Rush Cruises Past Punchless Fury
June 8, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush dominated from the opening kickoff and overpowered the hapless Detroit Fury with equal parts offense, defense and special teams Saturday night. In the 53-17 victory at the Allstate Arena before 7,374 fans, the Rush did not allow a touchdown until 52 seconds remained in the third quarter.
QB Billy Dicken continued to throw the ball consistently. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 147 yards and threw four TD passes. He could have easily had more if head coach Mike Hohensee had not reigned in the attack early in the second half. Hohensee replaced Dicken with backup Tim Carey midway through the third quarter. Dicken has thrown 91 consecutive passes without an interception.
The Rush defense went almost 60 minutes without allowing a point. After holding New Jersey scoreless in the second half of last week's 44-14 victory, Detroit didn't get on the board until PK Kraig Baker connected on a 30-yard field goal on the last play of the first half.
The Rush defense set the tone by registering two interceptions in the first half - Dameon Porter and Cedric Walker made the picks - and forcing the Fury into three FG attempts of 50 yards or more. On the second of those, the Rush 's Antonio Chatman scored on a 58-yard return of the missed three-point attempt. The touchdown marked the first time in Rush history that the team had scored on a missed FG return.
"Our defense is really playing well," said Hohensee. "The pass rush and the coverage is working hand-in-hand and we're flying around the football. I told Porter he needed to play like a thoroughbred and he sure did."
The Rush improved to 5-3 with the win and moved into a tie for first place in the Central Division of the American Conference with the Grand Rapids Rampage. The New Jersey Gladiators pounded Grand Rapids 70-42 Saturday night. The Fury fell to 1-7 and sits alone in last place in the division
The Rush has been especially effective at home. The win improved the team's record to 4-0 at the All-State Arena.
Dicken got the Rush on the board on the team's first possession when he connected with Anthony Ladd on a 17-yard TD pass. Dicken got plenty of time from the offensive line and hit the wide-open Ladd in stride. On the next possession, Dicken threw deep and found a wide-open Lindsay Fleshman running toward the post. Fleshman easily gathered the ball in for the score.
RB Jamie McGourty scored on two short TD runs and improved his season total to eight touchdowns. That broke his previous team record of seven rushing touchdowns, set last year. McGourty has only played four games this season as a result of a quad tendon injury that kept him inactive for the first four games of the season.
The first half statistics did not tell the story in this game. The Rush only outgained the Fury by a 123-86 margin, but Chicago had a commanding 36-3 lead at the break. The Fury was unable to put together any kind of consistent attack as Porter, Walker and NG James Baron were too much to handle. Porter had two interceptions for the game to raise his season total to six.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 8, 2002
- Desperados Down Firebirds for First Home Victory - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators Slay Grand Rapids, 70-42 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush Cruises Past Punchless Fury - Chicago Rush
- Rush Embarrasses Fury 53-17 - Detroit Fury
- Friday Night Recap - AFL I
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