Chicago Rush game notes
May 30, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: None
Radio: WCKG 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: Rush leads 4-3, (Tied 3-3 in regular season, Rush leads 1-0 in postseason)
Series Streaks: Chicago has won three in a row
Last Meeting: April 1, 2007, Rush 66, LA 31
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (104-88, 11-9 - 14th season)
Ed Hodgkiss (49-41, 0-4 - 6th season)
Officials: Dave Lambros (Referee), Al Granado (Umpire), Mike McCabe (Head Linesman), Brian Matthew (Line Judge), Joe Duncan (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 L, 52-48 12,518
May 19 Nashville* L, 44-27 16,142
May 26 @ Arizona W, 53-47 9,663
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 9-3-0 653 559 3-2
Colorado 8-5-0 664 664 4-3
Kansas City 7-5-0 640 578 2-3
Nashville 5-8-0 668 708 2-4
Grand Rapids 4-8-0 656 767 3-2
LA STORY: After clinching a playoff berth with a 53-47 win in Arizona last week, the Rush heads back to the west coast this weekend for a Saturday night matchup at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Avengers.
Despite playing in different divisions, this week's game is the second meeting of the year between Chicago and LA. The teams met April 1 at Allstate Arena with the Rush defeating the Avengers 66-31.
Los Angeles enters this week's game on the heels of a 62-56 loss at Kansas City last weekend.
FINISHING KICK: After Saturday's game against Los Angeles, the Rush finishes its regular season schedule with three-consecutive Central Division games - June 9 vs. Grand Rapids, June 18 at Colorado and June 23 vs. Kansas City. The Rush defeated Grand Rapids and Colorado earlier this season, but lost at Kansas City in the March 4 season opener.
BITING BACK: The Rush used a 24-0 run to take control, and then held on in the fourth quarter to defeat the Arizona Rattlers 53-47 at U.S. Airways Arena Saturday. The win helped the Rush clinch a spot in the AFL playoffs for the seventh-consecutive season.
After spotting Arizona a 14-0 lead just seven minutes into the game, the Rush held the Rattlers scoreless for nearly 26 minutes, building a 24-14 lead at the half.
The Rattlers mounted a comeback in the second half, cutting the Rush lead to 45-40 with 3:35 remaining, but a DeJuan Alfonzo 9-yard touchdown catch with 2:37 left sealed the win for Chicago.
Alfonzo, playing both offense and defense for the Rush, finished with seven receptions for 58 yards and three touchdowns, and added a rushing TD and 2.5 tackles in the game. He also recovered an Arizona onside kick with 35 seconds left in the game to secure the victory.
The Chicago win was even more impressive, as the team played without starting wide receiver Bobby Sippio for the second-consecutive game.
In addition, the Rush had never beaten Arizona, losing all five previous meetings between the teams.
Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio was extremely efficient, completing 27 of 37 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns, without throwing an interception. After a shaky start, D'Orazio only threw only four incomplete passes in the game's final three quarters.
PLAYOFF CONSISTENCY: Last week's win in Arizona assured the Rush a spot in the 2007 AFL playoffs. Chicago has never missed the playoffs, qualifying for the postseason in each of its seven seasons. Coming into 2007, Orlando and San Jose were the only other two AFL teams which also have made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons. San Jose already has qualified for its seventh-straight postseason and Orlando seems well on its way as well.
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.
JOCKEYING FOR PLAYOFF POSITION: As the AFL regular season hits the home stretch, teams are beginning to jockey for playoff position. The top six teams in the American Conference will qualify for the playoffs, with the winners of the Central and Western Divisions receiving first round byes.
Currently the Rush leads Colorado by 1.5 games and Kansas City by 2 games in the Central Division. The Rush also is tied with San Jose for the best record in the conference, but owns the tiebreaker over the SaberCats based on Chicago's win over San Jose in March.
Here is a look at the American Conference standings:
1. xd-Chicago 9-3
2. xd-San Jose 9-3
3. Colorado 8-5
4. Kansas City 7-5
5. Los Angeles 6-6
6. Utah 6-7
Nashville 5-8
Grand Rapids 4-8
Arizona 3-10
Las Vegas 2-10
x - clinched playoff spot
d- division leader
RUSH-AVENGERS PART II: The Rush and Avengers have met seven times in their history, with Chicago leading the overall series 4-3. After LA won three of the first four meetings, the Rush has come back to win the last three - including a 66-31 win at Allstate Arena earlier this season.
