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Chicago Rush game notes

March 7, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: Comcast Sports Net...Dan Bernstein, Ray Bentley
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: San Jose leads 4-3 (3-2 in regular season, 1-1 in postseason)
Series Streaks: The Rush has won the last three meetings
Last Meeting: June 3, 2006, Rush 59, SJ 56 (American Conference Finals)
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (95-86, 11-9 - 14th season)
Darren Arbet (84-37, 10-5 - 9th season)
Officials: Dennis Lipski (Referee), Rick Nelson (Umpire), Kavin McGrath (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (Line Judge), Rich Wilborn (Back Judge)

2007 Chicago Rush Schedule
March 4 @ Kansas City* L, 54-41 13,600
March 9 San Jose 7 p.m. CSN
March 18 New York 2 p.m. CSN
March 24 @ Columbus 6 p.m. CSN
April 1 Los Angeles 12:30 p.m. ESPN 2
April 7 @ Nashville* 7 p.m.
April 15 Bye
April 21 @ Grand Rapids* 6 p.m. CSN
April 30 Philadelphia 7 p.m. ESPN 2
May 7 Colorado* 7 p.m. ESPN 2
May 11 @ Dallas 6:30 p.m.
May 19 Nashville* 7 p.m. CSN
May 26 @ Arizona 9 p.m. CSN
June 2 @ Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
June 9 Grand Rapids* 7 p.m. CSN
June 18 @ Colorado* 9 p.m. ESPN 2
June 23 Kansas City 7 p.m. CSN
* Central Division game

American Conference - Central Division
W-L-T PF PA Division
Kansas City 1-0-0 54 41 1-0
Grand Rapids 1-0-0 44 42 1-0
RUSH 0-1-0 41 54 0-1
Nashville 0-1-0 56 58 0-0
Colorado 0-1-0 42 44 0-1


SWEET HOME, CHICAGO: - The Chicago Rush returns to Allstate Arena Friday night to host the San Jose SaberCats. It is the first time the Rush has played in front of its home fans since May 6, 2006, when the team defeated Utah 84-48. In that game, Rush receiver Bobby Sippio caught 10 passes for a team record 217 yards and tied his own team record - set just two weeks earlier - with six touchdown receptions. Since that game the team has played six-consecutive road games - the 2006 regular season finale in Grand Rapids, all four 2006 playoff games and the 2007 season opener in Kansas City.

SEMIFINAL REMATCH: The Rush and SaberCats will be meeting for the first time since last June's American Conference Final in San Jose. After falling behind early 21-10, the Rush battled back to defeat the SaberCats 59-56 and advance to ArenaBowl XX.

BEARS WR RASHIED DAVIS TO ATTEND: Rashied Davis, who began his professional career with San Jose before signing with the Chicago Bears, plans to attend Friday's game. Davis won an ArenaBowl title with the SaberCats in 2004 after San Jose defeated the Rush in the AFL semifinals.

Davis will serve as an honorary captain for the game and participate in the coin toss.

RUSH DROPS OPENER IN KANSAS CITY: For the third-consecutive year the Rush dropped its season opener, falling 54-41 on the road last week in Kansas City. Chicago committed four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions) and the Brigade defense recorded a safety as Kansas City built a 15-point second half lead. The Rush cut the score to 41-35 with nine minutes remaining, but could get no closer. Rush QB Matt D'Orazio completed 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards and five touchdowns, but was sacked three times and threw two interceptions. Former Rush QB Raymond Philyaw, now Kansas City's starter, passed for 225 yards and two TDs and added a pair of rushing touchdowns as well.

NEW YORK IN TOWN NEXT: Chicago gets 10 days to prepare for its next opponent, as the New York Dragons come to town on Sunday March 18. The Dragons defeated the Rush 51-47 at Allstate Arena last season when Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio's apparent game-winning touchdown run as time expired was called back because of a penalty.

HOME OPENERS: The Rush is 4-2 in its six home openers, losing only to Orlando in 2003 and New York in 2006.

