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Chicago Rush game notes

April 25, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: Comcast Sports Net ...Eli Gold, Chuck Oliver, Matt Stewart
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM...Mike Adamle, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: Rush leads 1-0
Series Streaks: Chicago has won the only meeting
Last Meeting: May 18, 2002, Rush 70, Force 62
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (93-84, 7-9 - 13th season)
Doug Plank (18-11, 2-1 - 2nd season)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Paul Frerking (Umpire), Julian Mapp (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (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* W, 51-44 15,228
April 2 @ Orlando L, 55-27 13,111
April 9 @ Philadelphia L, 56-55 (OT) 14,778
April 15 @ Arizona L, 61-42 11,790
April 23 Las Vegas W, 67-47 16,230
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 - Central Division
2006 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
Colorado 9-4-0 713 683 5-1
Nashville 7-6-0 642 615 3-2
RUSH 5-8-0 651 684 2-3
Grand Rapids 4-9-0 576 694 0-4

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU: After snapping its three-game losing streak at home against Las Vegas Sunday, the Rush travels to Atlanta this week to take on the defending National Conference champion Georgia Force. Currently, the Rush is the American Conference's sixth-seed and holds its playoff destiny in its hands, while the Force enters the game with a 7-6 record and is the fifth-seed in the National Conference playoff race. The Force is coached by former Chicago Bear Doug Plank - the man for whom Buddy Ryan's famous "46" defense was named.

FIRST MEETING IN FOUR YEARS: The Rush and Force have met only once - four years ago at Allstate Arena - when the Rush built a 55-21 lead midway through the third quarter, before holding on for a 70-62 win. Rush QB Billy Dicken completed 18 of 25 passes for 336 yards and seven touchdowns and FB/LB Rick Boyer led the Rush with 5.5 tackles and one forced fumble. Georgia head coach Robert Lyles was fired after the game after his team's record fell to 1-4.

Rush lineman John Moyer and DS Marvin Taylor and Georgia lineman Jermaine Smith are the only three players who remain on either roster who played in the game.

VICTORY OVER VEGAS SNAPS STREAK: The Rush snapped its second-three game losing streak of the season last Sunday with a 67-47 win over the Las Vegas Gladiators in front of a team-record 16,230 fans at Allstate Arena. OS Bobby Sippio caught a team-record six touchdown passes and QB Matt D'Orazio equaled a team record with eight TD passes on a day when head coach Mike Hohensee won his 100th career game. The Chicago defense was the early spark as the Rush built a 25-6 second quarter lead, recording a safety and recovering a fumble, while holding Las Vegas to just two field goals in its first five possessions. The 67 points scored by the Rush was a season high and the most since the Rush scored 75 vs. Colorado on April 17, 2005.

RUSH STILL HOLDS SIXTH PLAYOFF SEED: Chicago's win over Las Vegas combined with Utah's win over Colorado leaves three 5-8 teams fighting for the final two American Conference playoff spots with just three weeks remaining in the regular season. As tie-breakers have it, Utah currently holds the fifth playoff seed with the Rush maintaining the conference's sixth and final playoff spot.

Six teams from each conference will make the playoffs with the four division winners each receiving a first-round bye. The best four records from the remaining teams in each conference will receive Wild Card berths.

If the playoffs were to begin this week, Colorado and San Jose would win the Central and Western Divisions, respectively, and receive first-round byes. In the first round, the Rush would travel to Arizona while Nashville would host Utah.

Here is a closer look at the American Conference standings:
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
1. xy-Colorado 9-4
2. x-San Jose 7-6
3. Arizona 7-6
4. Nashville 7-6
5. Utah 5-8
6. Chicago 5-8
--------------------
Las Vegas 5-8
Grand Rapids 4-9
Los Angeles 3-10
x- division leader
y- clinched playoff spot

HOHENSEE GETS 100TH WIN: With Chicago's win over Las Vegas last week, head coach Mike Hohensee finally got the 100th win of his AFL career. Hohensee is only the third head coach in AFL history with 100 career wins, joining Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum and Utah coach Danny White.

The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 53-45 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the team'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 league'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.

Earlier this season, the Rush extended Hohensee's contract through the 2009 season.

