Kats roar back, but fall by seven
March 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
A furious late rally was not enough for the Nashville Kats, who cut a 21-point fourth quarter lead to a final seven-point deficit in a 45-38 loss on Sunday against the Chicago Rush. The Kats (1-5) were victimized by Rush QB Todd Hammel, who threw for five TD's on the afternoon.
Hammel was 20-of-31 for 223 yards, two INT's and the five TD's, as the 14-year vet filled in for the injured Raymond Philyaw. Five different Rush players found the end zone on the day.
Nashville's offense, which has been sluggish all season, never got untracked until it was too late. Tony Zimmerman, who was filling in at quarterback for an injured Leon Murray for the second straight week, completed 25 of 48 throws for 227 yards, four TD's and two picks, but the overwhelming majority of Zimmerman's stats and the Kats' 243 total yards were accumulated late in the fourth period, as Nashville tried to rally from a big deficit. The Kats had only 126 total yards with 10 minutes to go in the game.
Nashville got on the board first after forcing a Hammel intentional grounding call in the end zone for a safety on Chicago's first possession. The Rush then countered with a 12-yard TD reception by DeJuan Alfonzo and a 22-yard Keith Gispert field goal to up their lead to eight points at the end of the first period.
The Kats started slowly on offense, with Zimmerman completing only one of his first seven passes in the first period. In the second quarter, the Kats finally found the end zone on a one-yard TD run by former Rush player Levelle Brown. Nashville also added a 50-yard field goal by Gary Kraland got what they hoped to be a big momentum boost with a diving Darryl Hammond six-yard TD catch on the last play of the first half that got the Kats back within 24-18 at the break.
In the second half, the Kats once again failed to take advantage of opportunities, failing to score on their first drive after halftime for the fifth straight week. From there, Hammell led the Rush to another score, this time a 12-yard TD toss to Russell Shaw, that put Chicago in front, 31-18. Nashville never scored in the third quarter and gave up a short Bob McMillen TD run early in the fourth period that seamed to seal the game for the Rush.
Zimmerman finally found his groove late in the game, leading Nashville to three TD's, including a second scoring pass to Hammond on the game's final play, but it was not enough.
Nashville returns home to face the Central Division-leading Colorado Crush on Saturday. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at the Gaylored Entertainment Center.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 6, 2005
- Storm blast Rampage, 70-50, to pick up third win - Tampa Bay Storm
- Kats roar back, but fall by seven - Nashville Kats
- Rampage engulfed by Storm, 70-50 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Soul fall 61-54 in Fuller's head coaching debut - Philadelphia Soul
- Rush hold off Kats, 45-38 - Chicago Rush
- SaberCats Stop Skid With Win Over Orlando - San Jose SaberCats
- Mistakes Cost Desperados in 53-51 Loss - Dallas Desperados
- VooDoo beat Desperados, 53-51 - New Orleans VooDoo
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