HOME COOKIN': The Rush has a 32-16 all-time record at Allstate Arena (including postseason) and was 5-3 at home last season.
TWICE AS NICE?: Chicago's goal for the 2007 season is simple: become the first AFL team in more than a decade to repeat as champions. In fact, only two teams in the 20-year history of the Arena Football League - the Detroit Drive (1988-90) and the Tampa Bay Storm (1995-96) - have been able to accomplish the feat of repeating.

RUSH-SABERCATS SERIES HISTORY: After failing in its first four games against the SaberCats, the Rush has won three in a row against San Jose - including both meetings in 2006.

Here is a recap of last season's games:

February 26, 2006 - In one of the most-exciting games of the season, the Rush pulled out a thrilling 54-48 win over the SaberCats when quarterback Matt D'Orazio connected with Cornelius White on a 27-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

The game-winning TD came only after the Rush had scored with 11 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 48-48, and defensive specialist Jeremy Unertl had intercepted a Mark Grieb pass in overtime (his second INT of the game) to give the Rush offense the ball on its own 23-yard line.

June 3, 2006 - Trailing 42-39 at the start of the fourth quarter of the American Conference Final at San Jose, the Rush opened the final period by moving 42 yards for a touchdown to take a 45-42 lead on a DeJuan Alfonzo three-yard touchdown reception with 12:09 remaining.

Next, the Rush defense made one of its biggest stands of the season when it held San Jose on downs to get the offense the ball back at midfield with 8:25 left. The key plays in the series came on third and fourth downs, when Jeremy Unertl and Russell Shaw broke up passes to stop the SaberCat drive.

It took the Rush offense just two plays and 50 seconds to capitalize as QB Matt D'Orazio first hit OS Bobby Sippio with a nine-yard reception, and then found Sippio again with a 17-yarder for a TD to give the Rush a 52-42 lead, before holding on for a 59-56 win and earning a berth in ArenaBowl XX.

Here is a look at the all-time series results:

Rush-SaberCats All-Time Series Results:
2002: San Jose 74, Rush 68 (June 15 @ San Jose)
2003: San Jose 71, Rush 49 (March 9 @ Chicago)
2004: San Jose 51, Rush 43 (April 16 @ San Jose)
San Jose 49, Rush 35 (June 12 @ San Jose)*
2005: Rush 55, San Jose 39 (April 10 @ Chicago)
2006: Rush 54, San Jose 48, OT (February 26 @ Chicago)
Rush 59, San Jose 56 (June 3 @ San Jose)*
*AFL playoffs

FAMILIAR FACE: San Jose assistant coach Dave Witthun spent four seasons in Chicago as an assistant on Mike Hohensee's staff before joining the SaberCats staff in July 2005.

GRIEB vs. RUSH: San Jose QB Mark Grieb has played in every one of the seven San Jose-Chicago games and is one of eight QBs who have passed for 300 or more yards against the Rush defense, joining Donnie Davis, Clint Dolezel, John Dutton, Aaron Garcia, Andy Kelly, Chad Salisbury and Clint Stoerner.

Here are Grieb's career numbers against Chicago:
G Comp Att Pct. Yds. TD Int Rating
7 154 227 67.8% 2,023 36 5 126.2

Rush opponent's 300-yard passing games:
Player Date Yards
Clint Stoerner 1/30/05 @ Dallas 398
Clint Stoerner 2/13/06 vs. Nashville 368
Mark Grieb 4/10/05 vs. San Jose 368
Clint Dolezel 5/1/05 vs. Las Vegas 355
Clint Dolezel 7/7/01 @ Grand Rapids 342
Aaron Garcia 3/23/03 vs. New York 339
Clint Dolezel 5/4/02 vs. Grand Rapids 321
Andy Kelly 3/20/05 vs. New Orleans 311
Clint Dolezel 3/29/03 @ Grand Rapids 317
Mark Grieb 6/3/06 @ San Jose * 314
Andy Kelly 3/28/04 vs. Detroit 306
Donnie Davis 5/18/02 vs. Georgia 304
Aaron Garcia 6/30/02 vs. New York 303
John Dutton 3/10/06 vs. Colorado 300
Chad Salisbury 5/13/06 @ Grand Rapids 300
* AFL playoffs

SIPPIO PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF: In last Sunday's opener at Kansas City, Rush WR Bobby Sippio continued the roll he started last year after joining the Rush. Sippio caught eight passes for 122 yards and scored all five Rush touchdowns. Sippio now has caught 22 touchdowns in his six regular season games with Chicago.

