Rush fail to clinch playoff spot in 51-40 loss to Rampage

Published on May 15, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Chicago Rush (8-7) had a mission when it took the field at Allstate Arena Sunday against the Grand Rapids Rampage. Play sharp, aggressive football against the 2-12 visitors and walk out with a spot in the AFL playoffs for the fifth straight year.

The mission was not accomplished.

The Rush struggled for three quarters before rallying in the fourth quarter and making it a much closer game. However, Chicago lost 51-40 and failed to clinch a spot in the postseason.

The Rush can still make the postseason as a wild-card team if it wins at Nashville in the regular-season finale next week.

Head coach Mike Hohensee will have to do one of his best coaching jobs in order to get his team prepared for that game. He has to find a motivational formula that will allow his players to forget their performance against Grand Rapids.

Chicago simply could not get going until the fourth quarter. Going into that period, the Rush trailed 38-12 and was seemingly out of the ball game. QB Raymond Philyaw was struggling with throws and decisions that normally come to him with ease.

Despite the deficit, the Rush rallied late. Philyaw threw a four-yard TD pass to C.J. Johnson on the first play of the final period and Bob McMillen followed that score by recovering an onside kick. Philyaw took advantage of that by throwing his third TD pass of the game to Johnson – this time a 39-yarder.

Grand Rapids was not fooled by another Keith Gispert onside kick attempt and started its next drive deep in Chicago territory. The Rush defense held Grand Rapids to a Peter Martinez field goal, keeping the Rush within two touchdowns at 41-26 with 10:10 to play.

Smelling a chance to climb back in it, Philyaw hit a big play immediately after the kickoff. He found Johnson running free over the middle and hit him in stride near midfield. Johnson broke two tackles and scored on another 38-yarder to pull the Rush to 41-33 with 9:33 left.

That's where the rally stopped. Grand Rapids moved the ball convincingly behind QB Michael Bishop and put together a seven-play, 30-yard drive that culminated with FB Travis Reece's four-yard TD run at the 3:48 mark to restore the 15-point lead.

While Philyaw got the Rush back on the board when he connected with Jeremy McDaniel on a 15-yard TD pass with 1:15 remaining, Grand Rapids controlled the ensuing onside kick and added a clinching field goal with just 12 seconds remaining. That gave Grand Rapids its final margin.

In the first half, the Rush had a difficult time finding its rhythm. Instead of setting a tone early, the Rampage broke out on top when Bishop threw a 22-yard TD pass to WR Dialleo Burks.

That play got Chicago's attention as the Rush answered with a two-play, 29-yard drive. Philyaw found Johnson with a 22-yard TD pass of his own.

But the Rampage was undaunted, and put 10 consecutive points on the board. Peter Martinez connected on a 29-yard field goal and then disaster ensued on the next play when the Rush could not control the kickoff and the Rampage's Dennison Robinson recovered in the endzone for a 17-7 advantage.

Keith Gispert connected on a 29-yard field goal and the Rush appeared to gain momentum when John Moyer blocked a long Martinez FG attempt for a Rush safety. Philyaw had the Rush in a position to make something happen, but his pass into the end zone was picked off by Damon Mason.

Instead of taking a two-point lead, the Rush fell even further behind when Bishop threw his second TD pass of the half. Aided by a pass interference penalty that gave Grand Rapids a first down on a fourth-down play, the Rampage upped the lead to 24-12 with 44 seconds remaining in the half when Bishop hit Anthony Hines with an eight-yard scoring play.

The Rush moved the ball deep into Grand Rapids territory on the final possession of the half, but Philyaw was unable to cut into the lead.

RUSH NOTES: Moyer's blocked field goal was his fourth blocked kick of the season. ... Philyaw was just 23-of-45 in the loss and while he finished with five TD passes, he only had one going into the fourth quarter. .... Grand Rapids QB Michael Bishop has 16 rushing TDs, but Chicago did not allow him to have any ground scores. ... Johnson was outstanding for the Rush with 9 catches for 175 yards and four TDs. ... Grand Rapids was perfect on five opportunities inside the redzone.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 15, 2005


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