Dickens' Seven TDs Lead Rush Past Georgia

Published on May 19, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


Behind the accurate right arm of QB Billy Dicken, the Chicago Rush methodically built a big lead and then hung on to beat the Georgia Force 70-62 last night at the Allstate Arena. Dicken threw seven touchdown passes and raised his season total to 29.

The win improved Chicago's record to 3-2 and allowed them to hold on to a share of first place in the Arena Football League's Central Division with the Grand Rapids Rampage and the Indiana Firebirds. The crowd of 8,124 roared its approval throughout the first half and urged the Rush to hold the lead in the second.

Rush head coach Mike Hohensee saw his team struggle in the second half but was relieved to see the team get the win. "The Force didn't give up and we played poorly in the second half," Hohensee said. "The good thing is that we hung in there and won the ball game. We have some things to work on this week.

"If we play like we did in the first half, we'll be tough to beat; if we play like we did in the second we won't win another game."

After spotting the Force a touchdown on their opening possession, the Rush took charge of the game. They ran off four straight touchdowns and the big first half lead appeared to deflate Georgia.

FB Jamie McGourty, who had missed the first four games of the season with a quad injury, tied the score at 7-7 with 6:52 left in the first period on a one-yard run. Dicken took over after that, throwing four TD passes in the first half. The first went to Cornelius White on a 27-yarder in the endzone.

Dicken was the beneficiary of tremendous blocking by his offensive line. He often had three seconds or more to survey the field and was extremely accurate in connecting on 18-of-25 passes for 336 yards. In addition to hitting White, he also connected with Antonio Chatman (2), Lindsay Fleshman, Cornelius Bonner (2) and McGourty on scoring throws.

The Rush put an exclamation point on the final play of the first half. PK Bruce Rienecker lined up to try a 47-yard FG attempt and the ball was wide and rebounded off the net to Georgia return man Tyronne Jones. As Jones attempted to get out of the endzone, he fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Rush center A.J. Blazek for a touchdown. The score gave Chicago a 42-14 lead at the break.

Former Notre Dame QB Kevin McDougal started for Georgia and threw two TD passes. However, he only completed 5-of-15 passes and was replaced by backup Donnie Davis, who gave the Force a lift.

Davis threw six TD passes in the second half and appeared to change the momentum of the game. When he hit Jarrick Hillery with an 11-yard TD pass at the eight-minute mark, Georgia had pulled within 14 points at 55-41. The Rush was unable to corral the ensuing kickoff and it ended up in the arms of C.J. McLain for yet another Georgia touchdown.

Dicken led the Rush crisply down the field on the next possession and hit Chatman with a 30-yard TD pass with 5:30 to go in the game to rebuild the lead to 14 points at 63-49.

Davis was undaunted by the score and hit WR Scott Thomas with a seven-yard scoring pass at the 1:18 mark to close the margin to eight points. Georgia's onsides kick attempt went out of bounds giving the Rush possession at the two. McGourty scored his third TD of the game and the Rush extended the lead to 15 points.

Georgia scored again with 29 seconds to go another Davis-to-Hillery connection, but James Baron recovered the onsides kick and the Rush ran out the clock.

Hillery had four TD catches for the Force while Jones caught two scoring passes.

The Rush travels too Arizona next week for a game against the Rattlers.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 19, 2002


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