HIGH FIVE: Sippio's five touchdown performance Sunday was the third time in his six regular season games with the Rush that he scored five or more TDs. Sippio also added a five-TD performance vs. San Jose in last season's American Conference Final.

Since the start of the 2006 season only Colorado's Damian Harrell (6) has more five-TD games than Sippio. (Arizona's Randy Gatewood also has three five-TD games in that span).

SIPPIO LOVES PLAYING AT HOME: Bobby Sippio can't explain it, but he loves playing at Allstate Arena. In his two home games as a member of the Rush (both in 2006), Sippio has caught 18 passes for 385 yards and 12 touchdowns, and set team records for receiving yards (217) and touchdown receptions (6).

D'ORAZIO LOOKING TO RETURN TO FORM: QB Matt D'Orazio looks to return to form this week vs. San Jose after an off-game in the opener in Kansas City. D'Orazio, who holds the Rush record by attempting 231 passes with out throwing an interception, threw two interceptions last week in Kansas City. D'Orazio also lost a fumble and was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

D'Orazio enjoyed a career year in 2006, completing 305 of 443 passes for 3,546 yards and 63 touchdowns, while throwing just five interceptions. He also rushed for 162 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season.

He played his best football of the season down the stretch, when he led the team to four-consecutive playoff wins culminating in a 69-61 victory over Orlando in ArenaBowl XX last June. D'Orazio passed for six touchdowns and rushed for two more in the title game, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors for his efforts.

Earlier this season, the Rush rewarded D'Orazio with a two-year contract extension through the 2009 season.

ALFONZO FLYING AROUND: Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo was all over the field in Sunday's opener in Kansas City. Alfonzo recorded a game and career-high 11.0 tackles, including a tackle for loss, and intercepted a Raymond Philyaw pass which he returned 24 yards for a touchdown. The interception was the first for Alfonzo since March 6, 2005 and the first interception for a Rush linebacker since Etu Molden's interception vs. San Jose on April 10, 2005.

ROOKIE DEBUTS: Four rookies made their AFL debuts in last week's game at Kansas City. Wide receiver Ahmad Merritt was the team's second leading receiver, catching six passes for 65 yards, while defensive back James Sadler was the team's second-leading tackler with 4.5. In addition, rookies Jason Thomas and Robert Boss each started on the team's offensive line.

MERRITT JOINS RECEIVING CORPS: Among the Rush rookies, perhaps the most familiar name to Chicago fans belongs to former Chicago Bears wide receiver Ahmad Merritt. Merritt grew up in Chicago and was a high school All-American at St. Rita, before playing his college football at the University of Wisconsin.

Signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent in May 2000, Merritt spent the 2000 season and the first 14 games of the 2001 season on the Bears practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in December 2001 and played for the Bears through the 2003 season. He is known for scoring the Bears last offensive touchdown in old Soldier Field - a 47-yard TD run in the playoffs against Philadelphia in January 2002.

BLEISATH, IBEH HURT IN LOSS: Lineman D.J. Bleisath and wide receiver Buchie Ibeh both suffered injured ankles Sunday's loss in Kansas City. Bleisath suffered his ankle sprain while covering a kickoff, while Ibeh suffered his injury while being tackled. Bleisath is listed as probable for this week's game, but Ibeh was not as lucky - he was placed on Injured Reserve Wednesday and will miss at least four weeks.

ORDWAY ADDED: The Rush defensive backfield got even stronger last week with the signing of AFL veteran DB Jonathan Ordway to a one-year contract.

Ordway, who spent the first four years of his AFL career with the Tampa Bay Storm, had signed in the off-season with the Grand Rapids Rampage, but was released at the end of training camp.

In his four year career, Ordway has played in 45 games, recording 226.5 tackles, seven interceptions and 69 passes broken up. He was the Storm's leading tackler in 2006 and finished tied for fourth in the league with 19 passes broken up.

