Rush comeback falls short in L.A., 52-49
April 24, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Los Angeles â After three-consecutive emotional wins over three division leaders, Rush head coach Mike Hohensee feared a letdown when the Rush traveled to Los Angeles this week.
Los Angeles was coming off a loss to expansion Nashville and playing its first home game since the death of lineman Al Lucas.
What Hohensee witnessed Saturday night was a nightmare for three quarters as the sloppy Rush (7-5) fell behind by 18 points before mounting a furious late-game comeback. The rally was not enough, however, and the Rush fell to the Avengers (7-5) 52-49 in front of 11,904 fans at Staples Center.
"We made too many mistakes," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "But I am proud of the way we fought back tonight. We could have just given up, but we showed some character and fought back. We just ran out of time at the end."
Chicago turned the ball over four times, lost a kickoff off the net, committed 11 penalties and dropped several passes in the loss, which cost the Rush the opportunity to take control of both the Central Division and the American Conference with just four weeks to go in the season.
A win would have given the Rush an 8-4 record and, by virtue of the tiebreakers the team would have held over Colorado, San Jose and Los Angeles, the number one seed in the American Conference playoff bracket.
However, due to the loss, the Rush now trails Colorado by one game in the division and is in a three-way tie with LA and Las Vegas for the final two wild-card playoff spots. The Rush will host Las Vegas at noon next Sunday, May 1, at Allstate Arena.
Trailing 52-34 with 6:11 remaining, the Rush got back-to back big plays from WR/DB Charles Pauley. First, Pauley forced a Kevin Ingram fumble, which was recovered by Russell Shaw on the Rush five-yard line. Then, on the next play, Pauley caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Raymond Philyaw (26 of 37 for 333 yards, four TDs and two INTs), shaving the lead to 11, at 52-41.
The Rush then executed a perfect onside kick â its second of the game. The kick was recovered by Etu Molden, who injured his hamstring on the play and was forced to leave the game. Even without Molden, the Rush moved down field for another score on fullback Charlie Cook's four-yard run with 3:02 remaining. Chicago added the two-point conversion and suddenly was down only three, 52-49.
The Rush then kicked off to Los Angeles, pinning the Avengers deep in their own territory. After back-to-back incomplete passes â including a near interception by lineman John Moyer â LA faced third and ten. Avengers wide receiver Greg Hopkins found a way to get open and caught an 11-yard pass from quarterback John Kaleo, giving the Avengers a first down and allowing them to run out the clock.
As was the case last year when these two teams met and LA handed the Rush its worst loss in team history, the game was decided in the second quarter.
With 30 seconds remaining in the first half and the Rush trailing 24-21, Philyaw found offensive specialist Henry Douglas wide open in the end zone for an apparent touchdown. However, Douglas dropped the ball. On the very next play, Philyaw was pressured and tried to force a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Damen Wheeler â his second interception of the game. Wheeler returned the interception 34-yards for a touchdown and a 31-21 LA lead.
Then, on the ensuing kickoff Shaw was unable to catch Remy Hamilton's kick as it took an awkward bounce off the net. Hopkins scooped up the ball at the Rush four-yard line and dove into the end zone with 13 seconds remaining, giving LA a 38-21 halftime lead.
"That dropped pass in the end zone was the big play," said Hohensee. "If we catch that ball it's an entirely different ballgame."
Earlier in the second quarter the Rush looked like it was going to take control of the game, but just couldn't put the Avengers away. Trailing 10-7, Chicago opened the second quarter with a three play, 43-yard drive, capped by a Bob McMillen 11-yard TD scamper. It was McMillen's second touchdown run of the game and the 73rd of his career, moving him into sole possession of third place on the AFL's all-time list for rushing touchdowns.
Then, on the ensuing LA series, the Rush sacked Kaleo on three-consecutive plays, including two by Moyer, forcing the Avengers into a 48-yard field goal attempt that missed wide left.
However, the Rush gave up two sacks on its next offensive series, with the second sack resulting in a Philyaw fumble that was recovered by Los Angeles at the Chicago five-yard line.
The Avengers capitalized two-plays later, as Kaleo hit Ingram for a three-yard touchdown to put Los Angeles back up 17-14.
The teams then exchanged scores, giving the Avengers the 24-21 lead and setting up the chaos of the last 30 seconds of the first half.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 24, 2005
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