Last-second win clinches playoff berth for Rush
Published on May 16, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Playing with the desperation and hunger of a team that needed a win to get into the Arena Football League playoffs, the Rush (10-4) did what it set out to do, registering a 45-41 win over the Dallas Desperados (6-8) before 13,071 fans at the Allstate Arena, and clinching the team's fourth-consecutive playoff berth.
It came down to the final play. After Jeremy McDaniel caught a 37-yard TD pass from QB Raymond Philyaw to give the Rush the lead with 38 seconds to go, the desperate Desperados drove the ball down the field on their final possession and had a chance to win the game with three seconds remaining.
Dallas QB Glen Gauntt faded back from the Rush 9-yard line and looked for WR Bobby Sippio running the fade pattern. Sippio had the edge on Rush CB Corey Sawyer, but he came down out of bounds with the ball. Penalty flags fell and, after a brief huddle, the officials ruled Sippio had pushed off prior and the game was over.
McDaniel was thrilled with the win. "This is why I came to Chicago," McDaniel said. "I had a few butterflies in my stomach at the end, but it ended the right way. We knew they would play us tough, but we kept fighting and did everything we needed to in order to get the win."
The Rush had taken a 38-34 lead with 5:40 left in the fourth quarter when Philyaw hit McDaniel with a 19-yard pass in the corner of the endzone. On the play, Dallas DB Will Pettis pounded McDaniel into the corner boards in an attempt to jar the ball loose, but the receiver held on.
Dallas responded with a solid drive that culminated with RB Ja'Mar Toombs' one-yard TD run. That score came with one-minute left â giving Chicago plenty of time to score. Ideally, the Rush would have left the Desperados with far less than 38 seconds to operate, but the defense could not bring down McDaniel who caught a short pass before rolling into the endzone.
The game got off to a slow start offensively, but the Rush used its power running game and the accurate passing of Raymond Philyaw to gain the edge and all but knock the Desperados out of the playoffs.
WR Etu Molden got the Rush on the scoreboard late in the first half when he scored on a four-yard run. The Rush took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on Bob McMillen's one-yard run.
The Rush appeared to be on its way to a one-sided win, but the Desperados showed plenty of toughness and intensity. Head coach Will McClay had gotten the message across to his players and they were not about to go down easily. QB Glen Gauntt scored on a one-yard run of his own midway through the second quarter and then hit WR Jason Shelly with a seven-yard scoring pass that put the Desperados in front 20-14.
Chicago moved back into the lead in the final moment of the first half as Philyaw hit Molden with a 20-yard TD pass on a crossing pattern at the 38-second mark. Keith Gispert's point after gave Chicago a 21-20 halftime lead.
With the playoff berth secured, the Rush looks to improve its chances for homefield advantage next week when Indiana comes to the Allstate Arena.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 16, 2004
- Nash sets AFL record in Gladiators fourth straight win - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Gladiators hand SaberCats second straight loss - San Jose SaberCats
- Orlando smacks Austin, playoffs in sight - Orlando Predators
- Last-second win clinches playoff berth for Rush - Chicago Rush
- Predators take down Dragons, 43-26 - Austin Wranglers
- Dragons Slip Up Against Avengers - New York Dragons
- Firebirds hold off Crush, 59-56 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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