Mustangs Upset the Rush, 54-41
Published on July 23, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
Chicago - Riding three first half turnovers and big contributions from defensive lineman Broderick Stewart and Dwayne LeFall, the Milwaukee Mustangs (7-11) upset the Chicago Rush (13-5), 54-41 on Saturday night. Milwaukee finished the 2011 regular season on a three-game winning streak, with each win coming in dominating fashion.
On the first possession of the game, LeFall sacked Rush quarterback J.J. Raterink in the end zone, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Stewart for a score. The duo would then wreak more havoc midway through the second quarter when LeFall made a tackle in the backfield, jarring the ball loose from fullback Johnie Kirton. Almost as if déjà vu, Stewart scooped up the pigskin and walked into the end zone for a mouth dropping 30-6 lead.
The Mustangs defense was in absolute control in the first half. Raterink, who threw for an astounding 285 yards and six touchdowns last week, was held to only 50 yards passing, picked off once, and sacked four times before being replaced by Dominic Randolph with over six minutes still to play in the half.
Though Randolph would throw two touchdown passes to Reggie Gray to bring Chicago back into the game before halftime, 30-20, Milwaukee marched out of the locker room with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Gino Guidugli to Dwayne Eley, Jr. After Brandon Brinkley intercepted his second pass of the game, Guidugli lofted a 31-yard touchdown pass to Victor Williams, perhaps the most beautiful pass of the Mustangs season, to break open the game, 44-20.
The Rush fought valiantly to get back into the game in the 4th quarter with Gray hauling in his fifth touchdown reception of the game, but the Mustangs would not give up the lead. Instead, they matched Chicago score for score and sealed the win with an Eddie Davis interception with under a minute to play.
Guidugli finished 18 of 28 for 193 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, while Eley, Jr. led Mustangs receivers with two touchdown catches. Ernest Smith also hauled in seven catches for 64 yards and scored a rushing touchdown on a 10-yard pitch in the first quarter to help the Mustangs pull off the commanding upset victory over their southern border rival.
Arena Football League Stories from July 23, 2011
- Vigilantes Fall to Rattlers, 55-49 - Dallas Vigilantes
- Rattlers Dismantle Vigilantes in Regular Season Finale - Arizona Rattlers
- Barnstormers Drop Season Finale to Georgia 63-59 - Iowa Barnstormers
- Force lock in seed with heart-stopping win at Iowa - Georgia Force
- SaberCats Lose To Storm In Season Finale, 57-44 On Touchdown Catch In Final Seconds - San Jose SaberCats
- Storm End on High Note - Tampa Bay Storm
- Predators End Regular Season With Convincing Win Over VooDoo - Orlando Predators
- Command drops finale - Kansas City Command
- Rush Fall To Milwaukee Mustangs In Regular Season Finale - Chicago Rush
- Mustangs Upset the Rush, 54-41 - Milwaukee Mustangs
- Grothe Helps Storm Close Season with Win - Tampa Bay Storm
- Jacksonville defeats Spokane 75-56 - Spokane Shock
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