Rush helped kick-start winning streak

Published on March 31, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release


INDIANAPOLIS – The 0-5 Indiana Firebirds were ahead of the 3-1 Austin Wranglers, 54-35, in Austin, TX during the fourth quarter of a week seven AFL contest. The Wranglers had just reeled off nine unanswered points and had the ‘Birds pinned inside their own five-yard line on fourth down. Indiana head coach Mike Wilpolt, in his first ever career game at the helm, knew that a stop at this point in the game could give the home team enough momentum for another comeback.

"After the way we had lost the first five games, at the buzzer or near the end of the game, I just had that uneasy feeling in my stomach when the dial turned to fourth down and we were sitting at our own five-yard line," Wilpolt commented. "Clay (Rush) had been booming them over the net all game, so you also had the feeling that he might just connect if we could give him the protection up front."

Kicker Clay Rush, playing in his sixth season in the AFL, was already the victim of two missed extra points in the contest (one blocked). This time the protection was good, the kick was up, and 59-yards later Rush had converted on the longest field goal in his career and had the Firebirds ahead, 57-35, with ten minutes left to play in the game.

"I felt good all day and the ball was really taking off from my foot," said Rush. "The snap was good, Brett (Bech) got the ball down like he always does, and I just gave it a smooth stroke and follow-through."

The Firebirds went on to win the game by a final score of 64-41. While the field goal may not have been the difference in the score, the timing of the record-setting kick may have ignited the winless club to put together three straight victories under Wilpolt. Through the first five games of the season Rush was just 4-of-14 on field goal attempts and an un-Kicker of the Year-like 17-of 24 on PAT's.

Since that kick in Austin, Rush has converted on 13 of a possible 16 PAT attempts and made two field goals. The last kick that Rush attempted was a 29-yard game winning field goal last Friday night against the Grand Rapids Rampage. That kick, like the one against the Wranglers, split the uprights and gave the Firebirds what they needed to go onto victory, 45-42.

Rush has been named the AFL Kicker of the Year twice during his career (2000 and 2003), while converting on over 50% of his field goals and 90% of his extra point attempts. Rush has climbed to 8th in the league in scoring (57 points) and his 59-yard boot is the longest recorded in the AFL this season. The re-energized Firebirds' offense (60.6 points per game over the past three games) is giving Rush plenty of opportunities to rack up point after touchdown attempts and for the former Division II All-American that beats the alternative.

"Last season I was on the field after almost every offensive possession it seemed like at the beginning of the season," Rush notes of the 2003 season that saw him attempt a career-high 46 field goals. "I love having the opportunity to kick, but when your coming out of your own endzone a lot they don't always end like they did in Austin."

They may not all end like the 59-yarder in Austin, TX but one thing is for certain, Clay Rush is going to keep on kicking and hopefully the Firebirds can keep on winning.

Firebirds' single game and group tickets for the 2004 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling a Firebirds' ticket representative at 317.472.8080. Firebirds merchandise is also available at Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 31, 2004


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