Chicago Rush Game Notes
April 14, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: None
Radio: None
Webcast: www.arenarush.com Mike Alzamora
Overall Series Record: Arizona leads 5-2 (4-2 in regular season, 1-0 in postseason)
Series Streaks: Chicago has won the last two meetings
Last Meeting: March 28, 2008, Rush 59, Arizona 35
Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):
Mike Hohensee (120-94, 12-11 16th season)
Kevin Guy (10-11, 0-1 3rd season)
Officials: Shawn Hochuli (Referee), Matt Richards (Umpire), Ed Walker (Head Linesman), Jim Wharrie (Line Judge), Mearle Robinson (Back Judge)
2010 Chicago Rush Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Score TV/Attend
April 2 @ Iowa * W, 61-43 12,184
April 9 Cleveland * W, 59-56 8,075
April 17 @ Arizona 9:30 p.m.
April 23 Utah 7:30 p.m.
May 1 Bye
May 7 @ Milwaukee* 7:30 p.m.
May 15 Iowa* 7 p.m.
May 22 @ Dallas 7:30 p.m.
May 29 @ Cleveland* 6 p.m.
June 4 Jacksonville 7 p.m. NFL Net
June 12 @ Utah 8 p.m.
June 19 Milwaukee* 7 p.m.
June 26 Orlando 7 p.m.
July 2 @ Tampa Bay 7 p.m. NFL Net
July 10 Arizona 7 p.m.
July 17 Dallas 7 p.m.
July 23 @ Spokane 7 p.m. NFL Net
* Midwest Division game
Midwest Division 2010 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
RUSH 2-0-0 120 99 2-0
Milwaukee 1-0-0 74 62 0-0
Iowa 0-1-0 43 61 0-1
Cleveland 0-2-0 116 120 0-1
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX: The 2-0 Rush heads back on the road this week - traveling to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Rattlers Friday night at U.S. Airways Arena. The game originally was scheduled for Saturday night, but was changed to accommodate a Phoenix Suns playoff game.
Chicago enters the game on the heels of a thrilling 59-56 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators last week at Allstate Arena. The Rattlers, on the other hand, enjoyed a bye week last week after opening the season with their own 61-56 come-from-behind victory over Cleveland.
UTAH GAME LEADS TO A BREAK: After its trip to the desert, the Rush returns home to Allstate Arena to host the Utah Blaze on Friday, April 23. The game against Utah will be the team's last before its first bye week of the season.
GOULD'S FG MOVES RUSH TO 2-0: Chicago Rush kicker Chris Gould booted a 20-yard field goal with two-seconds remaining to give the Rush a thrilling 59-56 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators last Friday at Allstate Arena.
Gould's game-winning kick was the conclusion to a see-saw game that saw no team hold a lead of more than seven points the entire 60 minutes. In fact, the final kick came only after Gladiators quarterback John Dutton connected with WR Ben Nelson on a 13-yard touchdown to tie the score at 56-56 with just 45 seconds remaining.
But 45 seconds was more than enough time for the Rush, as QB Russ Michna led the team down the field in six plays, setting up the game-winning kick.
Michna was sharp all night, connecting with Samie Parker on a 42-yard touchdown on the game's first play en route to a game that saw him complete 22 of 27 passes for 315 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns - without throwing an interception. For the second week in a row, Parker was Michna's favorite target, catching nine passes for 148 yards and three TDs.
But despite the great offensive performance, it was the defense that helped turn the game around. With the game tied 42-42 late in the third quarter, an interception by Chris Martin and an ensuing facemask penalty gave the Rush the ball at its 15-yard line. Two plays later, Nichiren Flowers scored on a 25-yard TD reception to give Chicago a 49-42 lead, and the Rush would not trail again.
OFF TO A FAST START: The Rush is off to a 2-0 start for only the second time in team history. The only other season in which Chicago started this quickly was in 2004, when the team began the season 4-0 on its way to an 11-5 regular season. In 2004, the Rush advanced to the AFL semifinals before losing in San Jose, 49-35.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Last week's home-opening win over Cleveland raised Chicago's all-time record at Allstate Arena to 48-19 (including postseason). It also was the team's eighth-consecutive regular season win at Allstate Arena.
