Chicago Rush Game Notes
June 2, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Quick Facts
TV: NFL Network Paul Burmeister, Mike Lombardi, Anthony Herron
Radio: None
Webcast: www.arenarush.com Les Grobstein
Overall Series Record: This is the first meeting between the teams
Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):
Mike Hohensee (124-96, 12-11 16th season)
Les Moss (6-2, 0-0 1st season)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), John Quinn (Head Linesman), Jacob Kemp (Line Judge), Larry Orrico (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 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
* L, 44-30 10,363
May 22 @ Dallas W, 63-56 4,583
May 29 @ Cleveland
* W, 52-49 8,688
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
Milwaukee 6-2-0 522 435 2-0
RUSH 6-2-0 446 415 3-2
Iowa 3-4-0 357 378 1-3
Cleveland 3-5-0 465 460 1-2
SHARK ATTACK: After sweeping a two-game road trip at Dallas and Cleveland, the Rush returns home this week to host the Jacksonville Sharks in a matchup of two of the best teams in the Arena Football League. The game, which features a pair of teams with 6-2 records, will be broadcast nationally Friday evening as the AFL game of the week on the NFL Network.
The Rush enters the game sporting a two-game winning streak, including a thrilling come-from-behind 52-49 win last week in Cleveland.
Jacksonville is looking to start a new streak of its own after seeing its five-game winning streak snapped last week in Spokane.
TRIP TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST: The Rush is back on the road next week, heading west to take on the Utah Blaze on Saturday, June 12. The Rush will be looking to complete a season sweep of the Blaze, as Chicago defeated Utah 63-40 at Allstate Arena earlier this season.
MARTIN RETURN SPARKS RUSH WIN: Rush kick returner Chris Martin picked a great time to return his first kickoff for a touchdown, as his 57-yard return with 14 seconds left in the game proved the difference in Chicago's 52-49 win over the Cleveland Gladiators at the Quicken Loans Arena last Saturday night.
Martin's return came after Cleveland scored with 21 seconds remaining to take a 49-45 lead.
However, even with the return, the Rush (6-2) still needed to hold on at the end when Cleveland (3-5) kicker Matt Denny's 34-yard field goal attempt to tie the game missed wide left at the final buzzer.
The sequence was typical of the back-and-forth affair, which saw the Rush trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half before coming back for the victory.
The Rush did not lead until the fourth quarter, when Josh Ferguson's interception in the end zone set up a Russ Michna to Samie Parker touchdown that gave Chicago a 36-35 lead.
The lead did not last long, as Cleveland responded when fullback Russell Monk rumbled in from two yards out to put Cleveland back on top 42-36 with just under eight minutes to go in the game.
The Rush tied the score at 42-42 on its next series, when Michna connected with Alan Turner on a 22-yard strike.
With the game even, the Rush defense stepped up big, forcing a turnover on downs.
Chris Gould took advantage and made up for what had been a rocky night, connecting on a 23-yard field goal that put the Rush up 45-42. (Prior to the field goal, Gould had missed two extra points and a field goal in the game).
That set the stage for Cleveland's late touchdown and Martin's game-winning kick return.
PLAYING A WINNER: Friday's matchup with Jacksonville marks just the third time this season - and first time at home - that Chicago has faced a team with a winning record.
The Arizona Rattlers were 1-0 when the teams met in Phoenix on April 17 and Milwaukee was 3-1 when the teams met at the Bradley Center on May 7. The Rush split the two games, defeating the Rattlers 70-56, but falling to the Iron 71-48.
THE SECOND HALF: The Rush has reached the season's midway point with a record of 6-2 and is tied for the best record in the AFL with Jacksonville, Milwaukee and Spokane.
Here is a breakdown of Chicago's history in the first and second halves of the season:
First Half Second Half Final Record
2001 4-3 3-4 7-7
2002 4-3 5-2 9-5*
2003 3-5 5-3 8-8
2004 6-2 5-3 11-5*
2005 4-4 5-3 9-7
2006 3-5 4-4 7-9
2007 7-1 5-3 12-4*
2008 6-2 5-3 11-5*
2010 6-2 ? ?
* Central Division champion
RUSH ACQUIRES VICKERSON: The Rush added some depth on its defensive line this week with the acquisition of Quartez Vickerson in a trade with Oklahoma City. Vickerson (6-5, 305, Grand Valley State) played in four games for the Yard Dawgz, recording six tackles and two sacks.
In exchange, the Rush sent offensive lineman Thaddeus Coleman to Oklahoma. Coleman played in three games for the Rush this season before being placed on the team's exempt list.
To make room on the active roster for Vickerson, the Rush waived defensive lineman Josh Beard.
MARTIN BREAKS THROUGH: Rush defensive back/kick returner Chris Martin had been threatening to break a kick return for a touchdown for a few weeks. He couldn't have picked a better time to get his first kick return TD of the season than last week at Cleveland. With the Rush trailing by four points with just 21 seconds remaining, Martin returned a Cleveland kickoff 57 yards for a TD, giving the Rush a 52-49 win.
For his efforts on special teams, as well as his four tackles on defense, Martin was named this week's JLS Ironman of the Week.
For the season, Martin has returned 41 kicks for 724 yards, good for an average of 17.7 yards per return. However, during the team's current two game winning streak, Martin has returned 11 kicks for 251 yards - giving him an average of 22.8 yards per return.
