Chicago Rush Game Notes
July 7, 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: Arizona leads 5-3 (4-3 in regular season, 1-0 in postseason)
Series Streaks: Chicago has won three in a row
Last Meeting: April 17, 2010, Rush 70, Arizona 56
Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):
Mike Hohensee (127-97, 12-11 16th season)
Kevin Guy (17-14, 0-1 3rd 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 L, 64-56 7,430
June 12 @ Utah W, 70-50 4,892
June 19 Milwaukee
* W, 63-56 8,287
June 26 Orlando W, 55-42 8,120
July 2 @ Tampa Bay L, 68-60 15,704
July 10 Arizona 7 p.m.
July 17 Dallas 7 p.m.
July 23 @ Spokane 7 p.m. NFL Net
July 30 Bye
* Midwest Division game
Midwest Division 2010 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
RUSH 9-4-0 750 695 4-2
Milwaukee 8-5-0 857 748 3-1
Iowa 6-6-0 611 611 1-4
Cleveland 6-7-0 791 751 2-3
SNAKES ON A PLANE: The Rush returns home this weekend to begin a two-game homestand by hosting the Arizona Rattlers Saturday night at Allstate Arena.
Both teams enter the game looking to bounce back after having winning streaks snapped last weekend. The Rush saw its three-game winning streak snapped on the road at Tampa Bay, 68-60, while the Rattlers had their six-game streak snapped with a 37-36 loss at Spokane.
Saturday's game is the second meeting of the season between the Rush and Rattlers. Chicago defeated Arizona 70-56 when the teams met in Phoenix on April 17.
DALLAS IN FOR HOME FINALE: The Rush remains home after this week's game against Arizona, hosting the Dallas Vigilantes in the team's last home game of the regular season. The Vigilantes are perhaps the league's biggest disappointment this season. Predicted by many to compete for the ArenaBowl title, the Vigilantes have never been able to get their act together and enter this week's action with a 1-11 record.
RUSH MAGIC NUMBERS REMAIN 1 & 3: Due to Chicago's loss in Tampa and Iowa's win over Dallas last week, the Rush has to wait at least one more week to clinch a spot in the 2010 postseason.
With four weeks left in the regular season, Chicago's magic number to clinch its ninth-consecutive playoff berth is down to one. Any Rush win or Iowa loss the rest of the way will give the Rush a spot in the 2010 postseason.
Chicago's magic number to clinch the Midwest Division title is three. Any combination of Rush wins and Milwaukee losses totaling three gives Chicago the division title and home field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs on the weekend of August 6.
PLAYOFFS BREAKDOWN: With four weeks left in the regular season, here is a look at how the playoff race is shaping up:
The two division winners in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, along with the teams with the next two best records in each conference.
National Conference American Conference
1. x-Spokane 10-2 1. x-Tampa Bay 9-3
2. x-Chicago 9-4 2. x-Tulsa 7-5
3. Arizona 8-4 3. Jacksonville 8-4
4. Milwaukee 8-5 4. Alabama 6-6
Iowa 6-6 Orlando 5-7
Cleveland 6-7 Oklahoma City 5-7
Utah 1-11 Boss. City/Shreveport 3-10
Dallas 1-11
x - Division leader
TOUGH STRETCH RUN: Two of Chicago's final three games to close the regular season will come against the other top teams in the National Conference - Arizona and Spokane. The Rattlers and Shock are currently ranked third and first in the conference, respectively, and have combined for an 18-6 record.
RUSH CAN'T WEATHER STORM: A battle between two of the AFL's best lived up the hype Friday night, with the Tampa Bay Storm outslugging the Chicago Rush 68-60 at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The loss prevented the Rush (9-4) from becoming the first AFL team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
It was an evenly matched game throughout, with the teams trading touchdowns the entire evening. But in the end, the difference proved to be two Chicago missed extra points and a Rush fourth quarter fumble that was returned by the Storm (9-3) for a touchdown.
Trailing by eight early in the fourth quarter, Rush QB Russ Michna led the team on a 10-play drive, culminating with a two-yard touchdown run from Clifton Smith to pull the Rush to within two-points, 55-53. With Rush kicker Chris Gould already having missed two PAT attempts in the game, the Rush tried for the two-point conversion to tie the game. However, the conversion attempt failed and the Rush remained down by two.
On the following possession, Tampa Bay QB Brett Dietz connected with Tyrone Timmons for a touchdown and a 62-53 Storm lead with just 2:42 left in the game.
On Chicago's following possession, Rush wide receiver Syvelle Newton fumbled trying to gain extra yards after a catch. The ball popped into the hands of Storm defensive back Erick McIntosh, who returned it 28 yards for a TD to put Tampa Bay up 68-53 with 46 seconds left in the game.
