Chicago Rush game notes
May 9, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: ESPN2 ... Merrill Hoge, Ray Bentley
Radio: WCKG 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: Dallas leads 4-3 (Dallas leads 4-2 in regular season, Rush leads 1-0 in postseason)
Last Meeting: March 5, 2006, Dallas 59, Rush 42
Streaks: Dallas has won two in a row and four out of five
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (103-86, 11-9 - 14th season)
Will McClay (37-22-1, 1-1 - 5th season)
Officials: Bill McCabe (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), Kelly Saalfeld (Head Linesman), Dirk Bell (Line Judge), Jimmy Buchanan (Back Judge)
2007 Chicago Rush Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Score TV/Attend
March 4 @ Kansas City* L, 54-41 13,600
March 9 San Jose W, 48-45 16,201
March 18 New York W, 61-40 16,128
March 24 @ Columbus W, 55-47 16,390
April 1 Los Angeles W, 66-31 15,846
April 7 @ Nashville* W, 66-54 7,332
April 15 Bye
April 21 @ Grand Rapids* W, 75-54 10,622
April 30 Philadelphia W, 54-43 14,529
May 7 Colorado* W, 59-48 14,528
May 14 @ Dallas 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
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
2007 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
RUSH 8-1-0 525 416 3-1
Colorado 6-4-0 493 531 3-2
Kansas City 5-4-0 462 419 2-3
Nashville 4-6-0 555 576 1-3
Grand Rapids 3-6-0 498 583 2-2
TEXAS TUSSLE: Two of the league's top teams will do battle in Texas this week, as the 8-1 Rush travels to Dallas to take on the 9-1 Desperados Monday night at American Airlines Center.
The game - which originally was to be played on Friday - was moved to Monday, May 14, to be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 as the AFL ESPN Game of the Week.
Chicago enters the game as winners of eight in a row, and leads the Central Division by 2.5 games over second place Colorado. The Rush also has the top spot in the American Conference, holding a two-game lead plus the tiebreaker over Western Division-leading San Jose.
Dallas prepares for Week 11 with an equally impressive 9-1 record and a 3.5 game lead in the Eastern Division. The Desperados only loss came in Week 8, when the team fell 78-63 at Georgia. Overall, Dallas is 23-5 since the start of the 2006 season.
KATS COMING TO ALLSTATE ARENA: After this week's trip to Dallas, the Rush returns home on May 19 to host the Nashville Kats. The Rush has won five of the six games in the series with Nashville, including a 66-54 victory over the Kats when the teams met in Nashville April 7
DEFENSE KEYS THIRD-STRAIGHT COMEBACK: Down 33-21 with 30 seconds left in the first half, the Rush went on a 35-7 run to notch its third-consecutive comeback win Monday night at Allstate Arena, defeating Colorado 59-48.
With eight seconds remaining in the second quarter wide receiver Bobby Sippio caught a 17-yard TD pass to draw the Rush within five points. Then, on the team's opening possession of the third quarter, another Sippio TD gave the Rush its first lead of the game, 35-33.
After a Damian Harrell TD nudged Colorado ahead, 40-35, the Rush scored 21 unanswered points to take a commanding 56-40 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The defense, again, was the key to the run as a Dennison Robinson's third quarter interception of John Dutton set up the touchdown that gave the Rush a two-possession lead at 49-40. Then, after Colorado had worked its way to the Rush 1-yard line, D.J. Bleisath forced a Jason Harmon fumble that was recovered by Robinson. The Rush marched down the field with a nine-play, six-minute drive, eventually scoring to take a 16-point lead.
NOT JUST A TACKLE: The final scorebook reads "John Dutton pass complete to Damian Harrell for 15-yards to Chicago 1-yard line, tackle by Jeremy Unertl." However Unertl's hit turned out to be one of the key plays of Monday's win over Colorado. Trailing 49-40 early in the fourth quarter, the Crush seemed like it was going to cut the Rush lead to two-points when Dutton found a streaking Harrell on the 1-yard line. Although beaten on the play, Unertl never gave up and slammed Harrell onto the turf before he could get into the end zone for a TD. After Robert Thomas was stuffed by the Rush defense on 1st-and-goal, Rush lineman D.J. Bleisath forced a Jason Harmon fumble on second-and-goal. Dennison Robinson recovered for the Rush, and the turnover lead to a TD and a 56-40 Chicago lead. - none of which would have been possible if Unertl had allowed Harrell to score.