BACK FOR MORE: Seventeen of the 29 Rush players who celebrated the ArenaBowl XX championship win over Orlando last June are back to try to defend their title. They are:
- WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo - DL John Moyer
- FB/LB DJ Bleisath - DL Nick Myers
- WR/DB Woody Dantzler - DL Joe Peters
- QB Matt D'Orazio - DB Dennison Robinson
- DL Curtis Eason - DB Russell Shaw
- K Dan Frantz - OL John Sikora
- WR Buchie Ibeh - WR Bobby Sippio
- FB/LB Bob McMillen - DB Jeremy Unertl
- OL Frank Moore

JOINING THE PARTY: Eight new players, including seven rookies, have joined the squad for the 2007 season:
-WR Kevin Beard (Rookie)
-OL Robert Boss (Rookie)
-DL EJ Burt (Free agent from Philadelphia)
-WR Ahmad Merritt (Rookie)
-QB Russ Michna (Rookie)
-WR/DB James Sadler (Rookie)
-OL Jason Thomas (Rookie)
-DL Demetrios Walker (Rookie)

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: The following 12 players were with the Rush at the conclusion of last season, but are not back for the 2007 season.
-QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq (Free agent - still unsigned)
-QB Michael Bishop (Signed with Kansas City)
-FB/LB Levelle Brown (Released Injured during off-season)
-FB/LB Charlie Cook (Retired)
-DB Todd Howard (Released at conclusion of training camp)
-OL/DL Tango McCauley (Lost to New Orleans in expansion draft)
-WR/LB Etu Molden (Released, signed with Las Vegas)
-OL/DL Khreem Smith (with Minnesota Vikings)
-WR/DB Brian Sump (Released in off-season)
-OL/DL Darian Tate (Signed with Austin as a free agent)
-DS Marvin Taylor (Retired)
-WR/LB Carlos Wright (Signed with Nashville)

COOK FORCED TO RETIRE: FB/LB Charlie Cook - the player the Rush has been grooming to replace Bob McMillen - was forced to retire this month after being diagnosed with a heart condition. Cook was diagnosed this off-season with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - an abnormal thickening of the heart wall. It is the same condition that afflicted former Loyola Marymount basketball star Hank Gathers.

MOLDEN RELEASED: The biggest news coming out of the conclusion of Rush training camp was the release of Etu Molden, the team's all-time leading receiver. In his three years with the Rush, Molden caught 264 passes for 3,132 yards and scored 71 touchdowns. He was named to the league's All-Rookie team in 2004 and the All-Ironman team in 2005. Last season, despite missing four regular season games due to injury, he still led the Rush with 67 receptions. Molden has since signed with Las Vegas

MCMILLEN, SIPPIO NAMED PRESEASON ALL-ARENA: The Rush placed two players - FB Bob McMillen and WR Bobby Sippio on the Arena Football League Writers Association's preseason All-Arena team. McMillen, the AFL's all-time leading rusher and one of the 20 greatest players in AFL history, also is known as one of the best blocking fullbacks ever to play in the AFL.

Sippio joined the Rush with five games left in the 2006 regular season and was the catalyst for the Rush championship run. One of the most dynamic receivers in the AFL, Sippio has caught 229 passes for 3,401 yards and 89 touchdowns in just three years in the league.

CHASING 1,500: Rush FB Bob McMillen, who announced he is retiring at the end of the 2007 season, became the AFL's all-time leading rusher March 17, 2006 when he rushed for four yards in the team's game at Nashville. He enters this season with 1,417 career yards, needing just 83 yards to reach the 1,500 mark.

McMillen finished the 2006 season with 89 yards rushing, breaking his AFL record streak of seven-consecutive 100-yard seasons. Last week in Kansas City, McMillen gained one yard on one carry.

Last year, 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. Now in his 13th season, he ranks first on the AFL's all-time rushing list, second all-time in rushing attempts and third in rushing touchdowns. He is one of only two players (Darrin Kenny) who has won ArenaBowl championships with three different teams (1997 with Arizona, 2002 with San Jose and 2006 with Chicago).

