Last Second Kick Gives Avengers 50-47 Win Over Rush
June 3, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Los Angeles - Los Angeles Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton kicked a 29-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give LA (7-6) a 50-47 win over the Chicago Rush Saturday night at Staples Center.
The game-winning kick came after the Rush (9-4) had the ball with an opportunity to win the game and could not convert.
With the game tied at 47-47, the Rush took possession on its own 5-yard line with just one minute left to play. The possession came after Hamilton missed a 32-yard field goal attempt.
However, the Rush failed to get a first down, finding itself with fourth-and-two from its own 13-yard line. Rather than attempt a 52-yard field goal, the Rush went for the first down but failed to convert, giving the ball back to Los Angeles with just 23 seconds remaining.
After LA failed to move the ball on two plays, Hamilton came in and kicked the winning field goal.
"We had opportunities to take control at several points tonight and we just didn't do it," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "It wasn't just the final offensive series, we had chances throughout and couldn't get the job done."
The Hamilton kick erased another big comeback from Chicago, erasing an Avengers 11-point fourth quarter lead to come back and tie the game.
Trailing 44-33 with less than 10 minutes remaining, the Rush cut the lead to 44-39 when quarterback Matt D'Orazio hit fullback Bob McMillen with a four-yard touchdown pass. However, kicker Dan Frantz missed the extra point attempt, keeping the deficit at five.
The Rush defense managed to hold Los Angeles to a Hamilton 33-yard field goal on the ensuing possession, making the score 47-39 with 5:20 remaining in the game.
Just one minute later, a Rob Mager 20-yard touchdown reception cut the lead to 47-45, and some razzle-dazzle on a two-point conversion tied the game at 47-47. On the two-point conversion, D'Orazio pitched the ball to Mager, who turned and threw it back to D'Orazio. D'Orazio then dashed for the end zone for the tie.
Chicago tried to capitalize on its momentum with an on-side kick, but Rob Turner recovered for the Avengers at the Rush 17-yard line.
The Rush defense shut LA down on three-consecutive plays, bringing on Hamilton for a 32-yard field goal attempt. But Hamilton missed the attempt wide left, setting up the final minute of play.
The Rush special teams struggled Saturday night, as Frantz missed an extra point attempt, had a PAT blocked and lost another PAT opportunity due to a bad snap. Frantz also missed a 31-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half.
The missed Frantz field goal capped a rough final minute of the first half for Chicago.
With Chicago leading 20-16 late in the first half, LA quarterback Sonny Cumbie found LaShaun Ward with a 13-yard touchdown pass to put LA up 23-20 with just 33 seconds remaining.
Knowing it would get the second half kickoff, the Rush looked to put back-to-back scores on the board without LA's offense getting on the field.
However after the ensuing kickoff gave the Rush the ball at its own 5-yard line, a scrambling D'Orazio fumbled the ball in his own end zone. The ball was recovered by Avenger linebacker Robert Quiroga for a touchdown, giving LA a 30-20 lead with 22 seconds left in the half.
The 22 seconds still was enough time for the Rush to get a great kick return by Russell Shaw and set up a 31-yard field goal attempt by Frantz. When Frantz' attempt missed wide, the Rush entered the locker room trailing by 10 points.
Notes: The Rush played its third-consecutive game without injured wide receiver Bobby Sippio ... The Rush defense, which leads the AFL with 35 takeaways, did not force a turnover Saturday night ... wide receiver Rob Mager was the team's leading receiver, catching 10 passes for 125 yards and three TDs...Etu Molden, re-signed Thursday, finished with five receptions for 33 yards.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 3, 2007
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- Gladiators Fall To Rattlers 41-20 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Last Second Kick Gives Avengers 50-47 Win Over Rush - Chicago Rush
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