A late TD pass from Michna to Alan Turner with 1.6 seconds remaining made the final score 68-60.
The first half was a see-saw battle that saw seven lead changes and both teams score touchdowns on all five of their possessions.
Chicago got off to a quick start as quarterback Michna (26-38, 334 yards, 7 TDs) connected with Alan Turner for a 42-yard touchdown on the very first play of the game.
After a Tampa Bay score tied it up, the Rush regained the lead on the next possession when Michna and Turner connected for a second time on a 10-yard score. A missed Chris Gould extra point made it 13-7. The miss put an end to Gould's team record 35-consecutive made extra point attempts.
The missed extra point would prove costly and, on the next Tampa Bay possession, the Storm took its first lead of the game as Dietz connected with Hank Edwards for the second time on an 8-yard score.
After the two teams traded scores the following two possessions, Timmons' 23-yard reception from quarterback Brett Dietz gave the Storm a 28-27 lead. However the Rush quickly responded as Clifton Smith rumbled in from three yards out to put the Rush on top 34-28.
A one-yard touchdown on the next Storm possession gave Tampa Bay a 35-34 lead going into the half.
THE SECOND HALF: The Rush reached the season's midway point with a record of 6-2, which at the time was 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 3-2 ?
* Central Division champion
WORKING ON THE SECOND FIFTY: Chicago's June 26 win over Orlando was the team's 51st career win at Allstate Arena. The Rush is 4-2 at home this season, making its overall mark at Allstate Arena 51-21 (including postseason).
TAKE IT AWAY: The Rush defense has intercepted a league-leading 23 passes this season. The team record for interceptions in a season is 24 set in 2007.
DEFENSE THE DIFFERENCE IN APRIL WIN: The Rush used a strong defensive performance en route to a 70-56 win over the Arizona Ratters U.S. Airways Center on April 17.
The defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns and held Arizona to 0-3 on fourth down conversions, resulting in five defensive stops for the game.
With Arizona trailing by seven, 63-56, and threatening to tie the game with less than three minutes remaining, Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo intercepted a Nick Davila pass at the Chicago 2-yard line and returned it 48-yards for a touchdown. Alfonzo's second interception return for a TD this season gave the Rush a 70-56 lead and sealed the win.
The interception was big because it came just one play after Rush QB Russ Michna had thrown his second interception of the game, spotting the Rattlers inside the Chicago 10-yard line.
But as has been the case throughout his career, Alfonzo was around the ball at the right moment for Chicago.
But Alfonzo wasn't the only story for the Rush. It was the defense, in general, which helped turn the tide of the game in Chicago's favor. With the Rush trailing 28-21 midway through the second quarter, the Rush went on a 21-0 run that put it in the driver's seat for the remainder of the game.
After a Michna TD pass to Kenny Higgins tied the score at 28-28, DB Nygel Rogers recorded his league-leading fourth interception of the season. Rogers returned the pick 14-yards for a TD and a 35-28 Chicago lead.
On Arizona's next series, the Rush defense forced the Rattlers to turn the ball over on downs. Chicago took over on the Rattlers' 14-yard line and two plays later Michna hit Nichiren Flowers with a 7-yard TD pass to put the Rush up 42-28.
Arizona had a chance to climb back into the game at the end of the half, however. The Rattlers scored on the final play of the first half to cut the score to 42-35 at the break. Then, Arizona received the opening kickoff of the second half with a chance to move down the field and tie the score.
The Rush defense was up to the task, holding Arizona on fourth down again. The Rush offense was able to capitalize, scoring on a 23-yard TD to go up 49-35.
From that point on the teams traded scores until Michna's interception late in the fourth quarter.
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 three games in the series.
This week's game will be the ninth in the series between Chicago and Arizona, but only the third that has been played in Chicago.
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)
2010: Rush 70, Rattlers 56 (April 17 @ Arizona)
*AFL Semifinals
BOSS LEAVES RUSH FOR COACHING JOB: Rush fullback Robert Boss, one of the team's most popular players, left the team this week to accept the position as offensive line coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University.
Boss played in all 13 games for the Rush this season, rushing for 119 yards and 10 touchdowns, and catching 15 passes for 157 yards and five TDs. He also served as the team's long-snapper on extra points and field goals.
Boss becomes the second player to leave the Rush this season, joining leading wide receiver Samie Parker, who left the team June 28 to begin preparing for the UFL season.
MICHNA OUTSTANDING IN LOSING EFFORT: Rush QB Russ Michna was outstanding in the team's loss at Tampa Bay last week, completing 26 of 36 passes for 334 yards and seven touchdowns without throwing an interception.
