Rush Falls to Dragons

Published on March 23, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


Unable to overcome a sleepy start, the Rush missed an opportunity to climb back to the .500 mark as it fell to the New York Dragons 54-51 in front of 13,805 fans at the Allstate Arena Sunday afternoon.

Quarterback Billy Dicken threw a six-yard TD pass to Anthony Ladd in the fourth quarter to give the Rush a 51-48 lead with 3:50 remaining, but New York responded with a late TD of its own. QB Aaron Garcia – who threw eight TD passes in the game – hooked up with WR Damien Groce on a 30-yard pass in the corner of the endzone with one minute remaining to give New York its eventual margin of victory.

The Rush had a great chance to seize the lead on its final possession. Facing a 4th down situation in New York territory, the Dragons gave Chicago new life as LB Rodney Filer was called for an offsides penalty, giving the Rush a first down with less than 20 seconds to play.

After an incomplete pass to Anthony Ladd, Dicken was unable to find an open receiver as the pocket collapsed around him. He was hit by DT Anthony Hutch with 10 seconds to go, fumbled the ball and the Dragons recovered to ensure the victory.

Head coach Mike Hohensee said that his team's inability to hold onto the ball cost them a chance at winning. "It's awfully tough to turn the ball over and give such a great offense so many opportunities," Hohensee said. "We let one slip away today.

Garcia was coolly efficient throughout the game and he developed an excellent partnership with OS Mike Furrey, who caught six TD passes. For the Rush, Dicken threw five TD passes and Lindsay Fleshman rushed for two more. In addition to catching two touchdown passes, Antonio Chatman also returned a kickoff 55 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter.

The Rush appeared to start the game without any urgency as FB Bob McMillen fumbled on the first drive of the game. That gave New York the chance to get on the scoreboard first and Garcia did not waste the opportunity.

He hit WR Chris Anthony with a 17-yard pass shortly thereafter to give the Dragons a bit of a confidence boost. Chicago's offense sputtered on the next possession and Hohensee settled for a 25-yard field goal from PK Kenny Stucker.

Garcia continued to look sharp in the early going and he hit Furrey with an 18-yard TD pass with 3:22 to go in the first quarter for a 14-3 lead. That TD served as a wakeup call for the Rush offense.

Dicken, in his first game back after suffering a broken jaw, connected with Chatman on a 17-yard TD pass in the corner of the endzone to get the Rush back in the game at 14-10 to end the quarter.

The second quarter saw both teams score on four consecutive possessions. Garcia and Furrey teamed up for two more touchdowns, while Dicken threw scoring passes to Chatman and Ladd.

In the final minute of the half, the Rush made its first defensive stand of the game as they pressured Garcia and he was unable to find open receivers in the secondary. When New York failed on a fourth-down pass from Garcia to Groce with 18 seconds left, it marked the first time that the Rush had made a defensive stand during the game.

It also gave the Rush an opportunity to go into the lockerroom with a lead at halftime if they were able to take advantage. On second and 10 from their own 12, Dicken found Ladd in stride near the New York five, but the receiver was unable to bring the ball in and it bounce harmlessly on the turf. As a result, Chicago trailed 28-24 at the half.

The Rush starts a three-game road trip with a visit to the Grand Rapids Rampage next Saturday.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 23, 2003


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