Firebirds Can't Keep up with Rush, fall 53-37
May 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
The Indiana Firebirds (8-8) playoff hopes were dashed on Sunday as they drop a 53-37 decision to the Chicago Rush (11-4), in an AFL Central Division match-up at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. The Firebirds' loss, coupled with a Tampa Bay win over New Orleans, officially eliminates Indiana from playoff contention. With the win, Chicago clinches the Central Division crown for the second time in three years.
The Firebirds got the ball first and drove to the Chicago ten yard line, but after McPherson took a third down sack for a loss of twenty yards, Clay Rush stepped on and drilled a 46-yard field goal to salvage the drive and put Indiana ahead, 3-0.
On the Rush's second play of the game, fullback Bob McMillen took a toss and ran for about fifteen yards before being stripped of the ball. Ricky Hall jumped on the miscue and the Firebirds took over at their own 13-yard line. With McPherson feeling pressure on every play thus far, Rush was forced to attempt another field goal, this one from 45-yards that sailed wide left, leaving Indiana up three with five minutes to play in the first quarter and failing to take advantage of the early turnover.
Chicago started the second quarter by taking their first lead of the game when QB Raymond Philyaw called his own number and ran in for a two-yard score, putting the Rush ahead, 7-3. The drive was helped by two Indiana pass interference penalties.
On the ensuing kickoff, Anthony Derricks misplayed the ball off the net and Etu Molden recovered it in the endzone for a Rush touchdown, putting the home team ahead, 14-3.
Derricks would field the next kick cleanly and set up the Firebirds offense at the 10-yard line looking to stop the bleeding early and get back in the game. McPherson would find his favorite target, Anthony Hines, for a 20-yard touchdown pass, and the Firebirds pulled within four, 14-10, midway through the second quarter.
Philyaw captured the momentum back when he found Jeremy McDaniel on a 2-yard scoring toss, capping a five minute drive and giving the Rush a 21-10 lead with 3:11 left in the first half. With Chicago getting the ball to open the third quarter, Indiana could not afford to stall on another possession before the half.
McPherson moved the ball down the field and against a very hostile Chicago crowd found Brett Bech for a 5-yard touchdown pass to get Indiana back within four, 21-17, with :33 second left in the half. Chicago took over at their own six to set up the final drive of the half. After a two consecutive completions to McDaniel to get inside the Firebirds' ten, Philyaw went for it with five seconds left. The former Firebirds' signal caller hit McDaniel again, this time from five-yards, and pushed the Rush lead to 29-17 (two point conversion) entering halftime.
The Firebirds came out of the locker room desperately needing a defensive stop. After a holding penalty backed the Rush up into a third down a long, Derricks broke up a Philyaw pass and Keith Gispert came on to attempt his first field goal of the game. The 52-yard attempt spilt the uprights and Chicago avoided the no score, making it a 32-17 Rush lead.
Indiana answered with another Clay Rush field goal attempt of their own, this one missing from 26-yards. The stalled drive put the 'Birds in a deep hole with limited possessions remaining. Chicago took advantage of their strong defensive effort, as Philyaw extended the Chicago lead with a 7-yard touchdown toss to Molden. Trailing, 39-17, with a minute remaining in the third quarter, McPherson stepped onto the field looking for a miracle comeback.
McPherson took it upon himself, finishing off the following drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, his first of the game. Unfortunately for Indiana, an attempted onside kick was recovered by Chicago at the Firebirds' two-yard line and two plays later Molden got on the board again, this time with a rushing score to go along with his receiving and recovery touchdowns, making the score 46-25 with just over ten minutes left in the game.
The Firebirds got late touchdowns from Bech and Andy McCullough, but it was too late, and the Firebirds fall to (8-8) .500 for the season, marking one of the best single-season turnarounds in the AFL. The Firebirds began the season 0-5, before finishing the season by winning eight of their final eleven games. With a Tampa Bay win today, Indiana is eliminated from the post-season.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 23, 2004
- Avengers Fend off the Gladiators - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Dragons Stopped in Orlando - New York Dragons
- Rush clinches Central Division title with 53-37 win - Chicago Rush
- Crush Stun Fury 45-42 - Detroit Fury
- Firebirds Can't Keep up with Rush, fall 53-37 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Storm win fifth straight, pull into tie for eighth playoff seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Soul fall to SaberCats, 48-36 - Philadelphia Soul
- Gladiators fall short against Avengers, 54-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers outlast Desperados in Texas shootout - Columbus Destroyers
- SaberCats Win Over Soul, 48-36 - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Drop Sixth Consecutive Game - Dallas Desperados
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