Game Preview: Rush Head to Iowa Looking to Continue Hot Streak
April 24, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush (3-2) head to Des Moines Friday to take on the Iowa Barnstormers (2-3) at 7:05 pm. The Rush are coming off a last-second 59-56 win in Utah this past weekend that extended their winning streak to three games, and will look to keep their road record perfect.
With three-tenths of a second left in Saturday's game, kicker Jose Martinez's 23-yard field goal gave the Rush a walk-off win in Utah. The remarkable turnaround by the defense the last three weeks has been the story of the season thus far, leaving Martinez's consistency unnoticed. Martinez has flown under the radar, but his production has gone unmatched in the AFL this season. He is 32-for-33 in extra point attempts this season, which translates to a 97% success rate.
After the first two weeks, the Barnstormers looked like the early favorites in the National Conference Central Division after starting the season 2-0. The tables have turned quickly the last three weeks, and the Rush now sit atop the division with a 3-2 record. Iowa has lost three straight games and has been outscored 160-120 in that time period. The Rush have outscored opponents 152-111 in the same three game span.
Iowa played well last week in Jacksonville, but came up empty as the Sharks scored with four minutes remaining in the game. The game ended as Barnstormers quarterback JJ Raterink rushed from the two yard line on third down and came up one yard short of the end zone as time expired. Of Iowa's three losses this season, two have come at the hands of undefeated teams.
The Barnstormers were assigned 2012 Cutters Wide Receiver of the Year Jesse Schmidt just before Week 3. He returned against Philadelphia two weeks ago and regained his status as the team's go-to receiver, catching eight passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Schmidt has posted gaudy numbers in his six career games against the Rush, leading all receivers in yardage three times. Despite all this, he has never defeated Chicago.
Rush Head Coach Bob McMillen called out his defense following a 76-61 loss to Spokane in Week 2. Since then, the Rush defense has responded, creating ten turnovers. The veteran presence of defensive backs Semaj Moody, Jorrick Calvin, Vic Hall, and Joe Phinisee has shown through in the current win streak; they have six combined interceptions in the last three games and remain the team's top four tacklers.
Offensively, Chicago has remained consistent throughout the season. Quarterback Carson Coffman continues to impress in his first year with the Rush and as a starter in the AFL. He has thrown 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions through five weeks. Perhaps more intriguing is his ability to stay composed in tight situations. He threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter last week and helped set up the game-winning field goal with an incomplete pass that ran the clock down to less than a second. Reggie Gray and Rodney Wright continued their scoring ways with two touchdowns each last weekend. They'll line up opposite 2012 First Team All-Arena DB Jason Simpson in Iowa this week. Wright and Simpson are first and second in kick return averages per game in 2013.
This game wraps up the season series between the two teams. The Barnstormers topped the Rush 63-41 to open the 2013 season; a game in which they jumped out to a 12-0 advantage and never looked back as they held the lead the entire game. The Rush defense did not create a turnover, and as a result, quarterback J.J. Raterink had a career night, throwing for seven touchdowns.
Chicago heads into this matchup with the opportunity to extend the division lead to two games. San Antonio, who currently stands at 1-3, faces the Pittsburgh Power Sunday.
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