OWNING ITS DIVISION: It is no surprise that the Rush is off to a great start against its Midwest Division rivals, as Chicago has a history of playing its best football within the division.
In fact, dating back to 2004, the Rush is 30-9 against its Central Division or Midwest Division rivals, including a 6-2 record in 2007, a 6-1 record in 2008, and now a 2-0 record this season.
RUSH AMONG THE BEST YEAR AFTER YEAR: The Rush has a tradition of fielding winning teams year after year. In fact, during its first eight seasons in the AFL, only San Jose had a better regular season record than Chicago.
The AFL's best regular season records (2001-2008):
San Jose 88-35
RUSH 74-50
Orlando 74-50
Tampa Bay 70-54
Dallas 69-38-1
RUSH-RATTLERS SERIES HISTORY: After dropping each of the first five games in its series with Arizona (not including a preseason loss to the Rattlers in 2001), the Rush has won the last two games in the series.
This week's game will be the eighth in the series between Chicago and Arizona, and the sixth that has been played in Phoenix. The only two games played in Chicago were in 2003 and 2008.
Here is a look at the Rush-Rattlers Series Results:
2002: Rattlers 52, Rush 41 (May 25 @ Arizona)
Rattlers 46, Rush 35 (August 11 @ Arizona)*
2003: Rattlers 56, Rush 44 (May 11 @ Chicago)
2005: Rattlers 61, Rush 43 (May 6 @ Arizona)
2006: Rattlers 61, Rush 42 (April 15 @ Arizona)
2007: Rush 53, Rattlers 47 (May 26 @ Arizona)
2008: Rush 59, Rattlers 35 (March 28 @ Chicago)
*AFL Semifinals
TURNOVERS A RUSH TRADEMARK: The ability to force turnovers has been a long-standing trademark of the Rush defense. In the season's first two games, the Rush has continued that tradition, forcing nine turnovers - 8 interceptions and 1 fumble - an average of 4.5 turnovers per game.
In fact, the defense set a Rush team record with its five interception performance in the opener at Iowa.
Each of the team's three starting defensive backs has at least one interception this season, with Nygel Rogers currently leading the league with three INTs and Josh Ferguson ranking second with two.
In 2007, the Rush led the AFL in forced turnovers with 44 - 20 fumbles and a league-high 24 interceptions. The following season, the Rush defense forced a total of 33 turnovers, again ranking among the league leaders.
AFL's Single Season Takeaways
Team Season Takeaways
Pittsburgh Gladiators 1988 49
Columbus Destroyers 2006 46
San Jose SaberCats 2008 45
Albany Firebirds 1996 45
Chicago Rush 2007 44
Dallas Desperados 2006 44
MARTIN NAMED DEFENSIVE POY: Chicago Rush defensive back Chris Martin has been named the Arena Football League's Riddell Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team's 59-56 win over Cleveland Friday night at Allstate Arena, the AFL announced this week.
Martin recorded seven tackles, an interception, a pass broken up and a forced fumble in the win, helping the Rush move to 2-0 for just the second time in team history. He also was a force on special teams, returning six kickoffs for 138 yards.
Martin was acquired in a trade with Spokane at the conclusion of training camp. A CFL veteran, Martin spent the 2008 season in Grand Rapids, recording 85 tackles and two interceptions. He was most-dangerous, however, as a kick returner, returning 83 kicks for 1,663 yards and 6 touchdowns.
GOOD AS GOULD: Rookie kicker Chris Gould, brother of Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould, is off to a fast start in his first season with the Rush.
In addition to kicking the game-winning field goal last week against Cleveland, Gould has connected on 15 of 16 PAT attempts and three of five field goals, with his only misses coming from 38 and 62 yards.
Gould got his first taste of Arena Football in 2009, playing in 4 games for the af2's Milwaukee Iron. In his brief stint with the Iron, Gould converted 19 of 20 PATs and 1 of 9 field goal attempts.
A 2008 graduate of the University of Virginia, Chris began his college career as a punter before adding the placekicking duties as a junior.
IT MUST BE IN THE GENES: It should not come as any surprise that Rush kicker Chris Gould was able to ignore the pressure and boot a game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining against Cleveland, since his brother, Robbie, is known for his pressure kicks with the Bears.