For the season, Michna has completed 251 of 367 passes for 3,401 yards and 63 touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions. His QB rating for the year is 126.6.
Michna leads the AFL in completion percentage (68.4%) and ranks second in QB rating.
ELLIOTT MISSES SECOND GAME: Rush center Beau Elliott missed his second-consecutive game last week in Tampa Bay after suffering a knee injury in Chicago's June 19 win over Milwaukee. Elliott, who had started the first 11 games for the Rush this season, was again replaced on the offensive line by Chris Watton, who was signed June 24.
Watton (6-3, 265, Baylor) is an AFL veteran who spent four years (2005-08) with the Colorado Crush before briefly playing for the Utah Blaze earlier this year.
OFFENSIVE LINE IN FLUX: With Rush center Beau Elliott missing the last two games with a knee injury and starting tight end Shawn McMackin on injured reserve with a hand injury, the Rush offensive line has been patched together the last few weeks.
To help protect Rush quarterback Russ Michna, Palauni Ma Sun has moved from guard to tight end, AFL veteran Chris Watton was signed to play center, and Darnell Whitley was moved from the defensive line to guard.
The Rush hopes to get both Elliott and McMackin back in the coming weeks, but will be forced to make changes at the fullback position to account for the loss of Robert Boss.
PARKER LEAVES RUSH FOR UFL: Rush wide receiver Samie Parker - Chicago's leading receiver this season -left the team June 28 to begin to prepare for the 2010 UFL season, which begins in August.
Parker played in Chicago's first 10 games this season before missing the team's June 19 game vs. Milwaukee to attend mini-camp with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives.
He returned in time for the June 26 game vs. Orlando, leading the team with nine receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Parker finishes his first AFL season with 78 receptions for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games
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.
THOMAS IMPRESSIVE IN FIRST START: Wide receiver Marco Thomas made his first career start for the Rush last week in Tampa Bay, impressing the coaching staff with his performance. Thomas led all receivers, catching 12 passes for 176 yards and a TD in the game. The 12 receptions and 176 receiving yards were the most by any Rush receiver this season.
Originally signed June 17, Thomas (6-0, 192, Western Illinois) made his AFL debut June 19 vs. Milwaukee, playing entirely on special teams. He was not active for the team's June 26 game vs. Orlando before being thrust into the starting lineup in Tampa Bay.
LATENDRESSE BANGED UP AS WELL: Rush wide receiver Travis LaTendresse missed last week's game in Tampa Bay after injuring his ankle in the second half of the team's June 26 game vs. Orlando.
LaTendresse has played in three games for the Rush since signing with the team on June 10 - without attending so much as one practice - and has caught 12 passes for 151 yards and seven TDs.
LaTendresse caught 91 passes for 1,105 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first season with the Rush in 2008. He was re-signed by the team on June 10 of this season, prior to Chicago's game at Utah. With the Rush battling injury problems at the receiver position, the Utah resident agreed to return to the team prior to the game against the Blaze.
After signing, LaTendresse met the Rush at the team hotel in Salt Lake City and proceeded to quickly review the playbook with the coaching staff.
Prior to coming to Chicago, LaTendresse played one season for the Las Vegas Gladiators. Before that he was a four-year letterwinner (2002-2005), at the University of Utah, catching 135 passes for 1,782 yards and 12 touchdowns in 43 career games. He finished his college career ranked sixth in Utah history in receptions and ninth in receiving yards.
HIGGINS, FLOWERS STILL OUT: Chicago's top two receivers, Kenny Higgins and Nichiren Flowers, remain on the league's Injured Reserve list, although both are getting closer to returning to the field.
Higgins, who has been banged up most of the year, has been out since re-injuring his foot May 22 at Dallas. He eventually was placed on IR on June 4. For the season, Higgins has played in six games, catching 32 passes for 389 yards and eight touchdowns.
Flowers was the team's leading receiver when he injured his knee May 29 at Cleveland. He was placed on IR June 4. For the season he has 53 receptions for 799 yards and 15 touchdowns.
ROTATING RECEIVERS: The Rush has not started the same trio of wide receivers in back-to-back games since it played Iowa on May 15 and at Dallas on May 22. The three receivers who last played together in consecutive weeks were Kenny Higgins, Nichiren Flowers and Samie Parker.
ALFONZO A TRUE IRONMAN: Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo continues to prove why he might be the most valuable player in the AFL. Alfonzo has spent the last few weeks bouncing back and forth from offense to defense - and in some games playing both ways - thanks to the team's injury problems at wide receiver.
For the season, Alfonzo has recorded 60 tackles, four interceptions - three of which he has returned for touchdowns - and nine passes broken up. Offensively, Alfonzo has caught 20 passes for 240 yards this season.
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