Hohensee originally was hired on September 26, 2000. He
8 has a regular season record of 93-84 (including a
49-40 mark with the Rush).
8 has a career 7-9 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to five-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
8 is 1-0 all-time vs. the Georgia Force

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 179 vs. Kansas City
Danny White Utah 146 @ Las Vegas
Mike Hohensee Rush 100 @ Georgia
Mike Dailey Colorado 97 vs. Orlando
Darren Arbet San Jose 89 @ Los Angeles
Perry Moss 86

D'ORAZIO BACK UNDER CENTER: After sitting for a game in favor of backup QB Michael Bishop, Matt D'Orazio got the start last week against Las Vegas and led the team to its fifth victory of the year. D'Orazio completed 22 of 34 passes for 309 yards, and equaled a team record with eight touchdown passes, without throwing an interception. He also rushed for a TD.

D'ORAZIO AMONG AFL LEADERS: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio enters this week's game at Georgia ranked among the league's top passers. Through 13 weeks, D'Orazio is the AFL's fourth-ranked passer with a 118.5 quarterback rating. On the season, D'Orazio has set career highs in all of his passing stats, completing 266 of 389 passes for 3,048 yards and 50 touchdowns, while only throwing five interceptions. Earlier this season, D'Orazio set a team record by attempting 231 consecutive passes without throwing an interception. His streak began February 3 vs. New York and was snapped when he was picked off in the second quarter vs. Grand Rapids March 26.

D'Orazio also enters this week's game as the AFL leader in rushing with 56 carries for 162 yards.

D'ORAZIO GREAT IN CLUTCH: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio is at his best when it counts the most. D'Orazio ranks second in the AFL in fourth quarter passing, converting 71 of 96 attempts for 802 yards and 15 TDs in the fourth quarter for a QB rating of 133.2.

SIPPIO SHINES: Offensive Specialist Bobby Sippio has had a major impact on the Rush since reporting two weeks ago. Last Sunday against Las Vegas, Sippio caught eight passes for 168 yards and a Rush team record six touchdowns. In his two games since joining the Rush, Sippio has caught 15 passes for 307 yards and nine TDs. Sippio played in nine games with the Storm before being waived, catching 55 passes for 666 yards and 18 touchdowns.

DANTZLER LOOKS SHARP: Rush rookie Woody Dantzler was promoted to the active roster from the team's practice squad April 7, and made his AFL debut April 9 in Philadelphia. Like Bobby Sippio, Dantzler has had an impact on the Rush offense. Last week vs. Las Vegas, Dantzler caught six passes for 49 yards, giving him 16 receptions for 211 yards and four touchdowns in his three games.

TAYLOR BACK IN BLUE: The Rush signed defensive specialist Marvin Taylor to its roster April 13, just three days after he was released by Grand Rapids. He was immediately inserted into the lineup at defensive specialist - alongside Jeremy Unertl - and has played in two games since signing with the Rush, recording 9.5 tackles. Taylor, who played 11 games with the Rampage, recording 49.5 tackles and three interceptions, is in his second tour of duty with the Rush after playing for Chicago in 2002 and 2003.

MOLDEN GETTING BACK IN THE GROOVE: WR/LB Etu Molden, the team's leading receiver in 2004 and 2005, missed four of the team's first nine games this season with shoulder and knee injuries. However, Molden finally is healthy and is looking like the player the Rush has come to count on. In his last three games Molden has caught 20 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 50 receptions for 561 yards and seven TDs.
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, career receiving touchdowns and total touchdowns.

Molden, in his third year in Chicago, led the Rush in all receiving categories in both 2004 and 2005.

Career Numbers Chatman Molden
Games 30 40
Receptions 197 247
Yards 2,676 3,002
Receiving TDs 52 55
Total TDs 62 69

FANTASTIC FINISHES: The 2006 Rush continues to play games that are not decided until the final play. It happened again April 9 in Philadelphia as the Rush fell to the Soul in overtime, 56-55. Backup QB Michael Bishop entered the game on third-and-goal from the Soul 1-yard line and dove into the end zone to bring the Rush to within one-point. But when Matt D'Orazio's game-winning two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Eddie Moten in the end zone, the Soul held on for an OT victory.

Six of Chicago's 13 games this season have been decided on the game's final play.

Dating back to last season's American Conference Semifinal in Colorado, seven of Chicago's last 14 games have been decided on the final play.

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

January 29, 2006 -Dutton 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 - Rush QB Matt D'Orazio'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 - D'Orazio'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 - D'Orazio'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 Jose's first possession of OT, D'Orazio's 27-yard TD pass to Cornelius White gave the Rush a 54-48 win.