In his five-year career, Robbie has connected on eight game-winning field goals, most recently a 44-yarder with 15 seconds remaining on September 20, 2009 to give the Bears a 17-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
MICHNA FINDING OLD MAGIC: QB Russ Michna was in total command in last week's win over Cleveland, completing 22 of 27 passes and setting career highs by passing for 315 yards and eight touchdowns.
For the season, Michna has completed 40 of 55 passes for 576 yards and 14 touchdowns, while only throwing one interception. In addition, with the win over Iowa, Michna is now 10-3 as a starter with the Rush.
Here are Michna's career numbers:
G Comp Att Pct. Yds. TD Int Rating
21 281 407 69.0% 3,341 71 8 125.2
PARKER A BIG PLAY THREAT: Wide receiver Samie Parker, who joined the Rush just after training camp started, has emerged as the team's big-play receiver.
Against Cleveland, Parker was the team's leading receiver, catching nine passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the second-consecutive week in which Parker was the team's leading receiver, giving him 15 receptions for 252 yards and five TDs on the season.
A fourth-round draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004, Parker spent four seasons in Kansas City, catching 110 passes for 1,529 yards and seven TDs. After leaving KC, Parker had stints with the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders before playing with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives in 2009.
EVEN MORE TALENT AT RECEIVER: This year's group of wide receivers might be as deep and as talented as any group the Rush has ever had.
In addition to Samie Parker, the corps is led by AFL veteran Kenny Higgins, who was named Second Team All-Arena in 2008 after catching 112 passes for 1,552 yards and 39 touchdowns as a member of the Grand Rapids Rampage. In fact, Rush fans will remember Higgins performance at Allstate Arena in 2008 when he caught 14 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a Rampage upset of the Rush in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Along with Parker and Higgins, the Rush has added receivers Nichiren Flowers and Alan Turner to the mix.
Flowers was a rookie with the Los Angeles Avengers in 2007, before spending 2008 and 2009 playing in af2 with Central Valley and Boise.
HE'S THE BOSS: Fan favorite Robert Boss returns to the Rush, but not at his familiar tight end position. Despite being one of the league's most-dangerous pass-catching tight ends - catching 15 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in 2008, Boss has moved to fullback in 2010.
In his two weeks at FB, Boss has proven he can be a weapon at fullback, rushing for 11 yards and a touchdown, and catching two passes for 28 yards and a TD.
NEW LOOK LINE: It will be interesting to see just how quickly this year's offensive line takes to gel. Returning center Beau Elliott opens the 2010 season with a new linemate on either side of him. Joining Elliott on the offensive line are tight end Palauni Ma Sun and guards Thaddeus Coleman and Shawn McMackin.
In its first game as a unit April 2 at Iowa, the Rush offensive line had its ups and downs. The line allowed two sacks and the team lost three fumbles - all on bad QB-center exchanges. Last week against Cleveland, the line was much better, allowing only one sack and no bad QB-center exchanges.
STILL ON THE SIDELINE: While many of the faces have changed, one aspect of the Rush remains the same - head coach Mike Hohensee. Hohensee, the only head coach in Rush history, is back on the sidelines running the team. Now in his ninth season with the Rush, Hohensee has posted an 85-57 overall record, and has led the team to the playoffs in each of its first eight seasons.
In addition to winning ArenaBowl XX, Hohensee has led the Rush to four Central Division titles (2002, 2004, 2007, 2008) and has helped the team advance to the AFL semifinals five times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007).
Hohensee ranks third in AFL history in career victories, behind Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum and former Utah and Arizona coach Danny White.
One of only four men to be involved in the Arena Football League in each of the league's 23 seasons, Hohensee:
has a regular season record of 120-94 (including a 75-50 mark with the Rush).
has a career 12-11 mark in the postseason.
has led the Rush to eight-consecutive playoff berths and four Central Division titles (2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008).
is 3-9 all-time vs. Arizona, but is 1-0 vs. Kevin Guy coached teams.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 199 vs. Dallas
Danny White - 161
Mike Hohensee Rush 132 at Arizona
Darren Arbet - 121
Mike Dailey - 116
FAMILIAR FACES: Five members of Chicago's 23-man roster are very familiar to the fans, having played for the Rush before. Quarterback Russ Michna, linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo, FB Robert Boss, and linemen Beau Elliott and Joe Peters are all back in Rush blue.
