Rush Advances to Semifinals, 60-47
August 6, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
It's back to the desert for the Chicago Rush.
QB Billy Dicken threw seven TD passes to lead the Rush to a 60-47 win over the Dallas Desperados in front of 12,744 fans at the Allstate Arena Monday night in the Arena Football League playoffs. The postseason victory allows the Rush to play the Arizona Rattlers in the AFL semifinals Sunday afternoon.
The Rush got a boost from its very aggressive defense and surprisingly good special-teams play to secure the win. DB Marvin Taylor had an early interception that gave the Rush early momentum and DTs Rich McKenzie and A.J. Blazek contributed key fumble recoveries. When the Desperados tried to mount a fourth-quarter comeback, John Moyer snuffed out a fourth-down fake field goal that gave the Rush late-game momentum.
Kicker Kenny Stucker, who was signed after the last regular-season game, was solid in his debut. He hit each of his extra points and a 31-yard third-quarter field goal and all but two of his kickoffs went deep off the net.
One of those short kicks was returned for a 58-yard TD by return specialist Kareem Larrimore to pull the Desperados within five points at 46-41 midway through the fourth quarter, but Dicken answered in huge and immediate fashion when he hooked up with Antonio Chatman on a 45-yard TD pass with 5:16 to play. Chatman had four TD receptions in the game.
"Chatman's speed killed them tonight," said Chicago Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "They had a chance to get back in the game, but he killed them."
Even though the Rush will be going on the road in the semifinals against a team that beat them earlier in the season, Hohensee likes his team's chances. "We're a much better team than we were earlier," Hohensee said. "We 've matured and I like our chances."
Arizona beat the Rush 52-41 on May 25.
The Rush came out of the gate determined to make its first home playoff game a success. DS Marvin Taylor thwarted the Desperados first drive when he intercepted QB Andy Kelly's pass at the 12-yard line.
Head coach Mike Hohensee immediately tried to take advantage of that break as the Rush went deep on the next play. QB Billy Dicken underthrew Dameon Porter on a post pattern on the ensuing play, but he hit super rookie Chatman with a 38-yard TD pass on the following play to give the Rush the lead. Holder Cedric Walker ran the ball into the endzone on the PAT and the Rush had an 8-0 lead.
Dallas came back on its next possession and marched the ball down the field. Aided by two offside penalties the Desperados pounded the ball into the endzone when Patrise Alexander scored on a one-yard dive.
Chatman caught a short pass from Dicken and fumbled on the next drive and Dallas took advantage. Kelly threw a 14-yard TD pass to Mario Bailey that gave Dallas a 14-8 lead.
Chatman gave the Rush a lift with a solid kickoff return that gave Chicago possession at the Dallas 20. On the next play, Dicken hit TE Furnell Hankton with a perfectly designed screen pass that gave the Rush a 15-14 lead.
The Rush added to that lead after McKenzie recovered a fumble just as Dallas was getting ready to score. Dicken led the Rush down the field and hit Chatman with a 19-yard TD pass to give Chicago a 22-14 lead.
The Desperados climbed back in when Kelly hit Shannon Culver with a two-yard TD pass early in the second quarter and they threatened to take the lead after Dicken threw an interception on the next possession.
However, the Rush defense stiffened and forced Dallas to attempt a long field goal. Kicker Jason Wells' attempt came from his own goalline â after head coach Joe Avezzano drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty â and the ball rebounded off the net to up back Cornelius Bonner. After dipping back into his own endzone, Bonner weaved his way up the field and evaded three tacklers on his way to a 46-yard TD return. The spectacular play gave the Rush a 29-21 lead.
Wells added a 21-yard field goal on the last play before the half to cut the lead to 29-24.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from August 6, 2002
- Central Defeats East, 12-3 - Portland Forest Dragons
- Horn, Taylor, Wagner Earn Honors - AFL I
- Monday Night Playoff Recap - AFL I
- Rush Advances to Semifinals, 60-47 - Chicago Rush
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