Here is a recap of this season's first game:
April 1, 2007: Wide receiver Bobby Sippio caught five touchdown passes and set what were then team records with 14 receptions for 224 yards as the Rush routed Los Angeles 66-31 at Allstate Arena. QB Matt D'Orazio connected on 23 of 30 passes for 287 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception. D'Orazio also rushed for four yards and a TD.
The Rush defense forced five turnovers - including four fumbles and LA QB Sonny Cumbie's first interception of the season - as Chicago built a 42-10 halftime lead and never looked back. One of the key moments of the game came in the middle of the first quarter with the game still scoreless. With Los Angeles poised to score on first-and-goal from the Rush 2-yard line, Chicago proceeded to stop the Avengers on four-consecutive running plays. After the defense shut the door, the offense scored to take a 7-0 lead.
Rush-Avengers All-Time Series Results:
2001: Los Angeles 55, Rush 47 (June 20 @ LA)
2003: Rush 54, Los Angeles 53 (February 23 @ Chicago)
2004: Los Angeles 71, Rush 35 (April 25 @ Chicago)
2005: Los Angeles 52, Rush 49 (April 23 @ LA)
Rush 52, Los Angeles 45 (May 29 @ LA)*
2006: Rush 65, Los Angeles 46 (February 18 @ LA)
2007: Rush 66, Los Angeles 31 (April 1, @ Chicago)
*AFL playoffs
SIPPIO MISSES SECOND-CONSECUTIVE GAME: Rush wide receiver Bobby Sippio missed his second-consecutive game last week in Arizona, recovering from a sprained ankle. Sippio originally injured the ankle in the first quarter of the team's May 14 game at Dallas. He hopes to return to action this week in LA.
SIKORA BACK, MOORE OUT: After seeing his consecutive games streak end at 89 two weeks ago against Nashville, lineman John Sikora was back in the lineup in Arizona. Sikora, however, was playing center instead of guard because Frank Moore missed the game to rest a sore knee. Moore missed the team's first eight games recovering from off-season knee surgery before returning to the lineup May 7 vs. Colorado. Moore played three games at center, before sitting last week as a precaution.
NINE: Chicago's win over Arizona was the team's ninth of the season - two more than the Rush garnered during the entire 2006 regular season. In 2006 the Rush didn't win its ninth game of the year until Week 2 of the playoffs, a 63-46 win at Colorado. 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.
HOME COOKIN': The Rush is 5-1 at home this season and owns a 37-17 all-time record at Allstate Arena (including postseason).
TURNOVERS THE KEY: When Dennison Robinson intercepted a Sherdrick Bonner pass Saturday in Arizona, it was the 35th turnover the Rush had forced this season breaking the team record of 34 set in 2003 and 2004. The Rush leads the AFL in forced turnovers as well as turnover margin at +20. The AFL single season record for takeaways is 49, set by the 1988 Pittsburgh Gladiators.
OFFENSE ROLLING: The Rush has scored 653 points this season and ranks seventh in the AFL in scoring offense, averaging 54.4 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: The Rush has had five games this season in which the team erased double-digit deficits to win. In addition, despite losing in Dallas the Rush came from 17-points down to take the lead with 2 minutes remaining in the game. 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.
8 May 14: Trailing Dallas 38-21 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter, the Rush went on a 20-0 run to take a 41-38 lead. However, Dallas scored with three seconds remaining in the game to win 52-48.
8 May 26: Trailing Arizona 14-0 just seven minutes into the game, the Rush went on a 24-0 run to take a 24-14 halftime lead before holding on for a 53-47 win over the Rattlers.
IRON-ALFONZO RETURNS: Bobby Sippio's injury in the first quarter of the May 14 game at Dallas thrust DeJuan Alfonzo back into the role of team Ironman. In addition to playing every play on defense and special teams, Alfonzo has added wide receiver duties to his resume. In his three games as a two-way player, Alfonzo has caught 19 passes for 194 yards and scored nine touchdowns (3 rushing, 6 receiving) while playing offense.
ALFONZO GRASPING FOR RECORDS: Bobby Sippio isn't the only Rush player setting 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 five fumbles this season - just one 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 11 games, Alfonzo has recorded 72.5 tackles, intercepted four passes, recovered five fumbles, forced three fumbles and broken up a pass.