FERGUSON THE DIFFERENCE - AGAIN: For the second-consecutive week, Rush DB Josh Ferguson made the key defensive play to turn the game around. With the Rush trailing Cleveland 35-30 late in the third quarter, Ferguson intercepted a John Dutton pass intended for Jermaine Lewis in the end zone. It was Dutton's only interception of the game and proved to be costly for the Gladiators as three plays later Rush QB Russ Michna connected with WR Samie Parker on a 27-yard TD pass to give the Rush a 36-35 lead.
One week earlier in Dallas, with the Rush leading by six, Ferguson intercepted Dallas QB Collin Drafts early in the third quarter. Chicago capitalized, scoring a touchdown to give the Rush a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter. Dallas would not get closer than a touchdown the rest of the game.
Ferguson currently leads the AFL with 63 tackles and is tied for second in the league with five interceptions, including one in each of the team's last three games.
MICHNA BACK ON TARGET: Rush QB Russ Michna enjoyed another outstanding performance in last week's win at Cleveland. Michna completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns in the game, without throwing an interception. It was the second-consecutive game in which Michna did not throw an interception.
During the team's current two-game winning streak, Michna has completed 50 of 64 passes for 611 yards and eight touchdowns, making his quarterback rating for the last two games an outstanding 137.7.
For the season, Michna has completed 165 of 246 passes for 2,329 yards and 41 touchdowns, while throwing eight interceptions. His QB rating for the year is 123.5.
Currently, Michna ranks third in the AFL in passing yards and is fourth in passer rating.
BLOCK THAT KICK: The Rush defensive line has done a nice job this season of blocking kicks, blocking a total of five for the season - two by Michael Alston, two by Joe Peters and one by Clifton Smith.
The Rush team record for blocked kicks in a season is nine, set in 2004. John Moyer holds the Rush individual record for blocked kicks with four - set in both 2004 and 2005.
FLOWERS BREAKS OUT: WR Nichiren Flowers continues to be the big surprise of the Rush receiving corps this season. Flowers is the team's second-leading receiver, catching 53 passes for 799 yards and a team-leading 15 touchdowns. Flowers also has a TD pass to his credit, throwing for a score May 7 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.
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 favorite target.
In eight games, Parker leads the team with 56 catches for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns.
As evidence of his big-play ability, Parker's 835 receiving yards rank him fifth in the league, despite only ranking 14th in the AFL in receptions.
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.
ROGERS BACK, HIGGINS OUT: Rush DB Nygel Rogers returned to the Rush lineup last week in Cleveland after missing the previous week's game in Dallas with an injured heel. Rogers led the team with 10 tackles and made a critical fourth-quarter pass breakup. With the game tied at 42-42, Rogers broke up a fourth-down pass from John Dutton to Ben Nelson with 3:02 left in the game. The Rush regained possession and went on to kick a field goal that put Chicago up 45-42.
Unfortunately, the injury news was not as good for Rush WR Kenny Higgins, who did not make the trip to Cleveland after suffering a leg injury in practice last week. Projected to be the team's top receiver, Higgins has not been fully healthy at any point this season and his injuries have forced him to miss nearly three full games. When he has been able to get on the field, Higgins has been very productive, catching 32 passes for 389 yards and eight touchdowns.
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.
FIELDS MAKES DEBUT: With Nygel Rogers missing the team's May 22 game at Dallas with a heel injury, rookie Brandon Fields made his AFL debut, starting in place of Rogers and recording five tackles in the game. With Rogers back in the lineup last week at Cleveland, Fields played entirely on special teams. Fields (5-11, 198, Tennessee Tech) was signed to the Rush roster on May 13.
PRESSURE UP FRONT: Perhaps one reason the Rush leads the AFL in interceptions with 16 is the fact that the team has been getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, forcing them to throw the ball earlier than planned. Through eight games the Rush is fifth in the AFL with nine sacks. Linebacker Clifton Smith and defensive lineman Michael Alston are tied with the team lead with three sacks each.
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 54 of 60 PAT attempts and six of nine field goal attempts, including making two of three attempts last week in Cleveland.
Gould currently leads the AFL in made field goals with six and is second in scoring among kickers with 72 points. His 90% conversion rate on extra points places him sixth in the AFL among kickers.
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 89-59 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 124-96 (including a 80-52 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).
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 202 vs. Oklahoma City
Danny White - 161
Mike Hohensee Rush 136 vs. Jacksonville
Darren Arbet - 121
Mike Dailey - 116
2010 RUSH BY THE NUMBERS: Here is a breakdown of the 2010 Rush:
Site: Home 2-1 Road 4-1
Time: Day 0-0 Night 6-2
Opponents: vs. Midwest 3-2
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:
Chris Gould: field goals made (1st - 6), scoring for kickers (2nd - 72 points)
Nygel Rogers: interceptions (T-2nd - 5)
Josh Feguson: interceptions (T-2nd - 5), tackles (T-3rd - 54)
Michael Alston: sacks (T-10th - 3.0)
Clifton Smith: sacks (T-10th - 3.0)
DeJuan Alfonzo: interceptions (T-5th - 3)
Russ Michna: QB rating (T-3rd - 123.5), total offense (3rd - 2,364)
Samie Parker: receiving yards (5th - 835)
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, 5/22 @ Dallas, 5/29 @ Cleveland
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
Josh Ferguson - 5/22 @ Dallas
Ironman of the Game:
Robert Boss - 4/9 vs. Cleveland, 5/22 @ Dallas
Clifton Smith - 4/23 vs. Utah
Chris Martin - 5/29 @ Cleveland
AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:
Russell Offensive Player of the Week:
Russ Michna - 5/22 @ Dallas
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
Chris Martin - 5/29 @ Cleveland
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