Late flag sends Rush tumbling in home opener
February 3, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush went from elation to disappointment in an instant.
The Rush appeared to pull out a victory in its home opener over the New York Dragons when quarterback Matt D'Orazio scrambled to his left, lowered his shoulder and powered the ball into the endzone as time ran out. That touchdown appeared to give Chicago a 53-51 lead.
But as the Rush and its fans at Allstate Arena started celebrating, a yellow flag appeared on the field. When the officials emerged from their huddle, the TD was nullified as a result of an illegal block in the back call.
Game over. New York wins, 51-47.
While the Dragons were celebrating, the Rush had absorbed its second straight defeat to start the season. It's one thing to lose on the road to Colorado; it's quite another to lose at home to New York.
The Rush trailed throughout most of the game and faced a 44-33 deficit midway through the fourth quarter. The team appeared to be losing touch, but D'Orazio got them back in the game when he hit Dennison Robinson with a 12-yard scoring pass with 3:12 to go, culminating a four-play, 30-yard drive. While the Rush failed to convert the ensuing two-point conversion, the crowd of 14,947 sensed that their team was back in it and would make a late charge to get back in the game.
Little did they know that the Rush would take control on the next play. New York's Dashane Dennis took the kickoff off the net and got away from a tackle from Russell Shaw. However, Khreem Smith did not miss and his crushing hit forced a fumble. Shaw picked up the loose ball and rumbled into the endzone from seven yards out.
D'Orazio ran the ball in on the conversion to give the Rush a 47-44 lead.
New York still had an opportunity with just under two minutes remaining. Quarterback Aaron Garcia calmly led a three-play, 37-yard drive and he gave the Dragons the lead when he hit Mike Horacek with a 13-yard score at the 48 second mark.
The Rush made its gutsy try as the game clock wound down, but the story book finish Hohensee was hoping for went in favor of the visitors.
In the first half, New York got off to a quick start when the Dragons intercepted D'Orazio's first pass of the game. The quarterback attempted to hit Etu Molden with a long pass, but Dennis picked it off.
The Dragons scored on the ensuing possession. Garcia directed a six-play, 48-yard drive and hit Horacek with a six-yard pass early in the first quarter.
Not wanting the Dragons to take control on its homefield, the Rush responded and D'Orazio was much more confident when he took the ball for the second possession. He directed the Rush 44 yards in four plays and got his team on the board with a 26-yard TD pass to Shaw. New kicker Steve Azar missed his first AFL extra point attempt, and the Rush tailed by a point.
After the teams exchanged scores, New York took control with back-to-back successful possessions. Jesse Obert knocked home a 27-yard field goal and Swayne followed with a 13-yard TD reception from Garcia. While the Rush responded when C.J. Johnson hit veteran Henry Douglas with a three-yard touchdown, the Dragons were dictating the pace in the first half.
D'Orazio threw one more TD in the first half and added a one-yard rushing touchdown, but the timing of the offense was not what Hohensee was looking for in the home opener.
The Rush will try to break into the win column when it hosts Nashville Sunday, February 12, at Allstate Arena.
RUSH TO JUDGMENT: Rush lineman Khreem Smith was named the defensive player of the game. In addition to his fumble-producing hit that led to the go-ahead touchdown, he also registered the first sack of his career. ... WRs Henry Douglas and Etu Molden led the Rush with five receptions each...N.Y. QB Aaron Garcia threw six TD passes - including four to Kevin Swayne - and he did not throw a pick. ... QB Matt D'Orazio threw four TD passes, but he was hurt by two interceptions.
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