FAST START: At 8-1 the Rush is off to its best start in team history. Previous to this season, Chicago's best start came in 2004 when the Rush began the year 7-2. That season the Rush finished the year 11-5 and advanced to the AFL semifinals before falling in San Jose.
OWNING THE DIVISION: In its history, the Rush has a 27-17 regular season record against the Central Division, and has won two Central Division titles - 2002 and 2004. The Rush also is 2-1 in the postseason against its Central Division opponents.
CRAZY EIGHT: Chicago's win over Colorado Monday was the team's eighth of the season - one more than the Rush garnered all last year. In 2006 the Rush didn't win its eighth game of the year until Week 1 of the playoffs, a 55-47 win at Nashville. The team record for regular season wins is 11, set in 2004. Including the postseason, the team record is 12 wins, also set in 2004.
STREAKING: Chicago's current eight-game winning streak is the longest in team history. The previous record was six games, set in 2006 when the team won its final two regular season games and each of its four playoff games.
STREAKING II: With its win Monday night over Colorado, the Rush has tied a team record with eight straight wins at Allstate Arena. The team's other eight game home streak came during the final two home games of the 2001 season and the first six home games in 2002.
HOME COOKIN': The Rush is 5-0 at home this season and owns a 37-16 all-time record at Allstate Arena (including postseason).
NOT ONLY WINNING, BUT WINNING BIG: Not only is the Rush winning its games, but it is doing so in convincing fashion. Chicago's eight wins are by an average of 15.2 points. If you exclude the team's three-point win over San Jose in Week 2, its margin of victory jumps to 17 points.
TURNOVERS THE KEY: The Rush added to its league-lead in turnovers, forcing two more last week against Colorado. The Rush now has forced 31 turnovers on the season, while only giving the ball up 13 times. The Rush also leads the AFL in turnover margin at +18. The team record for takeaways in a season is 34, set in both 2002 and 2003, while the AFL record for takeaways is 49, set by the 1988 Pittsburgh Gladiators.
OFFENSE ROLLING: After scoring just 41 points in its Week 1 loss at Kansas City, the Rush offense is averaging 60.5 points per game during its seven-game winning streak. Overall, the Rush ranks fifth in the AFL in scoring offense, averaging 58.3 points per game.
RACKING UP THE POINTS: The Rush has scored 525 points so far this season - an average of 58.3 points per game. The team record for points in a season is 847, set in 2004 when the Rush averaged 52.9 points per game.
COMEBACK KIDS: It has taken big Rush comebacks in each of the last three weeks to keep the team's winning streak alive. Overall, the Rush has had four games this season in which the team erased double-digit deficits to win. Here is a look at Chicago's 2007 comebacks:
8 March 18: Trailing the New York Dragons 17-7 in the second quarter, the Rush outscored NY 34-10 in the second half to win 61-40.
8 April 21: The Rush trailed 47-34 late in the third quarter in Grand Rapids before going on a 34-0 run to win 75-54.
8 April 30: The Rush trailed by 14 points at the half against Philadelphia before outscoring the Soul 34-9 in the second half en route to a 54-43 win.
8 May 7: The Rush fell behind Colorado 13-0, and trailed 33-21 late in the first half before a 35-7 run put the Rush in position for a 59-48 victory.
RUSH LOSES MORE THAN GAME LAST YEAR: Riding a three-game winning streak, the Rush suffered more than a 59-42 loss to Dallas last season at Allstate Arena, it also lost two of its best linemen to injuries. Lineman John Moyer sprained his knee late in the first half and D.J. Bleisath suffered an ankle injury early in the third quarter. Neither player returned to the game.