He currently leads the league in fumbles recovered, is tied for ninth in forced fumbles and is tied for sixth in tackles.
SIPPIO SHINES: Despite missing the last two games with a sprained ankle, Bobby Sippio continues to have a spectacular season.
Sippio has set career highs this season with 97 receptions for 1,356 yards and 41 touchdowns. He is tied for the AFL lead in touchdowns and scoring (246 points) and ranks ninth in receptions and fourth in receiving yards.
THE SIPPIO FACTOR: With Bobby Sippio on the field in a Chicago uniform, the Rush is 15-4, including last season's championship run. Without Sippio this season the Rush is 1-1.
SIPPIO'S RECORD PACE SLOWED: Bobby Sippio is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (41) and scoring (246 points). For most of the season he has been on-pace to break Damian Harrell's league records for both. However, Sippio's injury has slowed his pace to catch Harrell.
The AFL's Single Season Touchdown leaders
Player Season Team TDs
Damian Harrell 2006 Colorado 61
Bobby Sippio 2007 (projected) Chicago 55
Eddie Brown 1996 Albany 51
Barry Wagner 1997 Orlando 51
The AFL's Single Season Scoring Leaders
Player Season Team Points
Damian Harrell 2006 Colorado 366
Bobby Sippio 2007 (projected) Chicago 328
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 6 W
@ Grand Rapids April 21, 2007 5 W
Colorado May 7, 2007 5 W
* AFL Playoffs
D'ORAZIO BOUNCES BACK: After passing for just 164 yards in the team's May 19 loss to Nashville, Rush QB Matt D'Orazio bounced back with a solid performance last week in Arizona. D'Orazio completed 27 of 37 passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns, without throwing an interception. After a shaky start, D'Orazio only threw only four incomplete passes in the game's final three quarters.
For the season D'Orazio has completed 267 of 397 passes for 2,898 yards and 61 touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions. He also has rushed for 94 yards and 10 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 month, 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.
PROUD PAPPA II: Matt D'Orazio isn't the only new father in the Rush locker room. Lineman D.J. Bleisath and his wife, Krista, became parents for the first time Saturday when they welcomed daughter Addison Grace. Bleisath, already in Arizona for the team's game, was unable to get to Atlanta to be there in person but was able to be on the phone with the delivery room while his daughter was being born. Addison measured 22-inches long and weighed nine pounds-five ounces.
MAGER A MAINSTAY: Rookie wide receiver Rob Mager, signed just two days prior to the team's April 21 game in Grand Rapids, is quickly developing a rapport with QB Matt D'Orazio. Mager was the team's leading receiver again last week against Arizona, catching 9 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
In his six games in a Rush uniform, Mager has caught 51 passes for 560 yards and 7 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 24 tackles, including two sacks and four TFLs, broken up two passes, forced a fumble 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.
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 from Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
SPEED RUSH: Rush lineman E.J. Burt continues to make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. This season Burt has recorded 15.5 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles and three passes broken up. Burt is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles. In addition, Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo has recovered two of the fumbles for Rush touchdowns.
In 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 36.5 career sacks - including 31.5 as a member of the Rush - and currently is in eighth place on the AFL's all-time list for career sacks. His teammate E.J. Burt is just 3.5 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 31.5
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 18.5 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 12 games Frantz has converted 79 of 87 PAT attempts (90.8%) and eight of 21 field goal attempts goals - including a team record 56-yarder vs. San Jose.
WORKING ON HIS SECOND 100: Chicago Rush head coach Mike Hohensee is the third-winningest coach in AFL history with 115 career victories. He is one of five coaches in AFL history with 100 or more wins, joining Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum, Utah coach Danny White, Colorado coach Mike Dailey and San Jose coach Darren Arbet in the 100-win club.
The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 68-49 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the team's seven 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 104-88 (including a
60-44 mark with the Rush).
8 has a career 11-9 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to seven-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
8 is 4-3 all-time vs. Los Angeles, 3-3 in the regular season and 1-0 in the postseason.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 184 @ New Orleans
Danny White Utah 154 vs. Colorado
Mike Hohensee Rush 115 @ Los Angeles
Mike Dailey Colorado 107 @ Utah
Darren Arbet San Jose 102 vs. Orlando
CHASING 1,500: Rush FB Bob McMillen has gained 65 yards this season, giving him 1,482 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 18 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 1,565
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,482
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 529
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 478
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 88
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 84
Chris Ryan 2000-2007 Grand Rapids 81
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.
