Chicago Rush Game Notes

July 14, 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 1-0

Series Streaks: Chicago won the only meeting

Last Meeting: May 22, 2010, Rush 63, Dallas 56

Coaches (regular season, postseason records - AFL only):

Mike Hohensee (128-97, 12-11 16th season)

James Fuller (0-7, 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 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 W, 55-50 8,452

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 10-4-0 805 745 4-2

Milwaukee 8-5-0 857 748 3-1

Iowa 6-7-0 653 663 1-4

Cleveland 6-8-0 847 813 2-3

DALLAS COMING TO TOWN: The Rush remains home this weekend, hosting the Dallas Vigilantes Saturday night in Chicago's final regular season home game of the year.

After clinching a playoff berth with a win over Arizona last week, the Rush is setting its sights on clinching the Midwest Division title and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Dallas, on the other hand, is struggling through a terrible season. The Vigilantes lost starting QB Shane Stafford to a season-ending injury in Week 1 and haven't been able to recover. After opening the year 1-5, the Vigilantes fired head coach Rich Ingold and replaced him with assistant coach James Fuller, who has gone 0-7 since taking over.

HEAD WEST, YOUNG MEN: The Rush concludes its 2010 regular season with a road trip to Eastern Washington next week to take on the AFL's top team - the Spokane Shock. The Shock enters this week's action with an 11-2 record and is coming off a thrilling OT win at Cleveland.

RUSH CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT: Chicago's win over Arizona clinched a playoff spot for the Rush. The Rush has never missed the playoffs, appearing in the postseason in each of its nine years in the league.

With three weeks left in the regular season, the Rush remains in the running for a Midwest Division title and, perhaps, the top overall seed in the National Conference.

Chicago's magic number to clinch the Midwest Division title is two. Any combination of Rush wins and Milwaukee losses totaling two gives Chicago the division title and home field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs on the weekend of August 6.

As for top seed in the National Conference, the Rush needs to win its final two games - vs. Dallas and at Spokane - and then hope the Shock lose one additional game - either at Iowa July 16 or at Jacksonville July 30.

PLAYOFFS BREAKDOWN: Here is a complete look at how the AFL 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 11-2 1. y-Tampa Bay 10-3

2. y-Chicago 10-4 2. Tulsa 8-5

3. Arizona 8-5 3. y-Jacksonville 9-4

4. Milwaukee 8-5 4. Orlando 6-7

Iowa 6-7 Oklahoma City 6-7

Cleveland 6-8 Alabama 6-7

x - Clinched Division y - Clinched Playoff Spot

RUSH HOLDS OFF RATTLERS: The Rush built a big second half lead and then hung on for dear life Saturday night at Allstate Arena, defeating the Arizona Rattlers 55-50 to win its 10th game of the season and clinch its ninth-consecutive trip to the playoffs.

Leading by 17 points entering the fourth quarter, the Rush (10-4) looked to be on cruise control to the postseason, but things got a bit dicey in the final period as Arizona (8-5) came storming back.

With Chicago leading 55-42 and just 47 seconds left in the game, Rush wide receiver Marco Thomas - who led all Rush receivers with 13 catches for 147 yards - got behind the defense and looked to be heading into the end zone for a touchdown. However, Thomas took a bad step and badly twisted his knee. On his way to the ground he fumbled the ball, and it was scooped up by Arizona.

One play later, Rattlers QB Nick Davila connected with Rod Windsor for a 28-yard TD. After Arizona was successful on the two-point conversion, the Rush lead was trimmed to 55-50.

Arizona then recovered the ensuing on-side kick with just 26 seconds left and looked to have all the momentum in the game.

The Rattlers marched down inside the Rush 5-yard line with five seconds remaining, but Davila's two final passes into the end zone were broken up by Rush defensive backs Nygel Rogers and Josh Ferguson, respectively, to seal the win.

Offensively, Rush QB Russ Michna completed 28 of 38 passes for 321 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. And while Thomas was his main target, Michna also managed to connect with Syvelle Newton seven times for 125 yards and four touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, a week after not being able to stop the Tampa Bay Storm at all during the game, the Rush defense came up with five stops - three interceptions, a stop on downs and the stop on the game's final series. Each of the team's three DBs intercepted a pass, but it was Chris Martin's first quarter interception that set the tone for the evening.

With Chicago leading 14-7 and 2:28 left in the first quarter, Martin intercepted Davila's pass intended for Trandon Harvey and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead.

Playing from ahead, the Rush lead see-sawed between a one and two score lead until the final minute of the game when things began to unravel.

WORKING ON THE SECOND FIFTY: Chicago's win over Arizona last week was the team's 52nd career win at Allstate Arena. The Rush is 5-2 at home this season, making its overall mark at Allstate Arena 52-21 (including postseason).

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 4-2 ?

* Central Division champion

TAKE IT AWAY: The Rush defense intercepted three passes Saturday night against Arizona, giving the team a league-leading 26 interceptions, which breaks the Rush team record for interceptions in a season. The old team record for interceptions was 24 set in 2007.

RUSH OUTGUNS VIGILANTES IN MAY: It was an old fashioned Texas shootout in Dallas May 22 as the Rush outlasted the Vigilantes 63-56 at the American Airlines Center.

Chicago scored touchdowns on nine of its 10 possessions, while the Vigilantes scored on all but two.

The game was without a defensive stop in the first half, with the teams combining for 11 touchdowns in the first 30 minutes. The only blemish in the half was a missed extra point by the Rush, but Chicago held a 41-35 lead at the break.

The third quarter opened with a five-minute Vigilante drive that saw Dallas drive the ball to the Rush 1-yard line. But on second and goal for Dallas, the Rush defense stepped up, and defensive back Josh Ferguson came up with his fifth interception of the season.

