L.A.'s first loss give Chicago a Rush
by Tim Peterson, Mid Valley News
Published on February 23, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
(Chicago) - It came down to a scenario that has been to the Los Angeles Avengers liking the last few weeks- the ball in their hands with the game on the line. Only this time fate and the Chicago Rush caught up with them.
Damien Porter picked off a Tony Graziani pass at the one yard line with 1:12 remaining in the contest and Chicago held on for a 54-53 victory over the Avengers before a packed house at Allstate Arena in Chicago. It was the first victory of the season for the Rush while Los Angeles suffered its first defeat and fell to 3-1.
The game had everything that you could ask for in a football game. Seven lead changes, fifteen touchdowns, a couple of missed two point conversion attempts and an onside kick were just a few of the many highlights in just another day at the office in the fast paced Arena Football League.
The avengers drew first blood. After a Kevin Ingram interception, Grazinai connected with Ingram for a touchdown with 13:24 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Jamie McGourty rambled in from 13 yards out to get the Rush even four minutes later.
McGourty recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession and Chicago took advantage when Billy Dicken hit Anthony Ladd on a scoring strike to put the Rush up 21-14 to end the first quarter.
Graziani hobbled off the field with an ankle injury after hitting Greg Hopkins on a two yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21. However he didn't miss a beat and returned on the next series.
With the game tied the two teams combined for 22 points in the last minute of the second quarter. Dicken hit Ladd over the middle for a two yard score with 59 seconds left but Graziani came right back with a 15 yard toss to Siaha Burley to tie it again.
Antonio Chatman returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards for the go ahead touchdown before a 38-yard Remy Hamilton field goal with no time remaining finished the flurry and the half with the Rush on top 34-30.
The Avengers put the clamps on the Rush in the third quarter, holding them scoreless. However they managed only ten points of their own on another Hamilton field goal and a seven yard run by Mathias Vavao. For Vavao, it was his second touchdown of the game and fifth of the season.
The lead see sawed back and forth in the final period. Dicken found Dejuan Alfonzo on a corner route to put the Rush up 48-47 with 8:59 left. The Avengers regained the advantage on their next possession when Chris Jackson, in an apparent breakdown in coverage, got behind the Rush secondary and Graziani hit him in stride for the score and a 53-48 lead. With LA down by five Avenger coach Ed Hodgkiss decided to go for two. But Hamilton was stopped short on a running play and the lead stayed at 53-48.
LA then attempted an onside kick which the Rush recovered on the ten yard line. Two plays later Dicken fired a five yard bullet to Chatman in what proved to be the game winning score.
The Avengers were in position to take the lead until Porter's pick secured the first win of the year for the Rush.
Dicken completed 21 of 30 for 229 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Lindsey Fleshman and Chatman each had five receptions.
Graziani was 22-38 for 257 yards and five touchdowns. But it was the one interception that ruined his day.
Next week the Rush travels to Buffalo to take on the Destroyers while the Avengers are back in the friendly confines of Staples Center to do battle with the Georgia Force.
Los Angeles 7 23 10 13 53 Chicago 14 20 0 20 54
LA: Passing; Graziani 22-38-257-5-1. Chi: Dicken 21-30-229-4-2. Total Yards: LA- 278. Chi- 259 First Downs: LA- 20. Chi- 14.
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 23, 2003
- L.A.'s first loss give Chicago a Rush - OSC Original by Tim Peterson, Mid Valley News
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- Rattlers Hand Birds First Loss of the Season - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Rush defeats Avengers in 54-53 nailbiter - Chicago Rush
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
