Fourth quarter defensive surge leads Rush past SaberCats
April 10, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Faced with a crucial two-game homestand against San Jose and division-rival Colorado, the Rush got things started with a critical 55-39 victory over the defending ArenaBowl champion SaberCats.
The Rush had been winless in four previous meetings with San Jose, including two losses â one in the playoffs -- last year. That fact did not daunt QB Raymond Philyaw, who was simply brilliant, completing his first 17 pass attempts and throwing for six touchdowns and running for another against the SaberCats. Philyaw finished the game 27-of-35 for 264 yards.
The win put the Rush two games over .500 at 6-4. If they can find a way to defeat Colorado next week, the Rush will move within one game of the Crush for first place in the Central Division of the AFL's American Conference.
The Rush and the SaberCats had been brilliant offensively through three quarters, going back and forth with successful drives. However, defense took over in the fourth quarter and the 14,865 fans at the Allstate Arena couldn't have been happier when Etu Molden secured the first turnover of the game when he intercepted Colorado QB Mark Grieb's pass in the endzone with 13:14 to go.
That pick came with the Rush leading 41-33 and gave Chicago a chance to take the game's first two-touchdown lead. Philyaw directed a clever time-consuming drive and he appeared to get Chicago that advantage when he floated a pass in the corner of the endzone to Molden. However, Molden juggled the ball and defensive specialist Clevan Thomas intercepted for San Jose.
The Rush defense came up big again as Grieb drove San Jose back downfield. On first and goal from the Rush 3-yard line, SaberCat head coach Darren Arbet decided to try a run with FB Kevin Buck around left end, but the play did not fool any of the Rush defenders. DeJuan Alfonzo came up with a big hit and forced a fumble and John Moyer dove quickly and came up with the loose ball.
This time, there was no hesitance as the Rush took advantage of the break. Philyaw culminated the drive by hitting offensive specialist Henry Douglas with a 14-yard scoring pass with just 50 seconds to play.
The teams traded touchdowns in the final minute, but Chicago's solid defensive play and big hitting was the difference in a game that could propel the Rush to the playoffs once again.
The Rush ratcheted it up a couple of notches in the first half for the SaberCats. Not only had San Jose won five straight games coming in, they had scored 201 points in their previous three games.
Mike Hohensee had his team well prepared for this offensive machine. Knowing that Grieb was calling signals for the SaberCats and that he brought a 45-7 TD-interception ratio into the game, Philyaw knew that he had to play well and he was on top of his game. Both sides made good on each of their first four possessions in the first half. Philyaw was a spectacular 13-of-13 for 123 yards with three TD passes and a long of 24 yards.
The Rush responded with a touchdown after every San Jose score. Philyaw threw two TD passes for Jeremy McDaniel â one was a 24-yard beauty midway through the second quarter â and he also threw an 8-yard score to Henry Douglas in the closing seconds of the first half that gave Chicago a 27-26 lead.
While San Jose could not score in the final 13 seconds of the half, the Rush defense was having problems with Grieb's accurate passing. He completed 14-of-21 passes for 220 yards with four TDs. Three of the scoring passes went to offensive specialist Rashied Davis, while the other was a 30-yard bomb to wide open Rodney Wright.
The first-half play was marked by sharp play by both teams. The Rush was flagged for just two penalties and that was what Hohensee wanted against a high-powered team like San Jose.
That discipline paid off in the second half and the Rush will be looking to extend their winning streak to three against Colorado this Sunday.
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