Chicago Rush game notes
March 13, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: Comcast Sports Net... Dan McLaughlin, Ray Bentley (tape delayed until 7 p.m.)
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: Tied 3-3 (Rush leads 3-2 regular season, trails 0-1 postseason)
Series Streaks: New York won the last meeting
Last Meeting: February 3, 2006, New York 51, Rush 47
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (96-86, 11-9 - 14th season)
Weylan Harding (20-13, 0-2 - 3rd season)
Officials: Bill Athan (Referee), Matt Jordan (Umpire), Tim Podraza (Head Linesman), Tom Symonette (Line Judge), Greg Wilson (Back Judge)
2007 Chicago Rush Schedule
March 4 @ Kansas City* L, 54-41 13,600
March 9 San Jose W, 48-45 16,201
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
RUSH 1-1-0 89 99 0-1
Colorado 1-1-0 86 84 1-1
Kansas City 1-1-0 94 85 1-1
Grand Rapids 1-1-0 113 121 1-0
Nashville 0-2-0 86 121 0-0
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: After picking up its first win of the season last Friday night against the San Jose SaberCats, the Rush remains at home again this week - hosting the New York Dragons on Sunday, March 18. After dropping their opener to Dallas 60-7, the Dragons had last week off to regroup before coming to Allstate Arena. Last season, New York defeated the Rush 51-47 at Allstate Arena.
A CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT: Chicago's defense forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by Jeremy Unertl, as the Rush built a 17-point lead before holding on for a 48-45 win over San Jose last Friday. It was the fourth-consecutive time the Rush has defeated San Jose. Newly acquired wide receiver Andy McCullough caught two touchdowns and DB Jonathan Ordway, in his first game as the team's kick returner, returned a kickoff 57-yards for a touchdown to pace the offense.
BACK-TO-BACK AT HOME? This week's game against New York is the first time the Rush has played consecutive home games in more than a calendar year. The last time the Rush played at Allstate Arena on consecutive weeks was its three-game homestand on February 26, March 5 and March 10 of last year.
QUITE A HOME STREAK: Dating back to last season, the Rush has won four games in a row at Allstate Arena. The franchise record for consecutive home wins is eight, set during the final two home games of the 2001 season and the first six home games in 2002.
OFF TO COLUMBUS NEXT: After this week's game against New York, the Rush travels to Nationwide Arena on March 24 to play the Columbus Destroyers. The only other time the Rush has played in Columbus was February 19, 2005 - when then Destroyers QB Matt D'Orazio completed 26 of 33 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start, leading the Destroyers to a 52-39 win over the Rush.
HOME OPENERS: After Chicago's win Friday night in its home opener, reigning ArenaBowl champions now have a 15-4 record in their home openers, including winning the last six in a row. Friday's win raises Chicago's record in home openers to 5-2, losing only to Orlando in 2003 and New York in 2006.
HOME COOKIN': The Rush owns a 33-16 all-time record at Allstate Arena (including postseason) and was 5-3 at home last season.
SELLOUT STREAK: A sellout crowd of 16,201 at Allstate Arena witnessed the Rush win over San Jose Friday night. It was the second-largest crowd in franchise history and, dating back to last season, the team's third-consecutive sellout. Overall, the Rush is 5-1 when Allstate Arena is sold out.
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. Interestingly, both Detroit and Tampa Bay were coached by Tim Marcum.
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.
RUSH-DRAGONS HISTORY: The Chicago-New York series is tied 3-3, with the Rush holding a 3-2 edge in the regular season. With the exception of the first meeting between the teams in 2002, every game in the series has been decided by four points or less.