Trailing 28-22 at the half, the game turned against the Rush in the second half. After Chicago's defense forced the Desperados to settle for a 25-yard field goal on its opening possession of the third quarter, Rush QB Matt D'Orazio was sacked and fumbled on back-to-back Rush possessions, leading to 14 Dallas points. With 9:32 remaining in the third quarter Dallas lineman Colston Weatherington sacked D'Orazio and forced a fumble near the Rush goalline. The ball bounced into the endzone where Dallas LB Duke Pettijohn recovered it for a touchdown. On Chicago's next possession it again was Weatherington who sacked D'Orazio and forced a fumble. Three plays later the Desperados scored again, extending their lead to an insurmountable 45-22 advantage.
HISTORY SUGGESTS CLOSE GAME: Despite last year's blowout win for Dallas, history suggests that this week's game should be close. Three of the seven games between Chicago and Dallas have gone into overtime and five of the seven have been decided by 8 points or less.
Rush-Desperados All-Time Series Results:
2002: Rush 58, Dallas 52 (OT) (July 13 @ Chicago)
Rush 60, Dallas 47 (August 5 @ Chicago)*
2003: Dallas 46, Rush 38 (February 9 @ Dallas)
Dallas 60, Rush 54 (OT) (April 20 @ Chicago)
2004: Rush 45, Dallas 41 (May 16 @ Chicago)
2005: Dallas 66, Rush 65 (OT) (January 30 @ Dallas)
2006: Dallas 59, Rush 42 (March 5 @ Chicago)
*AFL playoffs
FRIENDS ON THE SIDELINE: Rush head coach Mike Hohensee and Dallas head coach Will McClay have been good friends since 1997 when Hohensee was the head coach in Anaheim and McClay was his defensive coordinator. The pair only coached together for one season, but they remain close friends.
BACK TO THE RANCH: This week's game in Texas marks the return to Dallas for three Rush players. Both Bobby Sippio and Andy McCullough began their AFL careers with Dallas - Sippio in 2004 and McCullough in 2002. Sippio played two seasons in Dallas, catching 136 passes for 2,081 yards and 54 touchdowns, while recording 55.5 tackles and four interceptions. McCullough was a Desperado from 2002-2003, earning a spot of the 2002 AFL All-Rookie team. In 27 games with Dallas, McCullough caught 178 passes for 2,051 yards and 48 touchdowns and added 30.5 tackles and two interceptions.
In addition, receiver Woody Dantzler spent the 2002 season with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in five games as a kick returner, returning 27 kicks for 602 yards and a touchdown.
TEAMMATES: Rush defensive back Dennison Robinson was teammates with Dallas QB Clint Dolezel and WR Marcus Nash in Las Vegas in 2004. In addition, Dallas WR Willis Marshall and Rush WR Andy McCullough were teammates in Colorado in 2005 and 2006.
SIPPIO SHINES AGAIN: Bobby Sippio continued his spectacular play again last week against Colorado, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors for the fifth-straight week and AFL Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. Sippio equaled his team-record with 15 receptions for 159 yards and five touchdowns in helping lead the Rush to the 59-48 win.
Through just nine games, Sippio has set career highs with 94 receptions for 1,347 yards and 40 touchdowns. He leads the AFL in touchdowns and scoring (240 points) and ranks second in receptions and receiving yards.
Sippio's 40 touchdowns in nine games breaks Eddie Brown's AFL record of 36 touchdowns in the season's first nine games set in 1994.
SIPPIO NAMED PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Rush wide receiver Bobby Sippio was named the AFL's Player of the Month for April. Sippio helped lead the Rush to a 4-0 record in April, catching 48 passes for 774 yards and 19 touchdowns during the month. He set a team record when he recorded 252 receiving yards at Grand Rapids - the highest single-game mark in the AFL this season.
SIPPIO LOVES ALLSTATE ARENA: Rush wide receiver Bobby Sippio can't explain it, but he loves playing at Allstate Arena. In his seven home games as a member of the Rush, Sippio has caught 75 passes for 1,123 yards and 33 touchdowns. He has set the team records for receptions in a game (15) and touchdown receptions (6).
Sippio also played one game at Allstate Arena in 2004 as a member of the Dallas Desperados - catching five passes for 119 yards and two TDs.