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Yards list
Player Seasons Team Yards
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,418
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 1,382
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,362
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 1,241

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 466
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 450
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 1992-2006 - 126
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 93
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 80
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 78
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 71

NEW LOOK OFFENSIVE LINE: The Rush offensive line has a very different look to it at the start of the 2007 season. Center Frank Moore, who had started 72 of 73 games since joining the Rush in 2003, opened the season on Injured Reserve, meaning veteran John Sikora has moved to center. Sikora is flanked by two rookies - Jason Thomas at guard and Robert Boss at tight end.
MOYER HEALTHY ENTERING SEASON: After an injury plagued season hurt his production in 2006, veteran lineman John Moyer enters his ninth season healthy and in the best shape of his career. Moyer has 35.5 career sacks - including 30.5 as a member of the Rush - and currently in eighth place on the AFL's all-time list for career sacks. His first sack of the season will move him past Andre Bowden and into seventh place. Moyer also is the team's all-time leader with 6.0 playoff sacks.

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 8.0 (2006) Khreem Smith 8.0
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

BURT SIGNED TO HELP PASS RUSH: While a healthy John Moyer will be rushing from one end, opposing quarterbacks also must worry about E.J. Burt rushing from the other side. Burt, who was signed as a free agent in the off-season, ranks 10th in AFL history with 29 career sacks.

WORKING ON HIS SECOND 100: Chicago Rush head coach Mike Hohensee is the third-winningest coach in AFL history with 106 career victories. Hohensee is only the third head coach in AFL history with more than 100 career wins, trailing only Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum and Utah coach Danny White in victories.

The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 59-47 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the team's six seasons. In addition to winning ArenaBowl XX under Hohensee, the Rush has won two Central Division titles (2002, 2004) and advanced to the AFL semifinals four times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006), including each of the past three seasons.

One of only four men to be involved in the Arena Football League in each of the league's 21 seasons, Hohensee:
8 has a regular season record of 95-86 (including a
51-42 mark with the Rush).
8 has a career 11-9 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to six-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
8 is 3-8 all-time vs. San Jose.

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 180 @ Dallas
Danny White Utah 149 @ Arizona
Mike Hohensee Rush 106 vs. San Jose
Mike Dailey Colorado 99 vs. Kansas City
Darren Arbet San Jose 94 @ Chicago
BOWICK ADDED TO COACHING STAFF: Former Rush lineman Tony Bowick was added as offensive line coach and assistant special teams coordinator in the off-season, replacing Bruce Cowdrey who left for Austin. A 12th round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1989, Bowick played two seasons in Atlanta before joining the AFL with Charlotte in 1993.

During his 13-year AFL career, Bowick played for Charlotte (1993-95), Albany (1996-97), Grand Rapids (1998-2001, 2005), Chicago (2002-2003) and Austin (2004). He finished his career with 123 tackles and 16.5 sacks in 143 career games.

Bowick, who played for Rush head coach Mike Hohensee in both Albany and Chicago, becomes the first former Rush player to join the Rush coaching staff.

2006 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of how the Rush fared in certain situations during the 2006 season (including postseason):
Site: Home 5-3 Road 5-6 Neutral Site 1-0
Time: Day 10-4 Night 1-5
Opponents: vs. American Conf. 10-4
vs. Central 5-3 vs. West 5-1
vs. National Conf. 1-5
vs. East 1-3 vs. South 0-2
vs. 2006 playoff teams 6-9

PLAYOFF CONSISTENCY: Chicago has never missed the playoffs, qualifying for the postseason in each of its six seasons. Orlando and San Jose are the only two AFL teams which also have made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons.

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players finished the 2007 regular season among the AFL league leaders:

Matt D'Orazio: completion percentage (3rd - 74.1)

DeJuan Alfonzo: interceptions (2nd - 1), tackles (3rd - 11.0)

Bobby Sippio: scoring (2nd - 30 points)

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

Injured Reserve - Frank Moore (knee), Demetrios Walker (hamstring), Kevin Beard (Knee), Russell Shaw (ankle), Buchie Ibeh (right ankle)

Probable - DJ Bleisath (right ankle)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 7, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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