Here is a recap of last season's game:
February 3, 2006: The Rush suffered a heartbreaking defeat to New York last season, losing to the Dragons on the game's final play. Trailing 44-33 with 6:42 remaining, the Rush battled back to take a 47-44 lead. With 48 seconds left, NY QB Aaron Garcia hit Mike Horacek with a 13-yard TD pass to regain the lead 51-47. Rush QB Matt D'Orazio, however, led the Rush down to the Dragons 1-yard line with nine seconds remaining. On the game's final play, D'Orazio scrambled left and dove into the end zone as time expired for the apparent game-winning touchdown. However, the officials ruled that the Rush had committed an illegal block in the back on the play, wiping out the TD and giving NY the win.
Here is a look at the Rush-Dragons Series Results:
2002: Rush 55, Dragons 45 (June 30 @ Chicago)
2003: Dragons 54, Rush 51 (March 23 @ Chicago)
Dragons 48, Rush 45 (May 25 @ New York)*
2004: Rush 56, Dragons 54 (February 14 @ New York)
2005: Rush 44, Dragons 43 (April 2 @ New York)
2006: Dragons 51, Rush 47 (February 2 @ Chicago)
*AFL playoffs
UNERTL TOUGH AGAINST GRIEB: Rush defensive back Jeremy Unertl likes playing against San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb. Unertl intercepted two Grieb passes and knocked away four more in addition to recording 5.0 tackles in last week's win. Since joining the Rush last year, Unertl has four interceptions in three games against San Jose.
SIPPIO LOVES PLAYING AT HOME: Rush wide receiver Bobby Sippio can't explain it, but he loves playing at Allstate Arena. In his three home games as a member of the Rush, Sippio has caught 22 passes for 427 yards and 15 touchdowns, and set Rush single-game records for receiving yards (217) and touchdown receptions (6). Last week against San Jose Sippio only had four catches - but made them count, scoring touchdowns on three of them.
HIGH FIVE: Sippio's five touchdown performance in the season opener in Kansas City was the third time in his Rush regular season career 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).
McCULLOUGH SIGNED: When an ankle injury suffered Week 1 in Kansas City landed Buchie Ibeh on Injured Reserve, the Rush needed to add a receiver. Late last week, the Rush signed free agent Andy McCullough to fill the opening.
A member of the league's All-Rookie team in 2002 with Dallas, McCullough spent the past two seasons playing for John Elway's Colorado Crush, catching 163 passes for 1,833 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was released by Colorado for salary cap reasons at the end of camp.
McCullough might best be remembered by Rush fans as the Crush player who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of the "Confetti Bowl" - the 2005 American Conference Championship game between Chicago and Colorado.
In his career, McCullough has played in 74 games over five seasons, recording 381 receptions for 4,336 yards and 82 touchdowns.
Last week in his Rush debut, McCullough caught seven passes for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
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.
In his first two games in an AFL uniform, Merritt has caught eight passes for 73 yards. He still is looking for his first Rush touchdown.
MOYER TO MACK: With linebacker D.J. Bleisath nursing an ankle injury sustained in Week 1 at Kansas City, the Rush turned to veteran lineman John Moyer to play the MACK linebacker position against San Jose. Moyer played great, recording 2.5 tackles and delivering a hit on San Jose QB Mark Grieb that forced him into throwing an interception.
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
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.
ORDWAY LIKES NEW ROLE: One week after signing with the Rush DB Jonathan Ordway has added kick returner to his job description. In his first game returning kicks, Ordway returned four kicks for 118 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown in the first quarter. On defense Ordway added 6.5 tackles and a pass broken up in the game.
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.
Prior to coming to Chicago, Ordway 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.
ALFONZO FLYING AROUND: For the second-consecutive week, Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo seemed to be all over the field. After leading the Rush in tackles at Kansas City, Alfonzo was the team's second-leading tackler against the SaberCats, recording 6.5 tackles and recovering a fumble on the game's opening possession. For the season, Alfonzo ranks third in the league with 17.5 tackles and is on-pace to break the team's single season tackle record of 98, set by Cedric Walker in 2002.