THE SIPPIO FACTOR: Since acquiring wide receiver Bobby Sippio late in the 2006 season, the Rush is 15-3, including last season's championship run.
SIPPIO ON RECORD PACE: Midway through the season Bobby Sippio leads the league in touchdowns (40) and scoring (240 points) and is on-pace to shatter Damian Harrell's league records for both.
The AFL's Single Season Touchdown leaders
Player Season Team TDs
Bobby Sippio 2007 (projected) Chicago 71
Damian Harrell 2006 Colorado 61
Eddie Brown 1996 Albany 51
Barry Wagner 1997 Orlando 51
The AFL's Single Season Scoring Leaders
Player Season Team Points
Bobby Sippio 2007 (projected) Chicago 427
Damian Harrell 2006 Colorado 366
Barry Wagner 1997 Orlando 310
Eddie Brown 1996 Albany 308
HIGH FIVE: Rush receiver Bobby Sippio has caught five or more touchdown passes in a game six times this season - equaling the AFL record for five-TD games in a season. Overall, Sippio has caught five or more touchdowns in a game nine times in his Rush career. Chicago is 8-1 when Sippio catches five or more touchdowns in a game.
Here are the details on Sippio's 5+ touchdown games:
Opponent Date TDs Rush W/L
Las Vegas April 23, 2006 6 W
Utah May 6, 2006 6 W
San Jose* June 3, 2006 5 W
@ Kansas City March 4, 2007 5 L
New York March 18, 2007 5 W
Los Angeles April 1, 2007 5 W
Nashville April 7, 2007 5 W
@ Grand Rapids April 21, 2007 5 W
Colorado May 7, 2007 5 W
* AFL Playoffs
D'ORAZIO SOLID VS. COLORADO: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio turned in one of his best performances of the season last week against Colorado. D'Orazio completed 28 of 39 passes for 276 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Since throwing an interception late in the second quarter of the team's April 21 game at Grand Rapids, D'Orazio has gone two-and-a-half games, and attempted 98-consecutive passes, without throwing an interception.
For the season D'Orazio has completed 191 of 287 passes for 2,224 yards and 48 touchdowns, while only throwing seven interceptions. He also has rushed for 80 yards and nine touchdowns.
Earlier this year, the Rush rewarded D'Orazio with a two-year contract extension through the 2009 season.
PROUD PAPPA: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio became a father for the first time last week, as he and his wife, Nicole, welcomed a baby girl on Tuesday, April 24. Maria D'Orazio measured 20-inches and weighed six pounds, nine ounces.
WELCOME BACK, BIG FRANK: Center Frank Moore returned to the Rush lineup for the first time since ArenaBowl XX when the team activated him from Injured Reserve prior to the Colorado game. Moore had spent the entire season on IR recovering from knee surgery last July. Prior to his surgery, Moore had started at center in 72 of 73 games since joining the Rush in 2003.
Moore's return allowed veteran lineman John Sikora to shift from center to his more-natural guard position.
Prior to Moore's return, Sikora was flanked by rookies Jason Thomas and Robert Boss and the offensive line had struggled at times to protect D'Orazio.
For the season, the line has given up 18 sacks in nine games. The Rush allowed a team record 24 sacks last season after giving up a total of just 26 sacks from 2003-2005.
DOLEZEL TOUGH vs. RUSH DEFENSE: Dallas QB Clint Dolezel has faced the Rush defense 10 times in his career, compiling a 5-5 record. He has passed for 300 or more yards against the Rush defense four times - more than any other opposing QB. However, Dolezel is only is 2-2 against Chicago when he passes for more than 300 yards. In addition, Dolezel has not thrown an interception against the Rush since the first quarter of the Rush-Grand Rapids game April 27, 2003 - a span of more than four years and 15 quarters.
