Chicago Rush Game Notes
May 12, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: None
Radio: None
Webcast: www.arenarush.com Les Grobstein
Overall Series Record: Rush leads series 1-0
Series Streaks: Chicago won the only meeting between the teams
Last Meeting: April 2, 2010, Rush 61, Iowa 43
Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):
Mike Hohensee (122-95, 12-11 16th season)
John Gregory (74-61, 6-6 11th season)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), Neil Brunner (Head Linesman), Jacob Kemp (Line Judge, Larry Orrico (Back Judge)
Media Contacts
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 W, 70-56 14,994
April 23 Utah W, 63-40 7,459
May 1 Bye
May 7 @ Milwaukee
* L, 71-48 5,386
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 4-1-0 301 266 2-1
Milwaukee 4-1-0 349 284 2-0
Cleveland 2-3-0 304 307 1-1
Iowa 2-3-0 265 296 0-3
BACK HOME WITH THE BARNSTORMERS: After suffering its first loss of the season last Friday in Milwaukee, the Rush returns home this week looking to bounce back against the Iowa Barnstormers.
The Rush and Barnstormers opened the season against each other April 2 in Des Moines, with the Rush getting a 61-43 win. The game triggered a four-game win streak for the Rush which finally was snapped last week in Milwaukee.
As for Iowa, the Barnstormers enter the game at 2-3 after falling 70-56 to Cleveland on Saturday.
BACK-TO-BACK ROAD TRIPS ON HORIZON: After this week's home game against Iowa, the Rush takes to the road for the next two weeks, playing Saturday, May 22, at Dallas and Saturday, May 29, at Cleveland. It is the only time this season the Rush will play back-to-back games on the road.
TWO MORE DIVISION TESTS: Through five games, the Rush is tied with Milwaukee for the lead atop the AFL's Midwest Division. Cleveland and Iowa are both two games back in the standings. The next three weeks are important in the race for the division title as Chicago faces both Iowa (May 15) and Cleveland (May 29) for the final time this regular season. The Rush defeated both teams the first time they met, so wins over the Barnstormers and Gladiators would secure a sweep of the season series for Chicago and give the Rush the tiebreakers over both teams.
RUSH FALLS IN MILWAUKEE: What was billed as a matchup of the two best teams in the Arena Football League turned into the worst loss for the Chicago Rush in more than six years, as the Milwaukee Iron defeated the Rush 71-48 Friday night at the Bradley Center.
The loss was the first of the season for Chicago (4-1) and drops the team into a tie with the Iron (4-1) atop the AFL's Midwest Division.
The game was tied 27-27 at the half, but the Rush failed to answer the bell for the second half. After surrendering a Milwaukee touchdown on the Iron's first drive of the third quarter to fall behind 34-27, the Rush proceeded to turn the ball over on four straight possessions - two fumbles on kick returns and two Russ Michna interceptions that were returned for TDs.
By the time the fourth quarter began, the Rush found itself behind 61-34 and the game was out of hand.
All told, the Rush turned the ball over six times, tying a dubious team record set in 2001.
BEST START EVER: Despite falling last week in Milwaukee, Chicago's 4-1 start to the season has tied the best start in franchise history. The only other season in which Chicago started this quickly was in 2004, when the team began the season 4-0 before falling at Philadelphia in its fifth game of the season. After its first loss in 2004, the Rush bounced back with a win over Orlando, increasing its record to 5-1 en route to an 11-5 record. The team advanced to the AFL semifinals before losing in San Jose, 49-35.
OWNING ITS DIVISION: Despite its loss last week in Milwaukee, the Rush still has a track record of playing its best football against its division opponents.
In fact, dating back to 2004, the Rush is 30-10 against its Central Division or Midwest Division rivals, including a 6-2 record in 2007, a 6-1 record in 2008, and now a 2-1 record this season.
GETTING AHEAD EARLY: The Rush has had few problems getting on the scoreboard early, scoring on the first official play from scrimmage in three of its first five games this season.