The interception stopped Dallas' streak of consecutive possessions with a touchdown at five, and proved to be the difference in the game.

Chicago took advantage of the turnover, mounting a seven-play, 44-yard drive and scoring on a one-yard dive by Clifton Smith that put the Rush up two scores at 48-35.

The Vigilantes did not go away, however, as quarterback Collin Drafts (26-29, 295 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs) continued to match the Rush score-for-score. Dallas simply could not get a stop when it needed one.

With Chicago leading by seven and attempting to run one final play to run the clock out, Rush QB Russ Michna fumbled with 1.2 seconds left in the game. Dallas recovered, giving the Vigilantes one final shot to tie the game.

A Hail Mary pass with no time remaining was intercepted by DeJuan Alfonzo and the Rush walked away with a win that puts the team back atop the Midwest Division

MICHNA'S ROLL CONTINUES: Rush QB Russ Michna was outstanding again in last week's win over Arizona, completing 28 of 38 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns, while only throwing one interception.

Michna has been exceptionally sharp the past two weeks, completing 54 of 74 passes (73%) for 655 yards and 12 touchdowns, while only throwing the one interception.

For the season, Michna has completed 279 of 407 passes for 3,722 yards and 68 touchdowns, while throwing 10 interceptions. His QB rating for the year is 126.7.

Michna leads the AFL in completion percentage (68.5%) and ranks second in QB rating.

MICHNA APPROACHING SINGLE SEASON RECORDS: Rush QB Russ Michna is close to setting two team single-season passing records. With 3,722 passing yards and 68 touchdowns, Michna needs just 65 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes to reach Matt D'Orazio's single-season team records of 3,787 yards and 84 touchdowns.

Michna has compiled his yards and TD passes in far fewer attempts than it took D'Orazio, who completed 351 of 506 passes during his record-setting 2007 season.

ELLIOTT, MCMACKIN BACK IN LINEUP: Rush center Beau Elliott was back in the starting lineup last Saturday against Arizona after missing the previous two weeks with a knee injury sustained in Chicago's June 19 win over Milwaukee.

Also back in the lineup was Shawn McMackin, who was activated from the league's Injured Reserve list on July 8. McMackin moved from the tight end position he had played most of the season to fullback, replacing Robert Boss who left the team July 5 to accept the position of offensive line coach at Northern Michigan University.

In his first-ever game at fullback, McMackin had one reception for seven yards.

THOMAS LOST FOR YEAR: Rush wide receiver Marco Thomas became the latest Rush wide receiver to succumb to an injury this season when he went down with a knee injury late in the fourth quarter of last week's win over Arizona. Thomas was diagnosed this week with a torn ACL in his knee and is lost for the season.

Signed on 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 July 2 in Tampa Bay.

In his two starts for the Rush, Thomas was the team's leading receiver, catching an incredible 25 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns.

Thomas becomes the fifth Rush wide receiver to be lost due to injury this season, joining James Banks, Kenny Higgins, Nichiren Flowers and Travis LaTendresse.

WR Injury Games Missed

James Banks Foot 12

Kenny Higgins Foot, hamstring 8

Nichiren Flowers Knee 6

Travis LaTendresse Foot 2

Marco Thomas Knee ?

LATENDRESSE PLACED ON IR: Rush wide receiver Travis LaTendresse was placed on Injured Reserve July 8 with a foot injury sustained in the team's June 26 game vs. Orlando. LaTendresse missed the team's game in Tampa Bay July 2, but when the foot did not improve, the decision was made to place him on IR. Because the minimum stay on Injured Reserve is four weeks, it means LaTendresse will miss the remainder of the regular season, but is eligible to be activated in time for the playoffs.

LaTendresse played in three games and caught 12 passes for 151 yards and seven TDs since signing with the team on June 10.

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.

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 sidelines, 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 was finally activated from IR last week, but did not play in Saturday's win over Arizona. 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.

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 the 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 for the June 26 game vs. Orlando, leading the team with nine receptions for 97 yards and a TD.

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 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.

ROTATING RECEIVERS: Saturday's receiving corps of Alan Turner, Marco Thomas and Syvelle Newton played together for the second-consecutive week. It was the first time the Rush 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.

LITTLE BIG MAN: Standing at just 5'7", Rush DB Josh Ferguson is the smallest player in the AFL this season. However, despite being the smallest, Ferguson has come up with some of the team's biggest plays and is making a case for the league's Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Last week's win over Arizona was no different, as Ferguson broke up a Nick Davila pass in the end zone on the game's final play to preserve a 55-50 victory for Chicago. Overall, Ferguson recorded five tackles, an interception and four passes broken up in the game.

Ferguson leads the Rush with 97 tackles, eight interceptions and 17 passes broken up. He currently is tied for second in the AFL in interceptions and passes broken up, and is third in tackles.

What is most impressive about Ferguson's season is that he is the only player in the AFL ranked in the top three in all three categories. In fact, no other player ranks in the top three in more than one of the categories.

Tackles

Player Team Number

Tanner Varner Iowa 121

Brandon Hefflin Tampa Bay 100

Josh Ferguson Rush 97

Interceptions

Player Team Number

Rayshawn Kizer Orlando 10

Josh Ferguson Rush 8

David Hyland Oklahoma City 8

Passes Broken Up

Player Team Number

Vince Hill Alabama 23

Josh Ferguson Rush 17

Dee Webb Jacksonville 17

Fred Shaw Oklahoma City 17

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 63 tackles, four interceptions - three of which he has returned for touchdowns - and 10 passes broken up. Offensively, Alfonzo has caught 20 passes for 240 yards this season.



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