Here are Dolezel's career numbers against Chicago:
G Comp Att Pct. Yds. TD Int Rating
10 217 333 65.2% 2,696 51 5 123.4
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
John Dutton 5/7/07 vs. Colorado 346
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
Clint Dolezel 3/29/03 @ Grand Rapids 317
Andy Kelly 3/20/05 vs. New Orleans 311
Mark Grieb 6/3/06 @ San Jose * 314
Juston Wood 4/30/07 vs. Philadelphia 308
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
ALFONZO GRASPING FOR RECORDS: Bobby Sippio isn't the only Rush player on a pace to set records this season. Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo already has tied one AFL record this year and is close to reaching another.
Alfonzo has scored four defensive touchdowns this season - two on interception returns and two on fumbles recovered for TDs - equaling the AFL record for defensive touchdowns in a season held by four other players - Rashad Floyd (Colorado 2004), Greg Hopkins (LA 2002), Sedrick Robinson (Houston 2001) and Kenny McEntyre (Orlando 1999).
In addition, Alfonzo has recovered four fumbles this season - just two shy of the AFL record of six held by Andre Bowden (Tampa Bay 1999) and Antoine Worthman (Tampa Bay 2000).
Through the season's first nine games, Alfonzo has recorded 57.5 tackles, intercepted four passes, recovered four fumbles, forced three fumbles and broken up a pass.
He currently leads the league in fumbles recovered, is tied for seventh in forced fumbles and is tied for eighth in tackles and interceptions.
ROOKIE MAKING HIS MARK: Rookie wide receiver Rob Mager, signed just two days prior to the team's April 21 game in Grand Rapids is quickly making an impact on the Rush receiving corps. In three games in a Rush uniform, Mager has caught 19 passes for 219 yards and 3 TDs.
Mager (6-3, 205, University of Indianapolis) comes to Chicago after spending the 2005 and 2006 seasons playing for the af2's Louisville Fire. In 2006, he was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year after catching 143 passes for 1,918 yards and 54 touchdowns.
MOYER TO MAC: When linebacker D.J. Bleisath sustained an ankle injury in Week 1 at Kansas City, the Rush turned to veteran lineman John Moyer to play the Mac linebacker position. Moyer has played the position so well that his move to linebacker has become permanent.
This season Moyer has recorded 16.0 tackles, including three TFLs, broken up two passes and recovered two fumbles, not to mention providing constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
April 30 against Philadelphia, Moyer made the play of the game, deflecting a Juston Wood pass and then catching it off Curtis Eason's helmet for an interception with 3:25 remaining in the game. Moyer returned the interception 39-yards for what turned out to be the game wining touchdown. It was only Moyer's third career interception, and his first since 2004. It also was the first he ever returned for a touchdown.
DON'T FORGET MOYER ON OFFENSE: With the changes to the substitution rules this year, lineman John Moyer has found himself playing mostly defense this season. However, Moyer has taken some snaps on offense the past few games, and on April 1 vs. Los Angeles, caught his first touchdown pass of the year. Dating back to the start of the 2005 season, Moyer has caught 13 passes, 10 of which have gone for touchdowns.
HAPPY HOMECOMING: As well as the team is playing this year, nothing has made Rush linebacker John Moyer as happy as welcoming his son, Colton, home from the hospital. Born three-months premature on December 21, 2006, Colton spent the first four-and-a-half months of his life in the hospital before finally coming home on Monday, May 7. Weighing just one pound, 14 ounces at birth, Colton was a hefty nine pounds when he was released this week.
SPEED RUSH: Rush lineman E.J. Burt continues to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. This season Burt has recorded 12.5 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles and three passes broken up in the team's nine games. Burt is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles and is tied for fifth in sacks. In addition, Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo has recovered two of the fumbles for Rush touchdowns.
At the midpoint of his fifth season, Burt already has recorded 33 career sacks, and has moved into 11th place in AFL history. He also has forced 19 fumbles in his career, good for fourth on the all-time list.
SACK MACHINES: The Rush has two players - John Moyer and E.J. Burt - who rank in the top 11 in AFL history in sacks. Moyer has 34.5 career sacks - including 29.5 as a member of the Rush - and currently is in ninth place on the AFL's all-time list for career sacks. His teammate E.J. Burt is just 1.5 sacks behind, in 11th place with 33. Moyer also is the team's all-time leader with 6.0 playoff sacks.