HE'S THE BOSS: Rush rookie tight end Robert Boss is finally comfortable enough as a blocker that the Rush coaches are expanding his role in the offense. Boss has caught touchdown passes in each of the team's last two games - a 14 yard TD against Nashville and a five-yarder last week in Arizona. Boss also caught a two-point conversion pass from Matt D'Orazio last week against the Rattlers.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: The Rush starting secondary has been one of the team's strengths all season. In fact, the group - which includes Jeremy Unertl, Dennison Robinson Jonathan Ordway and James Sadler - has been called the best secondary in the AFL by Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. So far this season, the group has combined for 196 tackles, 14 interceptions and 42 passes broken up.
Through 12 games the Rush leads the league in pass defense rating, holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 95.3. The defense also ranks second in the league in scoring defense, giving up just 46.6 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.
2007 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2007 Rush:
Site: Home 5-1 Road 4-2
Time: Day 2-1 Night 7-2
Opponents: vs. American Conf. 6-2
vs. Central 3-2
vs. West 3-0
vs. National Conf. 3-1
vs. East 3-1
vs. South 0-0
TALE OF THE TAPE - Regular Season Numbers
Chicago Category Los Angeles
12 Games 12
54.4 (7) Scoring Offense 53.4 (8)
46.6 (2) Scoring Defense 54.5 (12)
254.4 (19) Total Offense 296.0 (9)
284.8 (6) Total Defense 306.2 (14)
51-61 83.6% Red Zone Offense 52-60, 86.7%
45-55 81.8% Red Zone Defense 53-69, 76.8%
238.2 (18) Pass Offense 281.7 (8)
256.7 (3) Pass Defense 292.2 (16)
16.2 (12) Rushing Offense 14.3 (13)
28.2 (19) Rushing Defense 13.9 (3)
653 Scoring 641
103 (8) Scoring (Kicking) 111 (4)
58-1,079-2 Kickoff Returns 75-1,073-1
18.6 (6) Kick Return Average 14.3 (19)
6-144-0 Missed Field Goal Returns 1-43-0
24.0 (3) Missed FG Return Avg. 43.0 (1)
+20 (1) Turnover Margin -1 (10)
8-21, 38.1 Field Goals 11-23, 47.8%
79-87, 90.8% PAT Kicking 78-88, 88.6%
11-62 (T-10) Sacks By 14-60 (T-5)
21-75 (17) Sacks Against 8-45 (8)
33-78, 42.3% Third Down Conversion 43-87, 49.4%
12-19, 63.2% Fourth Down Conversion 12-21, 57.1%
86-511 (6) Penalties (#-Yards) 76-435 (2)
104-650 (3) Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 114-720 (2)
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players rank among the 2007 AFL league leaders:
Matt D'Orazio: quarterback rating (8th - 118.6), fourth quarter passing (11th - 110.1)
DeJuan Alfonzo: tackles (T-8th - 75.5), special teams tackles (T-3rd - 14.0), fumble recoveries (1st - 5), forced fumbles (T-6th - 3)
Dennison Robinson: tackles (5th - 82.5), interceptions (T-9th - 5), passes defensed (T-8th - 13), fumble recoveries (T-7th - 3),
Bobby Sippio: scoring (T-1st - 246 points), touchdowns (T-1st - 41), receptions (9th - 97), receiving yards (4th - 1,356), third-down receiving (T-5th - 15 receptions for 196 yards and 9 TDs), first downs (9th - 68)
Dan Frantz: touchbacks on kickoffs (2nd - 32), scoring (7th - 103 points)
Jeremy Unertl: interceptions (T-9th - 5), passes defensed (6th - 13)
EJ Burt: sacks (T-9th - 5), forced fumbles (T-6th - 4)
INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this week's injury report to the AFL:
Injured Reserve - Demetrios Walker (hamstring), Woody Dantzler (groin), Jonathan Ordway (bicep)
Probable - Bobby Sippio (ankle)
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, 5/14 @ Dallas, 5/26 @ Arizona
Ironman of the Game:
Jonathan Ordway - 4/7 @ Nashville
DeJuan Alfonzo - 4/30 vs. Philadelphia, 5/19 vs. Nashville, 5/26 @ Arizona
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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