Firebirds Keep Rush Winless
February 16, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Indianapolis â Turnovers and possessions. The difference between winning and losing an Arena Football game is based on which team commits the fewest turnovers while taking advantage of those cherished offensive possessions.
For the third consecutive week, the Rush has been on the wrong side of the equation.
Before more than 12,000 fans in Conseco Fieldhouse, the Indiana Firebirds (3-0) stunned their Central Division rival 28-23. Chicago could not overcome two critical turnovers and failed to capitalize on several Indiana miscues. The end result: the highly acclaimed Rush (0-3) remains winless on the season and desperately searching for answers.
"We're a good football team that just happens to be 0 and 3," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "There's a long season ahead of us and we're not going to panic.
In his first start replacing Billy Dicken, Rush QB Chad Salisbury completed 29 of 43 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Salisbury also was intercepted twice, including one in the Firebirds' end zone. Salisbury's counterpart, Indiana QB Raymond Philyaw, was 13 of 21 for 140 yards and two scores. Philyaw turned the ball over on a fumble in the first quarter, forced by Rush lineman Riley Kleinhesselink, which led to Chicago's first score of the game.
The change at quarterback was intended to kick-start Chicago's absent offense. Unfortunately, with Salisbury behind center, the Rush continued to have problems scoring points. In fact, three times Chicago was inside Indiana's 10-yard line but came away with just three points.
"Overall I thought Salisbury played well," said Hohensee. "He made a couple mistakes when he was trying to make things happen. Before the game, I told him not to be a hero. And today he tried to be a hero.
The first half was a mirror image of the entire game. Twice the Rush was inside Indiana's 10-yard line and failed to score. Even so, the Firebirds held a slim 14-13 lead at the break.
With Chicago leading 7-0, Indiana missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. Chicago couldn't capitalize, however, as Salisbury was intercepted in the Firebird's end zone.
Indiana used the momentum from the turnover and quickly tied the game on a Philyaw 8-yard strike to WR Brett Bech.
Chicago's next drive covered 47 yards, culminating with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Salisbury to rookie WR Robert Kilow. The PAT was missed, and Chicago led 13-7.
Indiana countered on its next possession, when Philyaw again found Bech in Chicago's end zone. The 6-yard reception put Indiana ahead 14-13.
With less than a minute remaining in the half, Indiana surprised the Rush with an onside kickoff attempt. The ball ultimately was awarded to Chicago since a Firebirds' player touched the kickoff before it had traveled 10 yards.
Starting at Indiana's 9-yard line with 55 seconds in the half, the Rush failed to find pay dirt. And when Salisbury's fourth down pass attempt to WR Anthony Ladd hit the end zone turf, Chicago entered the locker room trailing for the third consecutive week.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 16, 2003
- Avengers work overtime to beat Crush - OSC Original by Tim Peterson, Mid Valley News
- Rampage Squeaks by New York, 66-63 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Week Three Game Summaries - AFL I
- AFL on NBC Highlights - AFL I
- 'Birds Down Rush in Central Division Showdown, 28-23 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Firebirds Keep Rush Winless - Chicago Rush
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