Here are Chicago's regular season & 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
Khreem Smith 8.0 (2006) Khreem Smith 8.0
John Moyer 6.0 (2005) Anthony Hutch 6.5
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) Jamie McGourty 5.5
E.J. Burt 5.0 (2007) Riley Kleinhesselink 5.0
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) E.J. Burt 5.0
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
PETERS GETS AN OPPORTUNITY: With the move of lineman John Moyer to linebacker, the door was opened for Joe Peters to start on the defensive line. Peters, in his second season with the Rush, has made the most of his opportunity, recording 15.0 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass broken up. He also placed a hit on New York QB Rohan Davey March 18 that led to a Rush interception.
DAN THE MAN: Kicker Dan Frantz is having the best season of any kicker in Rush history. Through seven games Frantz has converted 64 of 70 PAT attempts (91.4%) and seven of 17 field goal attempts goals - including a team record 56-yarder vs. San Jose.
He also is making a habit of booting a field goal on the final play of the first half. So far this season, Frantz has kicked a field goal on the final play of the half three times. Dating back to last season, Frantz has converted a kick eight times in the team's last 15 games (including last year's postseason).
Frantz ranks sixth in the league in scoring among kickers with 85 points and is tied for seventh in field goals made with seven.
WORKING ON HIS SECOND 100: Chicago Rush head coach Mike Hohensee is the third-winningest coach in AFL history with 114 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 67-47 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 103-86 (including a
59-42 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 3-4 all-time vs. Dallas and 1-2 all-time vs. teams coached by Will McClay.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 182 @ Los Angeles
Danny White Utah 153 @ Kansas City
Mike Hohensee Rush 114 @Dallas
Mike Dailey Colorado 105 @ Nashville
Darren Arbet San Jose 98 vs. Las Vegas
CHASING 1,500: Rush FB Bob McMillen gained 12 more yards last week at Grand Rapids, giving him 57 for the season and 1,474 for his career.
McMillen, who announced he is retiring at the end of the 2007 season, is the AFL's second all-time leading rusher and needs just 26 yards to become only the second player in AFL history to rush for 1,500 career yards.
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 second on the AFL's all-time rushing list, second all-time in rushing attempts and fourth in rushing touchdowns. He is one of only two players (Darrin Kenney) 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
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,513
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,474
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 1,382
Chad Dukes 1996-98, 2002, 2004-07 Austin 1,271
The AFL's All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 517
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 470
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 - 127
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 93
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 86
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 83
Chris Ryan 2000-2007 Grand Rapids 77
MICHNA MAKES HIS DEBUT: Rush backup QB Russ Michna made his AFL debut in the fourth quarter of the team's April 1 win over LA. On his first career pass attempt, Michna hooked up with Bobby Sippio for a 34-yard completion down to the LA 3-yard line. Two plays later, Michna dove into the end zone from the 1-yard line for his first career touchdown. The game was Michna's only action this season.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: The Rush starting secondary of Jeremy Unertl, Dennison Robinson and Jonathan Ordway has been called the best secondary in the AFL by Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. In nine games, the trio has combined for 130.5 tackles, 10 interceptions and 36 passes broken up.
All three rank among the league's top 10 in passes defensed.
Add rookie James Sadler to the mix and you get 149 tackles, 11 interceptions and 37 PBUs.
Through nine games the Rush leads the league in pass defense rating, holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 92.6. The defense also ranks second in the league in scoring defense, giving up just 46.2 points per game, and third in pass defense.
Last season Unertl and Robinson were the team's two top tacklers, combining for 145.5 tackles to go along with 13 interceptions and 21 PBUs.
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.
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.
