Rush defeats Avengers in 54-53 nailbiter
Published on February 23, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Desperation sometimes makes even the most stalwart of men second-guess themselves. That's why Billy Dicken took the snaps Sunday.
After dropping their first two games, Rush head coach Mike Hohensee benched Dicken in favor of Chad Salisbury last week. Salisbury threw two touchdowns and two picks in a 28-25 loss at Indiana.
Not good enough. Enter Dicken.
The Rush (1-3) and Dicken responded in a see-saw 54-53 win over the Los Angeles Avengers (3-1) in front of a standing room only crowd of 16,132 at the Allstate Arena on Sunday. Dicken completed 21 of 30 passes for 229 yards with four touchdowns, throwing just two interceptions. Perhaps the benching was a wake-up call for Dicken. Or perhaps it was a wake-up call for the entire Rush squad.
Though the Rush came into the game with the league's second-ranked defense, its offense had sputtered. The Rush ranked last in the American Conference in points scored coming into Sunday, posting just 96 points
Dicken and the offense made sure to change that â after a small hiccup at the start.
A Dicken interception on the opening series turned the ball over to Los Angeles and Avengers quarterback Tony Graziani, who was 22-of-38, for 257 yards, five touchdowns one interception, connected with Kevin Ingram in the far corner on a go-route at 12:52.
The Rush responded, however, on a 13-yard stride by Jamie McGourty. The 6-2, 250-pound running back broke tackles at the 10- and five-yard lines. The scamper was the longest in Rush history. McGourty finished with just 17 yards rushing, but had two scores.
Second-year wide receiver Lindsay Fleshman made his season debut, catching five balls for 62 yards and a touchdown. Fleshman missed the first three weeks with a broken hand suffered in training camp. But the delight on his face said how much he missed being in the action.
"I'm glad to be back," Fleshman said. "I just wanted to play football.
On the ensuing Avengers drive, on second-and-10, Graziani fumbled the snap, which was recovered by McGourty at the Los Angeles 8-yard line. An off-sides penalty pushed the Rush back to the 19, but a Dicken found Antonio Chatman in the back of the end zone to push the Rush lead to 14-7.
Corner DeJuan Alfonzo ended the first quarter with an acrobatic deflection of a Graziani pass, denying an almost-sure touchdown with about 40 seconds left in the first quarter. End of the first 14-7 Rush.
The Avengers opened the second quarter with nine-play 37-yard drive culminating in a touchdown run by fullback Mathias Vavao, tying the game at 14-14.
Dicken answered quickly as he heaved a 30-yard bomb to Fleshman to give the Rush a 21-14 lead with 13:22 left in the second quarter.
The Rush defense kept Graziani on his heels for most of the half, despite seemingly effective numbers: 14-for-24, with three touchdowns. Needing a defensive stop, the Rush couldn't hold Graziani, who slung a pass on a quick-out to Greg Hopkins. Graziani injured his right knee on the play and had to be carried off the field, but he would return.
The Rush continued to trade scores, answering the high-scoring Avengers, who had come into the game with the league's top-ranked offense. With a little over a minute left in the half, Rush running back Anthony Ladd pounded in from a yard out to give the lead back to the Rush. A missed extra point left the tally at 27-21.
Graziani found Siaha Burley with 31 seconds left in the half to tie the game at 27-27. But Avengers kicker Remy Hamilton shanked the point after, perhaps leaving the game deadlocked going into the half.
But this is Arena football, where scoring is like breathing. And on the ensuing kickoff, Chatman found fifth gear and took it back 58 yards, tying a club record for longest kickoff return for a touchdown. Chatman was named the game's Ironman MVP.
An Avengers field goal closed the half and narrowed the Rush lead to 34-30.
The Avengers resumed the melee with the 6-5, 305-pound Vavao, who rumbled to the left side of the end zone at 10:40 of the third quarter for his second touchdown of the game.
After the Avengers defense came up with a big playâa tipped Dicken pass ended up in the hands of lineman Chris Butterfield halfway through the third quarterâon third and 10, the Rush defense thought they Avengers receiver Ingram had coughed it up at the Rush 20 after a quick inside slant pattern, but the pass was ruled incomplete. Then L.A.'s subsequent field goal attempt was no good, holding the L.A. lead to 37-34.
Later, Rush receiver Cornelius Bonner did the same, as he darted through the middle of the Avenger defense nearly for a 20-yard gain, but after being tackled, the ball popped loose. Officials ruled it a fumble, leading to an Avengers 28-yard field goal.
The Avengers and Rush continued to trade scores, building the tally to a 48-47 Rush lead.
Rush cornerback Alfonzo, who had just caught a touchdown the series before, slipped at his own 15, allowing the Avengers receiver to get free and giving Graziani the room to fire a 35-yard laser for an Avengers a 53-48 lead.
Los Angeles attempted an on-side kick, but the Rush recovered at the L.A. 11. Dicken found Chatman in the back of the end zone for the second time of the game, giving the Rush the lead 54-53.
The Allstate Arena erupted when cornerback Daemon Porter picked off a Graziani pass at the Rush three-yard line with 1:15 left. Porter slid in from right hash, cut off the Avengers receiver and sealed the win for the Rush. But four games into the season, the win was crucial.
"We just needed to play together, and we didn't have any one step up," Fleshman said. "I just wanted to be that person.
Whether it was Fleshman, Dicken or Chatman, the Rush finally got back playing the way to which they are accustomed.
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