In Week 2 at home against Cleveland, QB Russ Michna connected with WR Samie Parker on a 42-yard touchdown pass on the game's first play.
In Week 3 in Arizona, Michna hooked up with Nichiren Flowers on a 45-yard TD strike on the game's first play.
Finally in Week 4, Michna hit Parker with a 34-yard TD pass on the team's first play from scrimmage.
RUSH WINS FIRST MEETING vs. IOWA: The Chicago Rush celebrated the return of the Arena Football League in grand fashion on April 2, defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 61-43 at Wells Fargo Arena in the season opener for both teams.
Both teams were sloppy - combining for 10 turnovers and 18 penalties - in the league's first game back in nearly two years, but the Rush made the plays when it needed them to en route to the decisive victory.
Rush veteran DeJuan Alfonzo was the story early, forcing turnovers on Iowa's first two possessions. On the Barnstormers' first play from scrimmage, Alfonzo intercepted a Brian Villanueva pass and returned it 10-yards for a Rush touchdown.
On Iowa's second possession, Alfonzo forced a fumble, which the Rush recovered at the Barnstormers 20-yard line. The Rush again converted with a TD, staking Chicago to an early 14-0 lead.
Once in front, Chicago built a big lead before hanging on in the fourth quarter. QB Russ Michna completed 18 of 30 passes for 261 yards and six touchdowns as the Rush took a 41-22 lead at the end of three quarters, before hanging on for the 61-43 win.
MICHNA GOOD AT BOUNCING BACK: Rush QB Russ Michna struggled in the third quarter last week at Milwaukee, throwing two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. Michna has had only one other game in his career in which he threw more than one interception - earlier this season at Arizona. Michna responded the next week against Utah with one of the best games of his career, completing 21 of 30 passes for 326 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown in the game.
For the season, Michna has completed 94 of 144 passes for 1,471 yards and 31 touchdowns, while only throwing five interceptions. Entering this week, he is ranked fourth in the AFL, with a QB rating of 124.2.
TURNOVER TURNAROUND: After forcing 13 turnovers in the team's first four games - all Chicago wins - the Rush failed to force any turnovers last week at Milwaukee. In fact, the Rush tied a team record by turning the ball over six times in last week's game.
The ability to force turnovers has been a long-standing trademark of the Rush defense.
In fact, the defense set a Rush team record with its five interception performance in the April 2 opener at Iowa.
Through five games, the Rush is averaging 2.6 turnovers forced per game. If it continues its current pace, the Rush will finish the season with 42 turnovers forced.
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
BLOCK THAT KICK: The Rush defensive line blocked two kicks in last week's game at Milwaukee and now has four blocked kicks for the season. Against the Iron, Rush lineman Michael Alston blocked a PAT attempt in the second quarter and lineman Joe Peters blocked a field goal attempt in the third quarter.
It is the second game in a row - and third game overall - in which the Rush special teams was able to block a kick. Joe Peters also blocked a field goal in the April 2 season opener at Iowa, and linebacker Clifton Smith blocked a field goal attempt vs. Utah on April 23.
The Rush team record for blocked kicks in a season is nine, set in 2004. John Moyer holds the individual record for blocked kicks with four - set in both 2004 and 2005.
HIGGINS MAKES A HEALTHY RETURN: After missing the second half of the team's April 16 game at Arizona and the entire April 23 game vs. Utah with a foot injury, wide receiver Kenny Higgins returned to the lineup last week at Milwaukee. Higgins led the Rush with nine receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The 157 receiving yards were the most by a Rush receiver this season.
To date, Higgins has caught 22 passes for 302 yards and seven touchdowns in just over three games of action.
Higgins 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.
PARKER A BIG PLAY THREAT: Wide receiver Samie Parker, who signed with the Rush just after training camp started, has become QB Russ Michna's leading target.
In five games, Parker leads the team with 33 catches for 540 yards and eight touchdowns.
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.
