Crush knocks down Rush, 56-47
May 30, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Denver â The Colorado Crush outscored the Chicago Rush 28-19 in the second half to claim a crucial 56-47 victory before 13,670 at Denver's Pepsi Center.
A Chicago win, coupled with San Jose's 50-43 loss against Arizona, could have secured Chicago the top-seed â and homefield advantage -- throughout the playoffs. Instead, the Rush dropped to the third-seed and set up a quarterfinal match-up against the Orlando Predators Sunday, June 6, at Allstate Arena.
"We really lost a great opportunity this afternoon," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "But our men have great character and I know we'll regroup and be prepared to defend our home field next weekend".
Chicago was sloppy all afternoon, committing five fumbles, dropping several passes and missing three field goals along with a key missed extra point.
"I can't explain our lack of execution," Hohensee said. "We didn't take care of the football all game long. Hopefully we used all of our bad plays up for the year."
Colorado (11-5) tied Chicago as Central Division champions, but the Rush gained the advantage in the playoff seedings due to a better intra-division record.
The momentum swayed Colorado's way immediately in the second half.
Tied at 28-28 and with possession to begin the second half, the Rush couldn't move the ball, settling for a missed 60-yard field goal.
Colorado, however, easily found the end zone on its first second-half possession to grab a 35-28 lead.
Chicago countered quickly when Philyaw hit WR/LB Anthony Ladd on a 3-yard corner, but Rush kicker Keith Gispert missed his first extra-point after 27 consecutive conversions allowing Colorado to maintain a 35-34 lead.
The Crush never allowed Chicago any closer.
Philyaw had a rough game, completing 17 of 34 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. His counterpart, Colorado's John Dutton, completed 19 of 30 for 266 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
His lone interception, picked off by Rush defensive specialist Hamin Milligan, was ironically fumbled back to the Crush on his return.
The only highlight for the Rush was Bob McMillen, who rushed 10 times for 20 yards and three touchdowns. Along with a Philyaw rushing score in the first half, Chicago set a new AFL rushing record in a season with 49 rushing TDs.
Despite six penalties, three fumbles and several other miscues, the Rush somehow managed a 28-28 tie at halftime.
After a missed field goal by Rush kicker Keith Gispert began the second quarter, the teams combined to score touchdowns on six consecutive possessions.
Crush WR/DB Willis Marshall tallied three scores in the half, one rushing and two receiving, including a 15-yard score for a 28-21 lead with just 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Plenty of time, it turned out, for Philyaw and the Rush. In fact, it only took 14 seconds for Chicago to even the score when Philyaw found WR/LB Etu Molden on a quick slant over the middle. Molden was aided by a key block from fellow receiver Jeremy McDaniel and galloped 35-yards into the end zone with just 6 seconds remaining.
Philyaw enjoyed a crisp half, completing 9 of 13 for 134 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for a score, along with two for McMillen.
The Crush began the game utilizing a no-huddle offense, trying to take advantage of a Chicago team not acclimated to Colorado's thin air.
And it paid dividends almost immediately, as the Crush scored less than two minutes into the game on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dutton to Marshall for a 7-0 lead.
But the Rush caught its collective breath on the ensuing six-minute drive and evened the game with a 1-yard McMillen run.
The quarter ended 7-7 following a missed 25-yard field goal by Crush kicker Anthony Brenner.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 30, 2004
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- Destroyers drop season finale, 64-51, to Vegas - Columbus Destroyers
- Storm hold on to beat Desperados, advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Desperados Drop Seventh Consecutive Game, Falling to Storm - Dallas Desperados
- Arizona comes from behind to nip SaberCats - San Jose SaberCats
- Dragons Season Ends with a Win - New York Dragons
- New Orleans VooDoo to face Colorado Crush in inaugural home playoff game - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush knocks down Rush, 56-47 - Chicago Rush
- VooDoo activate WR/LB Anthony Collins and WR/LB Tremaine Neal from injured reserve - New Orleans VooDoo
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