D'ORAZIO BETTER IN WEEK 2: QB Matt D'Orazio struggled in the team's opener in Kansas City, throwing two interceptions, losing a fumble and taking an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety. However, last week D'Orazio looked much more comfortable, completing 15-28 passes for 114 yards and five touchdowns. While the passing yardage numbers seem modest, D'Orazio spent most of the night working with a short field thanks to San Jose turnovers and great kick returns by Jonathan Ordway.
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.
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 finished the 2006 season with 1,417 career yards, needing just 83 yards to reach the 1,500 mark. So far this year, McMillen has carried the ball four times for six yards, bringing him to 1,423 for his career.
McMillen finished the 2006 season with 89 yards rushing, breaking his AFL record streak of seven-consecutive 100-yard seasons.
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 1,423
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,413
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 1,382
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 1,241
The AFL's All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 474
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 453
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 80
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 71
FRANTZ DIALS LONG DISTANCE: After a tough opening week in Kansas City, kicker Dan Frantz returned to form last week against San Jose, converting all six of his PAT attempts and two of his four field goal attempts - including a career-best and franchise-record 56-yard kick in the first quarter. Frantz also added a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the first half - the fifth time in the team's last six games which he hit a field goal on the final play of the first half.
WORKING ON HIS SECOND 100: Chicago Rush head coach Mike Hohensee is the third-winningest coach in AFL history with 107 career victories. He is one of four coaches in AFL history with 100 or more wins, joining Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum, Utah coach Danny White and Colorado coach Mike Dailey in the 100-win club.
The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 60-47 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 96-86 (including a
52-42 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 3-3 all-time vs. New York.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 180 vs. Georgia
Danny White Utah 150 @ Nashville
Mike Hohensee Rush 107 vs. New York
Mike Dailey Colorado 100 vs. Arizona
Darren Arbet San Jose 94 Bye
2007 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2007 Rush
Site: Home 1-0 Road 0-1
Time: Day 0-1 Night 1-0
Opponents: vs. American Conf. 1-1
vs. Central 0-1
vs. West 1-0
vs. National Conf. 0-0
vs. East 0-0
vs. South 0-0
GRIEB PASSES FOR 300 AGAIN: San Jose QB Mark Grieb passed for 327 yards against the Rush defense last week. It was the third time Grieb has topped the 300-yard mark in his eight games against the Rush. Only Clint Dolezel (four times) has passed for more than 300 yards against the Rush defense more often than Grieb.
Overall, eight QBs have passed for 300 or more yards against the Rush defense: Donnie Davis, Clint Dolezel, John Dutton, Aaron Garcia, Mark Grieb, Andy Kelly, Chad Salisbury and Clint Stoerner.
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
Mark Grieb 3/9/07 vs. San Jose 327
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
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players rank among the 2007 AFL league leaders:
DeJuan Alfonzo: interceptions (T-5th - 1), tackles (4th - 17.5)
Dennison Robinson: tackles (T-6th - 15.5)
Bobby Sippio: scoring (T-3rd - 48 points), third-down receiving (T-3rd - 4 receptions for 52 yards and 4 TDs)
Dan Frantz: touchbacks on kickoffs (T-4th - 7)
Jonathan Ordway: Kickoff return average (3rd - 27.8)
Jeremy Unertl: Interceptions (T-1st - 2)
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)
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 13, 2007
- Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
- All This Collecting Is Getting Crazy, Card Crazy - OSC Original by Bob Garcia
- Soul DB Eddie Moten named ADT Defensive Player of the Week - Philadelphia Soul
- Prentiss named AFL Offensive Player of the Week - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Philadelphia Soul game notes - Philadelphia Soul
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Desperados add veteran kicker - Dallas Desperados
- Former Heisman Runner-Up Michael Bishop Returns to Rampage - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Utah Blaze game notes - Utah Blaze
- Predators post strong television numbers in central Florida Monday night - Orlando Predators
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- Preds place Sodano on IR, sign Miller - Orlando Predators
- Utah's Dennard wins AFL weekly honor again - Utah Blaze
- AFL names players of the week - AFL I
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.