FLOWERS BREAKS OUT: WR Nichiren Flowers has been pushing fellow wide receiver Samie Parker to be the team's leading receiver all season long. Flowers currently ranks second on the team with 26 receptions for 453 yards. He also has a team-leading nine TD catches. As if that wasn't enough, Flowers also threw a TD pass last week at Milwaukee - a 31-yard TD strike to tight end Shawn McMackin.
Flowers was a rookie with the Los Angeles Avengers in 2007, before spending 2008 and 2009 playing in af2 with Central Valley and Boise.
MCMACKIN GETS FIRST TD: Offensive lineman Shawn McMackin made his return to the Rush lineup a successful one last week in Milwaukee. After starting the opener at guard April 2 at Milwaukee, McMackin was not in the lineup for the team's next three games. He returned to start at tight end last week and caught the first touchdown pass of his career - a 31 yard reception from Nichiren Flowers.
HE'S THE BOSS: Fan favorite Robert Boss has moved from tight end to fullback this season. Boss has proven he can be a weapon at fullback, rushing for 25 yards and a touchdown, and catching four passes for 54 yards and two TDs.
THE NEW GLOVE: Through five games, rookie DB Nygel Rogers might be the biggest surprise on the Rush roster this year. Rogers currently leads the league with five interceptions, including a 14-yard interception which he returned for a touchdown April 16 at Arizona.
For the season, the rookie has recorded 36 tackles, five interceptions, five passes broken up and one forced fumble.
FERGUSON NOT FAR BEHIND: Rookie DB Josh Ferguson is pushing his fellow DB Nygel Rogers for top rookie DB on the squad. Ferguson ranks second on the team with 40 tackles and has added two interceptions and seven passes broken up.
Ferguson currently ranks fourth in the league in tackles and is tied for sixth in interceptions.
PRESSURE UP FRONT: Perhaps one reason the Rush leads the AFL in interceptions with 11 is the fact that the team has been getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, forcing them to throw the ball earlier than planned. Through five games the Rush is tied for fifth in the AFL with six sacks. Linebacker Clifton Smith leads the team with three sacks, while defensive lineman Michael Alston has two.
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.
Gould has started the season by connecting on 40 of 42 PAT attempts and three of five field goal attempts, including the game-winning 20-yard field goal April 9 vs. Cleveland. To date his only missed field goals have come from 38 yards (vs. Cleveland) and 62 yards (at Iowa).
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.
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 87-58 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 122-95 (including a 77-51 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 2-3 all-time vs. the Barnstormers franchise.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 200 vs. Jacksonville
Danny White - 161
Mike Hohensee Rush 134 @ Milwaukee
Darren Arbet - 121
Mike Dailey - 116
2010 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2010 Rush:
Site: Home 2-0 Road 2-1
Time: Day 0-0 Night 4-1
Opponents: vs. Midwest 2-1
vs. West 2-0
vs. East 0-0
vs. South 0-0
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2010 AFL league leaders:
Russ Michna: total offense (5th - 1,506 yards), passer rating (4th - 124.2)
Chris Gould: field goals made (1st - 3), scoring for kickers (1st - 49 points)
DeJuan Alfonzo: interceptions (T-6th - 2)
Nygel Rogers: interceptions (1st - 5)
Josh Feguson: interceptions (T-6th - 2), tackles (T-4th - 40)
Chris Martin: tackles (T-3rd - 41)
Michael Alston: sacks (T-6th - 2.0)
Clifton Smith: sacks (T-4th - 3.0)
RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won individual game awards for their play this season:
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game:
Russ Michna - 4/2 @ Iowa
Samie Parker - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
Nichiren Flowers - 4/23 vs. Utah
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game:
Chris Martin - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
DeJuan Alfonzo - 4/2 @ Iowa, 4/16 @ Arizona
Nygel Rogers - 4/23 vs. Utah
Ironman of the Game:
Robert Boss - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
Clifton Smith - 4/23 vs. Utah
AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:
Riddell Defensive Player of the Week:
Chris Martin - 4/9 vs. Cleveland
Nygel Rogers - 4/23 vs. Utah
JLS Ironman of the Week:
Clifton Smith - 4/23 vs. Utah
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