Rush Erases Early Deficit, Outlasts Crush 59-48
May 7, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The streak continues.
The Rush winning streak hit eight games - and Chicago did it by coming from behind for the third-consecutive week.
Head coach Mike Hohensee didn't like seeing his team fall behind 13-0 in the first quarter, but it didn't scare him in the least. His faith was rewarded as the Rush used a 35-7 run to defeat the Colorado Crush 59-46 in front of 14,528 satisfied fans at the Allstate Arena Monday night.
The win was huge for Chicago (8-1) as it increased the lead in the Central Division of the American Conference to three full games with seven games left to play. Since the Rush play three of their next four games on the road - including next week's Monday night game against the 9-1 Dallas Desperadoes - it was a huge victory to achieve.
The eight-game winning streak is the longest in team history.
Colorado (6-4) came out with a very precise offense in the first half and quarterback John Dutton was sharp to start the game. After losing to Chicago in last years AFL playoffs, the Crush was interested in giving the Rush a little payback.
Chicago's defense struggled in the first half as Dutton led his team to touchdowns on its first five possessions. However, after a slow start Rush QB Matt D'Orazio and wide receiver Bobby Sippio got their act together and made their own statement, just as they did in last week's come-from-behind win over Philadelphia.
Chicago trailed 33-21 with 30 seconds to go in the first half when it mounted its charge.
D'Orazio hit Sippio with an 18-yard TD pass at the eight second mark, giving the Rush momentum at the break.
Then the Rush took its first lead of the game on its initial possession of the second half. Getting fine protection from his offensive line, D'Orazio hit the streaking Sippio with 19-yard TD pass, culminating a 3-play, 45-yard drive.
Dutton responded on the next drive as he eluded the pass rush and stepped up in the pocket by sliding to his left. At the same time Damian Harrell, perhaps the surest-handed receiver in the league, broke free in the endzone. He caught an easy 27-yard TD pass from Dutton and Colorado had regained the lead at 40-35.
But the Rush was not about to let its impressive winning streak slip away. Sippio caught his fourth TD pass of the game on the next possession. The six-yarder from D'Orazio demonstrated the receiver's toughness and concentration.
The back-and forth nature of the game came to an end with that score. The Rush defense stepped up and made its first major stop when Dennison Robinson intercepted his third pass of the season at the Colorado 19. Two plays later, Hohensee surprised the Crush by giving the ball to fullback Bob McMillen and the big fullback rumbled eight yards for the touchdown.
Colorado trailed by nine points and was desperate to get back in the game. Dutton directed an impressive drive that gave Colorado a 1st-and-goal at the 1-yard line. However, Chicago's defense simply wouldn't allow that final yard.
The goalline stand actually got its start on a 15-yard reception by Harrell. The receiver caught the ball in stride and appeared to be on his way to a touchdown but defensive back Jeremy Unertl delivered a crushing tackle at the 1.
After Robert Thomas was stopped for no gain, Colorado's Jason Harmon lost the ball after he was harassed by D.J. Bleisath. With the ball loose, Robinson made another huge play by recovering at the Chicago 9.
D'Orazio culminated a 9-play, 41-yard drive by hitting Sippio with a six-yard scoring pass. The 56-40 lead suffocated the Crush. Colorado added one more touchdown, but that was all they could get and the Rush was able to keep its winning streak intact.
RUSH NOTES: D'Orazio continues to play impressively. He completed 28-of-39 passes for 276 yards with 6 TDs and no interceptions. ... Sippio continues to show that he is unstoppable. He equaled his team record with 15 catches for 159 yards and 5 TDs....Wide receiver Rob Mager did a solid job in catching 8-80-1. He was especially valuable in the first half when he caught seven passes. ... Placekicker Dan Frantz had a huge game, making 8-of-8 extra points, 1-of-2 field goal attempts and registering 6 touchbacks on his nine kickoffs. ... In addition to his two takeaways, Robinson had a team-high 9.0 tackles. .... Harrell's six TD receptions were a career high.
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