March 26, 2006 - D'Orazio's 14-yard TD pass to White with four seconds remaining gave the Rush a 49-44 lead over Grand Rapids. Then, after the ensuing kickoff went for a touchback, Curtis Eason sacked Rampage QB Chad Salisbury for a safety on the game's final play, giving the Rush a 51-44 victory.

April 9, 2006 - D'Orazio's game-winning two-point conversion attempt in overtime was intercepted by Philadelphia Soul DS Eddie Moten, giving the Soul a 56-55 OT win over the Rush.

GETTING HEALTHY: After missing several key players for a significant part of the first half of the season, the Rush finally is getting healthy. Only FB/LB Levelle Brown is seriously injured and out for the season.

Here is a complete recap of the current Rush injuries:
8 WR/DB Carlos Wright suffered a sprained right knee last week vs. Las Vegas and is listed as questionable for this week's game.
8 FB/LB Charlie Cook is on IR after injuring his left knee April 2 in Orlando.
8 WR/DB Buchie Ibeh is on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in practice.
8 DS Todd Howard is on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in practice.
8 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.

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 the Rush has played three overtime games - February 12 vs. Nashville, February 26 vs. San Jose and April 9 at Philadelphia - going 2-1.

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 Chicago'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 team'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 2-3

ALFONZO SETS TACKLE RECORD: Rush WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo recorded 6.0 tackles last week vs. Las Vegas, giving him 173.5 for his Rush career. This season Alfonzo has moved past former Rush DS Cedric Walker (166.5) as the team's career tackles leader.

UNDER PRESSURE: The Rush defensive line has recorded 19 sacks on the season, six more than the defense registered during the entire 2005 season. The Rush is second in the AFL in sacks and needs four sacks in the remaining three games to break the Rush team record for sacks in a season (23), set in 2004. Rookie Khreem Smith leads the club with 7.0 sacks, while D.J. Bleisath is second with 4.0 sacks.
MOYER IS CHICAGO'S ALL-TIME SACK LEADER: In his eighth AFL season, Rush lineman John Moyer has 35.5 career sacks - including 30.5 as a member of the Rush. He is currently in eighth place on the AFL's all-time list for career sacks and needs just one more sack to pass Andre Bowden for seventh place.

Here are Chicago's season and career sack leaders:
Player Season Player Career
John Moyer 10.0 (2004) John Moyer 30.5
John Moyer 9.0 (2003) James Baron 10.0
Khreem Smith 7.0 (2006) Khreem Smith 7.0
John Moyer 6.0 (2005) Anthony Hutch 6.5
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) Riley Kleinhesselink 5.0
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) Jamie McGourty 5.5
James Baron 4.0 (2003) D.J. Bleisath 5.0
Tony Henderson 4.0 (2001) Bob McMillen 4.5
D.J. Bleisath 4.0 (2006) Tony Henderson 4.0
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 game'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 four passes for 47 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Dating back to last season, Moyer has caught 12 passes with eight of them going for touchdowns.

KHREEM SMITH FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rush rookie lineman Khreem Smith is one of the leading candidates for AFL Rookie of the Year honors. Through 13 weeks Smith ranks second in the AFL in sacks with 7.0 and is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with five. In addition to his sacks and forced fumbles, he has recorded 18.5 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two passes broken up and one blocked kick this season.

McMILLEN BECOMES AFL'S TOP RUSHER: Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen became the AFL's all-time leading rusher March 17, when he rushed for four yards in the team's game at Nashville. McMillen now has 1,393 rushing yards in his 12-year career, 11 more than former record holder Les Barley.

Earlier this season, as part of the league's celebration of its 20th season McMillen was named one of the AFL's 20 Greatest Players of all-time. In his 12th season, he ranks first on the AFL's all-time rushing list, second all-time in rushing attempts and third in 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 AFL's All-Time Rushing Yards list
Player Seasons Team Yards
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,393
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 1,382
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,322
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 1,241

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 449
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 441
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 438
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 425

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Touchdowns list
Player Seasons Team Rushing TDs
Barry Wagner 1992-present San Jose 126
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 93
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 78
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 76
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 71

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 not only a wise choice for the job, but the best kick return man in the league. Wright has returned 56 kickoffs for 1,278 yards and three touchdowns and leads the AFL in kickoff returns, averaging 22.8 yards per return.

