Late Touchdown Ends Rush Streak In Dallas 52-48

Published on May 14, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


Dallas - In the biggest game of the year, between perhaps the AFL's two best teams, the game came down to the final seconds before it was finally decided.

When the dust settled, Dallas QB Clint Dolezel hit wide receiver Will Pettis with a three-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-one play to give the Desperados a 52-48 lead with just three seconds remaining.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Rush QB Matt D'Orazio's final pass fell incomplete and the Desperados (10-1) pulled out their 10th victory of the season, clinching a playoff spot in the process.

"We lost to great team tonight," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "But I am proud that we battled right to the end and I think we will learn a lot from this game. Once again we fell behind and did not take advantage of some opportunities, but we will come out next week and work on starting another winning streak."

The loss snapped Chicago's franchise-record eight game winning streak and dropped the team's record on the season to 8-2.

However, the Rush lost much more than the game, as star wide receiver Bobby Sippio and defensive back Jonathan Ordway were both injured in the first half.

Sippio sprained his left ankle late in the fourth quarter and played sparingly the rest of the game. Ordway tore his left bicep in the second quarter and did not return.

Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo was forced to move to defensive back to replace Ordway and also doubled at wide receiver filling in for Sippio.

Alfonzo finished with seven catches for 88 yards and three touchdowns and recording six tackles.

Trailing 38-21 with 7:17 left in the third quarter, the Rush began its comeback when D'Orazio found Rob Mager with a 27-yard TD pass to draw the Rush to 38-27.

After the Desperados recovered a Rush onside kick, Chicago got its first real break of the game.

Dolezel tried to take a page out of the Rush playbook and attempted a pass off the net in the endzone - much like the TD pass Etu Molden caught in last year's ArenaBowl.

However, instead of finding receiver Marcus Nash for a TD, Dolezel's pass was intercepted off the net by Jeremy Unertl, who returned it 21-yards to the Dallas 13-yard line.

The Rush converted the play into a touchdown when D'Orazio hit Alfonzo with a 37-yard pass to bring the Rush to 38-34.

On Dallas' next possession, DB Dennison Robinson stepped in front of a Dolezel pass at the Rush 5-yard line for an interception, which he returned 25 yards to the Dallas 20.

One play later, D'Orazio hit Alfonzo with a touchdown pass with 11:10 left in the quarter and the Rush had its first lead of the game, 41-38.

Dallas regained the lead with 6:45 remaining when Dolezel dove in from the 1-yard line, ending a Rush 20-0 run and putting the Desperados up 45-41.

But the Rush slugged right back, as D'Orazio hit Mager on a 23-yard pass to bring the ball to the Dallas 1-yard line. Bob McMillen took it from there, running it in for a touchdown and a 48-45 lead with 2:04 remaining.

Dallas then worked the final two minutes of the clock perfectly, milking the clock as it moved downfield on a six-play drive, culminating in the game-winning score.

The Rush returns home Saturday to host the Nashville Kats (4-7) at Allstate Arena. The game is sold out, but can be seen in Chicago on Comcast Sports Net beginning at 7 p.m.

Notes: D'Orazio finished the game 28 of 42 for 284 yards and five touchdowns ... he also rushed for a TD ... rookie Rob Mager had the best game of his career, catching 12 passes for 147 yards and a TD ... the Rush defense forced two more turnovers, giving the team 33 on the season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2007


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