Rush Falls To Predators In Overtime, 57-56
April 6, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Orlando - The fans at Amway Arena in Orlando got their money's worth Sunday afternoon as the Chicago Rush (4-2) and Orlando Predators (4-2) traded blows well into overtime before a Marlon Moye-Moore two-point conversion gave Orlando a 57-56 win.
"This is always a tough place to play and today was no different," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "I thought Moye-Moore's foot hit out of bounds at the 1-yard line before he dove into the end zone, but that is not what they ruled on the field."
The conversion in overtime came only after Orlando scored on the final play of regulation to send the game to the extra period.
With the Rush leading 49-42 late in the fourth quarter, Orlando moved to the Rush 2-yard line where it had first-and-goal with just 10 seconds remaining.
The Rush defense held on three-consecutive pass plays, setting up fourth-and-goal with just one second remaining. Orlando QB Shane Stafford hit wide receiver Chas Gessner with a two-yard TD pass in the corner of the end zone and kicker John Vaughn's extra point tied the game at 49-49.
In overtime - where each team is guaranteed one possession before the game moves to sudden death - the Rush took the kickoff and needed just two plays to score.
Rush QB Sherdrick Bonner hit tight end Robert Boss with a 20-yard TD pass to give the Rush a 56-49 lead.
Orlando responded quickly as Stafford hit T.T. Toliver with a 14-yard TD to narrow the margin to 56-55 and set up the final two-point play.
The loss overshadowed another outstanding performance by the Rush defense, as the group pressured Stafford all afternoon, forcing five Orlando turnovers - four interceptions and one fumble.
However, the Orlando defense was equally impressive, forcing the Rush to turn it over on downs twice and intercepting a Bonner pass that was returned for a touchdown.
Notes: The Rush played almost the entire fourth quarter and all of overtime without defensive lineman John Moyer, who injured his foot .... WR Ryan Dennard played for an injured Donovan Morgan ... Dennard was the team's leading receiver, catching seven passes for 99 yards and three touchdowns ... each of Chicago's three starting defensive backs - Jeremy Unertl, Dennison Robinson and Jonathan Ordway - along with linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo recorded an interception in the game. Unertl returned his interception 25-yards for a touchdown ... James Baron's third quarter sack was his fourth of the season and gives him 50.5 for his career. The four sacks equal his total for the entire 2007 season ...Immediately prior to the opening kickoff, Orlando defensive lineman Elton Patterson suffered a torn right quadriceps tendon while jumping in the air to try to get the crowd pumped up. He missed the game.
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