Rush Comeback Falls Short In Salt Lake City
Published on May 24, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Salt Lake City - Utah kicker Steve Videtich connected on an 18-yard field goal as time expired to give the Blaze a 51-48 win over the Chicago Rush Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
The loss snapped Chicago's five-game winning streak and drops the Rush to 9-3 with four games remaining in the regular season.
The late Blaze field goal ruined a tremendous Rush comeback. Chicago fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter before regrouping to come all the way back and tie the game at 41-41 with 9:43 left to play.
"We got down early and had to spend the bulk of the game battling back," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "Utah is a good team, and we knew this would be a tough place to come in and play. I am proud of the way we came back, but in the end Utah made enough plays to pull out the win."
After Rush QB Russ Michna hit wide receiver Damian Harrell with a three-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 41-41, Utah regained the lead at 48-41 when Blaze QB Joe Germaine hit J. J. McKelvey with a four-yard TD pass with 1:35 remaining. The TD pass capped a drive that was twice kept alive on fourth-down penalties against the Rush.
Utah tried to surprise the Rush with an on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff, but linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo recovered for Chicago with one minute remaining in the game. Two plays later, Michna scrambled around in the pocket and found Donovan Morgan for a six-yard touchdown to even the game at 48-48 with just 42.7 seconds left.
Chicago attempted an on-side kick of its own, but Utah recovered on the Rush 10-yard line. After using a pair of running plays to force the Rush to burn its final two timeouts, Utah ran the ball one more time before calling timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining. From there all that was left was for Videtich to kick the game-winner.
The Rush fell behind early when Utah took the opening kickoff and moved 49 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on a nine-yard completion from Germaine to Aaron Boone.
The Blaze then got a break when its ensuing kickoff bounced off the iron and was recovered by Utah on the Rush 3-yard line. One play later fullback Rodney Filer scored on a three-yard run to give the Blaze a 14-0 lead.
Things got worse for the Rush on its first true offensive possession when Michna's first pass of the game - a 43-yard pass intended for Harrell - was intercepted by Reggie Doster in the Utah end zone for a touchback.
The Blaze capitalized again, needing just three plays before Germaine hit McKelvey with a 22-yard touchdown to give Utah a 21-0 lead with 3:55 left in the first quarter.
The Rush regrouped, eventually cutting the lead to 34-24 at the half.
On the first play from scrimmage of the second half, Harrell took a short screen pass, shed a tackle and took the ball 45-yards for a touchdown, cutting the Utah lead to 34-31.
The Blaze extended its lead to 41-31 on its first series of the second half when Filer scored from the 1-yard line with 10:06 left in the third quarter.
On its next possession the Rush was unable to convert a first-and-goal from inside the Utah 10-yard line. Chicago settled for a 22-yard Dan Frantz field goal, cutting the lead to 41-34 with 5:30 left in the third.
Notes: Michna completed 17 of 30 passes for 206 yards and five TDs, while throwing one interception ... Harrell led all Rush receivers with 10 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns ... Frantz converted two of three field goal attempts in the game.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 24, 2008
- Rush Comeback Falls Short In Salt Lake City - Chicago Rush
- Rampage Fall Just Short in 52-48 Loss to Arizona - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rattlers Ravage Rampage In Fourth To Even Record - Arizona Rattlers
- SaberCats clinch playoff berth - AFL I
- Blaze Defeat Rush And Win Third Straight At Home, 51-48 - Utah Blaze
- Destroyers defense shuts down Dragons in second half - New York Dragons
- Thomas and Destroyers' defense come up big in the second half - Columbus Destroyers
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