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Since his trade from Columbus, Rush DS Jeremy Unertl has helped solidify the Rush secondary. He has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Game three times - February 12, vs. Nashville, February 18 at Los Angeles and February 26 vs. San Jose - and has recorded 58.5 tackles, seven interceptions and eight passes broken up since being inserted into the Rush secondary. April 15 in Arizona, Unertl recorded his seventh interception since joining the Rush (and eighth overall), the most by any Rush player in one season since Dameon Porter had 10 interceptions in 2002.

February 26 against San Jose, 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 had recorded 64.5 tackles, two interceptions and five passes broken up, and caught 14 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

PROTECT THAT QB: The Rush offensive line has allowed a franchise record 20 sacks this year. Coming into this season the Rush offensive line had given up a total of 13 sacks in the last two seasons combined.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: One of the best trends of the 2006 season involves Chicago'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 13 games this season the Rush is fifth in the league with a +4 ratio.
D-ROB AS STEADY AS IT GETS: Rush WR/DB Dennison Robinson might be the most unsung player on the Rush roster. Signed as a free agent in the off-season, Robinson is strong in all three facets of the game - offense, defense and special teams. He is the team's leading tackler, recording a career-high 59.0 tackles to go along with three interceptions and eight passes broken up. He ranks third in the AFL in special teams tackles with 14.0 and is the team's fourth-leading receiver, catching 31 passes for 271 yards and five touchdowns.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Chicago Category Georgia
13 Games 13
50.1 (12) Scoring Offense 55.2 (2)
52.6 (11) Scoring Defense 47.0 (5)
288.5 (8) Total Offense 281.5 (12)
283.8 (9) Total Defense 301.6 (17)
49-64 76.6% Red Zone Offense 51-59, 86.4%
56-63 88.9% Red Zone Defense 55-72 76.4%
259.3 (12) Pass Offense 239.7 (14)
253.2 (7) Pass Defense 282.6 (16)
25.5 (6) Rushing Offense 15.1 (12)
30.5 (18) Rushing Defense 19.0 (7)
651 (12) Scoring 718 (2)
101 (11) Scoring (Kicking) 98 (14)
84-1,599-4 Kickoff Returns 75-1,321-2
19.0 (4) Kick Return Average 17.6 (9)
8-257-3 Missed Field Goal Returns 3-67-1
32.1 (1) Missed FG Return Avg. 22.3 (4)
+4 (5t) Turnover Margin +5 (4)
14-27, 51.9% Field Goals 6-12, 50.0%
59-68, 86.8% PAT Kicking 80-97, 82.5%
19-100 (2) Sacks By 18-111 (3)
20-91 (15) Sacks Against 10-55 (8)
48-93, 51.6% Third Down Conversion 46-74, 62.2%
10-22, 45.5% Fourth Down Conversion 8-16, 50.0%
105-602 (16) Penalties (#-Yards) 97-540 (7)
74-453 (16) Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 72-420 (17)
BOLD - AFL Leader

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

Matt D'Orazio: QB Rating (4th - 118.5 rating), completion percentage (2nd- 68.4), 4th quarter passing (2nd - 133.2 rating), rushing yards (1st - 162 yards)

Khreem Smith: sacks (2nd - 7.0), forced fumbles (T-1st - 5)

Carlos Wright: kickoff returns (1st - 22.8 avg.)

C.J. Johnson: missed field goal returns (1st - 47.8 avg.)

Jeremy Unertl: interceptions (3rd - 8)

Dennison Robinson: special teams tackles (2nd - 14.0)

Bobby Sippio: scoring (7th - 174 points)

RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won individual game awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Game:
Matt D'Orazio (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles)
C.J. Johnson (2/26 vs. San Jose)
Cornelius White (3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)
Bobby Sippio (4/23 vs. Las Vegas)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Khreem Smith (2/3 vs. New York, 3/10 vs. Colorado, 3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)
Jeremy Unertl (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles, 2/26 vs. San Jose)
Curtis Eason (4/23 vs. Las Vegas)

Ironman of the Game:
Bob McMillen (2/3 vs. New York)
John Moyer (2/12 vs. New York)
Dennison Robinson (2/18 @ Los Angeles)
Carlos Wright (3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)
DeJuan Alfonzo (4/23 vs. Las Vegas)

INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this week's injury report to the AFL.

Injured Reserve -Levelle Brown (right shoulder), Charlie Cook (left knee), Todd Howard (right hamstring), Buchie Ibeh (hamstring)
Questionable - Carlos Wright (right knee sprain)
Probable - Curtis Eason (right shoulder strain)

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