Rush comes back, holds on against Rampage, 48-45
Published on March 13, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Grand Rapids, Mich. â It must have been one heck of a halftime speech by Rush head coach Mike Hohensee.
Trailing 24-13 against the last place Grand Rapids Rampage (1-5), Chicago outscored the Rampage 21-7 in the third quarter en route to a nail-biting 48-45 win before 8,110 fans at Van Andel Arena.
Comeback aside, it took a missed 31-yard field goal by Rampage kicker Pete Martinez as timed expired to seal the Rush (4-3) win.
"I was disappointed in our execution in the first half," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "And I let the guys know how I felt.
"But they played with great emotion and energy in the second half, and I'm real proud of the way they responded."
The Rush had a chance to ice the game late in the fourth quarter, but was stopped on four consecutive plays from within the Grand Rapids 2-yard line. After FB/LB Jamie McGourty was stopped on fourth down, the Rampage took over with 38-seconds remaining.
Rampage quarterback Michael Bishop, the 1998 Heisman Trophy runner-up, led Grand Rapids into scoring position. But Martinez' kick sailed wide right off the nets, and landed safely in the arms of Rush OS Henry Douglas.
Bishop, the league's leading rusher, was a big concern for Chicago entering the game. With just four starts under his belt, the former Kansas State Wildcat had accumulated 217 rushing yards and five touchdowns, a rare skill among AFL quarterbacks. He also had thrown for 22 scores against just two interceptions.
"We needed to contain Bishop," said Hohensee. "I thought we did a nice job, but he still made some incredibly athletic plays out there."
Bishop rushed nine times for 28 yards and one touchdown, well under his 54-yard per game average. He also completed 15 of 31 throws for 235 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
Rush quarterback Todd Hammel, making his second start for the injured Raymond Philyaw, played superbly, completing 21 of 25 passes for 348 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
His main target was WR/LB Etu Molden, who corralled nine catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Douglas also tallied three touchdowns along with five catches.
Bishop accomplished exactly what the Rush had hoped to stop in the first half. The mobile quarterback kept the Rush defense off-kilter, rushing for 21 yards and a score, while throwing two more.
At the break, the Rampage held a 24-13 lead, tying a Chicago franchise record for fewest points scored in a half.
Hammel played well, completing 10 of 13 passes for 130 yards and two scores. But he also tossed a crucial, first-quarter interception that turned a potential 13-7 Rush lead into a subsequent 14-6 deficit.
Chicago also squandered its next scoring opportunity, when FB Bob McMillen was stopped twice at the goal line. The Rampage took over and tallied three more when kicker Martinez connected on a 31-yard field goal for a 17-6 lead.
The Rush finally found the Rampage end zone on its next possession, when Hammel hit Molden on a 28-yard score, bringing Chicago within four at 17-13.
But Grand Rapids used the final minute of the half brilliantly, working the clock down to seven seconds before Bishop scurried in for a 1-yard touchdown and an 11-point halftime lead.
It was a sloppy first quarter, as the teams traded touchdowns and turnovers.
Grand Rapids opened the scoring quickly, when Bishop found WR/LB Anthony Hines on a short slant pattern. Hines broke a tackle and traveled untouched for an 18-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Rush countered when Hammel hit Douglas in stride for a 29-yard touchdown. It was Douglas' first action since sustaining a groin injury three weeks ago against Columbus on a 58-yard touchdown on a kickoff return.
Gispert missed the PAT and Chicago trailed 7-6.
On the following possession, Bishop forced a throw under pressure that was intercepted by Rush defensive specialist Todd Howard on Chicago's 3-yard line.
The Rush appeared poised to take advantage of the Grand Rapids miscue, as Hammel led Chicago toward another score. But Hammel overthrew WR Charles Pauley in the end zone, and the ball ricocheted high off the nets into the arms of Rampage linebacker Travis Reece.
Grand Rapids took over at its own 3-yard line as the first quarter ended, holding a 7-6 advantage.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 13, 2005
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- Predators beat VooDoo, 63-52 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Rampage lose squeaker, 48-45 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush comes back, holds on against Rampage, 48-45 - Chicago Rush
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- Storm Improve to 4-0 at Home - Tampa Bay Storm
- Bironas wins it! - New York Dragons
- Force fall to Dragons in New York, 53-51 - Georgia Force
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- Crush Turns Back Kats - Colorado Crush
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- Las Vegas upends Columbus, 63-34 at Nationwide Arena - Columbus Destroyers
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