OTHER AFL EXPERIENCE: In addition to the five returning Rush players, Chicago's roster features four other AFL veterans - wide receiver Kenny Higgins, defensive back Chris Martin, linebacker Clifton Smith and wide receiver Nichiren Flowers. Both Higgins and Martin spent the 2008 season with the Grand Rapids Rampage, while Smith won an ArenaBowl title as a member of the Philadelphia Soul. Flowers spent time with the Los Angeles Avengers in 2007.
PEORIA CONNECTIONS: Two Players on the 2010 Rush roster played for head coach Mike Hohensee last season as members of the af2's Peoria Pirates - DB Josh Ferguson and defensive lineman Darnell Whitley.
Ferguson played in eight games for Peoria, recording 50 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He also forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble which he returned for a touchdown.
Whitley appeared in three games for the Pirates, playing on both the offensive and defensive line.
MR. EVERYTHING BACK AT JACK: Perhaps the best news for the Rush this season is that linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo is back with the team. Regarded as one of the best all-around players in the league, Alfonzo was named First Team All-Arena at Jack linebacker in both 2007 and 2008.
Alfonzo showed in the April 2 opener at Iowa that he hasn't lost a step, forcing Iowa turnovers on each of the Barnstormers' first two possessions.
On the Barnstormers first official play from scrimmage, Alfonzo intercepted a Brian Villanueva pass and returned it 10-yards for a Rush touchdown. Then, on Iowa's second possession, Alfonzo forced a fumble, which the Rush recovered at the Barnstormers 20-yard line. In addition to his two forced turnovers, Alfonzo finished the game with five tackles and two passes broken up.
Last week against Cleveland, Alfonzo added five tackles.
In 2007, he set an AFL record by scoring five defensive touchdowns - three via interceptions and two via fumble recoveries - and tied an AFL record by recovering six fumbles.
Along with his play at linebacker, Alfonzo is the team's holder on field goals and extra points and, if needed, can play both wide receiver and defensive back.
Additionally, Alfonzo is one of the team's top special teams players - both on kickoff coverage and kickoff return.
SMITH BRINGS CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE: Lining up next to Alfonzo at Mac linebacker is former Philadelphia Soul FB/LB Clifton Smith. Smith was an All-Ironman selection for the 2008 Soul team that won the ArenaBowl championship.
In two games this season, Smith has shown that he is a perfect complement to Alfonzo, registering five tackles, two sacks and a pass broken up.
In 2008, Smith recorded 33 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception on defense, while rushing for 131 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense.
PETERS FEELING THE PRESSURE: Putting pressure on the opponent's quarterback has always been a Rush trademark. However, gone from the 2008 Rush squad are defensive linemen James Baron and John Moyer - who ranked second and seventh, respectively, on the AFL's career sack list.
The job of filling their shoes falls to Baron and Moyer's former teammate, defensive end Joe Peters. Peters is in his fourth season in Chicago, entering the year with 76 tackles and six sacks in his career.
Joining Peters on the defensive line are rookies Michael Alston, Mike Newkirk and Darnell Whitley.
RUSH ADDS NEWKIRK: The Rush added some depth on its defensive line last week with the signing of lineman Mike Newkirk. Newkirk (6-2, 270) was a four-year letterwinner at Wisconsin, recording 208 tackles and 10 sacks in his career. In 2008, he was named Second Team All-Big 10 as a defensive tackle, recording four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
2010 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2010 Rush:
Site: Home 1-0 Road 1-0
Time: Day 0-0 Night 2-0
Opponents: vs. Midwest 2-0
vs. West 0-0
vs. East 0-0
vs. South 0-0
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2010 AFL league leaders:
Chris Gould: field goals made (1st - 3), scoring for kickers (1st - 24 points),
Nygel Rogers: interceptions (1st - 3)
Josh Feguson: interceptions (2nd - 2)
Samie Parker: receiving yards (4th - 252)
Clifton Smith: sacks (T-1st - 2.0)
RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won individual game awards for their play this season:
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game:
Samie Parker - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game:
Chris Martin - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
Ironman of the Game:
Robert Boss - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game:
Chris Martin - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
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