) Scoring Defense 53.1 (13)
285.1 (8) Total Offense 256.1 (16)
286.5 (10) Total Defense 277.0 (6)
33-40 82.5% Red Zone Offense 33-43, 76.7%
32-36 88.9% Red Zone Defense 32-42 76.2%
259.0 (11) Pass Offense 246.2 (14)
261.4 (9) Pass Defense 250.4 (5)
26.1 (6) Rushing Offense 17.9 (17)
25.1 (15) Rushing Defense 26.6 (17)
409 (9) Scoring 390 (14)
59 (16) Scoring (Kicking) 70 (5)
50-915-3 Kickoff Returns 51-931-1
18.3 (6) Kick Return Average 18.4 (5)
4-148-2 Missed Field Goal Returns 0-0-0
37.0 Missed FG Return Avg. 0.0
+3 (5t) Turnover Margin +1 (8t)
8-14, 57.1% Field Goals 8-16, 50.0%
35-41, 85.4% PAT Kicking 46-53, 86.8%
12-70 (3) Sacks By 9-44 (8)
15-66 (15) Sacks Against 6-31 (8)
35-61, 57.4% Third Down Conversion 19-53, 35.8%
7-12, 58.3% Fourth Down Conversion 6-13, 46.2%
67-367 Penalties (#-Yards) 69-398
42-255 Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 55-321
BOLD Â¡V AFL Leader

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2006 AFL league leaders:

Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio: QB Rating (5th Â¡V 120.2 rating), 4th quarter passing (2nd Â¡V 138.8 rating), third down passing (1st Â¡V 142.9 rating), rushing yards (1st Â¡V 124 yards)

Bob McMillen: rushing yards (12th Â¡V 58 yards)

Khreem Smith: sacks (T-2nd Â¡V 4.5), forced fumbles (T-1st Â¡V 4)

D.J. Bleisath: sacks (T-9th Â¡V 3)

C.J. Johnson: missed field goal returns (1st Â¡V 53.0 avg)

Carlos Wright: kickoff returns (2nd Â¡V 22.7 avg.)

Jeremy Unertl: interceptions (T-4th Â¡V 5)

Cornelius White: special teams tackles (T-7th Â¡V 7.5)

Dennison Robinson: special teams tackles (T-5th Â¡V 8.0)

RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won individual game awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Game:
Matt DÂ¡Â¦Orazio (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles)
C.J. Johnson (2/26 vs. San Jose)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Khreem Smith (2/3 vs. New York, 3/10 vs. Colorado)
Jeremy Unertl (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles, 2/26 vs. San Jose)

Ironman of the Game:
Bob McMillen (2/3 vs. New York)
John Moyer (2/12 vs. New York)
Dennison Robinson (2/18 @ Los Angeles)

INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this weekÂ¡Â¦s injury report to the AFL.

Injured Reserve Â¡V D.J. Bleisath (left ankle), Levelle Brown (right shoulder dislocation), Keith Gispert (groin strain), Tony Lukins (right ankle, left hamstring), John Moyer (right knee)

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