2007 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2007 Rush:
Site: Home 5-0 Road 3-1
Time: Day 2-1 Night 6-0
Opponents: vs. American Conf. 5-1
vs. Central 3-1
vs. West 2-0
vs. National Conf. 3-0
vs. East 3-0
vs. South 0-0
TALE OF THE TAPE - Regular Season Numbers
Chicago Category Dallas
9 Games 10
58.3 (5) Scoring Offense 61.9 (4)
46.2 (2) Scoring Defense 50.5 (6)
262.6 (18) Total Offense 311.2 (5)
285.7 (5) Total Defense 273.8 (2)
39-45 86.7% Red Zone Offense 56-61, 91.8%
32-40 80.0% Red Zone Defense 39-49, 79.6%
244.2 (18) Pass Offense 286.7 (6)
261.3 (3) Pass Defense 259.2 (2)
18.3 (11) Rushing Offense 24.5 (3)
24.3 (15) Rushing Defense 14.6 (4)
525 Scoring 619
85 (7) Scoring (Kicking) 87 (4)
44-779-2 Kickoff Returns 63-1,163-5
17.7 (8) Kick Return Average 18.5 (6)
4-97-0 Missed Field Goal Returns 2-18-0
24.2 (2) Missed FG Return Avg. 9.0 (T-14)
+18 (1) Turnover Margin +7 (4)
7-17, 41.2 Field Goals 4-8, 50.0%
64-70, 91.4% PAT Kicking 75-83, 90.4%
9-55 (T-10) Sacks By 13-76 (2)
18-60 (17) Sacks Against 2-15 (3)
23-54, 42.6% Third Down Conversion 31-52, 59.6%
9-12, 75.0% Fourth Down Conversion 3-9, 33.3%
73-446 (11) Penalties (#-Yards) 82-476 (14)
83-513 (3) Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 69-381 (15)
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players rank among the 2007 AFL league leaders:
Matt D'Orazio: quarterback rating (6th - 119.3), fourth quarter passing (7th - 116.4)
DeJuan Alfonzo: interceptions (T-8th - 4), tackles (T-8th - 57.5), special teams tackles (T-3rd - 12.5), fumble recoveries (1st - 4), forced fumbles (T-6th - 3)
Dennison Robinson: tackles (T-3rd - 64.5), passes defensed (7th - 12)
Bobby Sippio: scoring (1st - 240 points), touchdowns (1st - 40), receptions (2nd - 94), receiving yards (2nd - 1,347), third-down receiving (1st - 15 receptions for 196 yards and 9 TDs), first downs (4th - 67)
Dan Frantz: touchbacks on kickoffs (3rd - 25), scoring (6th - 85 points)
Jonathan Ordway: passes defensed (T-8th - 11)
Jeremy Unertl: interceptions (T-8th - 4), passes defensed (6th - 13)
EJ Burt: sacks (T-8th - 5), forced fumbles (T-2nd - 4)
DJ Bleisath: forced fumbles (T-6th - 3)
INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this week's injury report to the AFL:
Injured Reserve -Demetrios Walker (hamstring), Kevin Beard (Knee), Russell Shaw (ankle), Carl Ford (left hip flexor), Woody Dantzler (groin)
RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won individual game awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Game:
Bobby Sippio - 3/9 vs. San Jose, 3/18 vs. New York, 4/1 vs. Los Angeles, 4/7 @ Nashville, 4/21 @ Grand Rapids, 4/30 vs. Philadelphia, 5/7 vs. Colorado
Matt D'Orazio - 3/24 @ Columbus
ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Jeremy Unertl - 3/9 vs. San Jose
EJ Burt - 3/18 vs. New York
DeJuan Alfonzo - 3/24 @ Columbus, 4/7 @ Nashville
Curtis Eason - 4/1 vs. Los Angeles
James Sadler - 4/21 @ Grand Rapids
John Moyer - 4/30 vs. Philadelphia
Dennison Robinson - 5/7 vs. Colorado
Ironman of the Game:
Jonathan Ordway - 4/7 @ Nashville
DeJuan Alfonzo - 4/30 vs. Philadelphia
AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Bobby Sippio - Week 5 (4/1 vs. Los Angeles), Week 10 (5/7 vs. Colorado)
ADT Defensive Player of the Week:
DeJuan Alfonzo - Week 3 (3/18 vs. New York)
Ironman of the Week:
DeJuan Alfonzo - Week 9 (4/30 vs. Philadelphia)
AFL MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won AFL monthly awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Month:
Bobby Sippio - April
ADT Defensive Player of the Month:
E.J. Burt - March
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