Rush knocks off defending champs, 51-36
April 11, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The Chicago Rush wants nothing more than to be the best squad in the Arena Football League.
The Rush (7-2) moved a step closer to that goal using a third-quarter surge to separate itself from the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (3-7), propelling Chicago to a 51-36 victory at the Allstate Arena Sunday.
With the victory, the Rush tied New Orleans and San Jose for the best record in the AFL, setting up a critical match-up with the SaberCats Friday night in California.
The story of the game was told in the third quarter.
With Tampa Bay leading 24-23 early in the third, former Storm defensive specialist Corey Sawyer haunted his ex-teammates, picking off a Shane Stafford pass intended for T.T. Tolliver, giving the Rush possession at the Tampa Bay 12-yard line.
The Rush capitalized when FB Bob McMillen rushed for his third touchdown of the day, tying his career-high and giving Chicago a 30-24 advantage.
Moments later, Rush kicker Keith Gispert executed a well-timed onside kick catching the Storm napping, as Etu Molden recovered the ball at Tampa's 11-yard line.
Two plays later, Philyawâwith Storm defensive end Kelvin Kinney draped on his left sideâfound DeJuan Alfonzo in the end zone to extend Chicago's lead to 37-24. From that point, Chicago was in control.
Led by Sawyer, the game's ADT Defensive Player of the Game (six tackles and the key interception) Chicago held the league's sixth-best offense to 36 points.
The Rush scored 28 second-half points on the league's best defense, as the combination of QB Raymond Philyaw and rookie WR Etu Molden clicked. Philyaw was 8-11 in the second half for 119 yards and Molden, the game's Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player, finished the contest with 10 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
"This was a very important win for us," said Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen. "Playing the defending champs and having a strong performance against them was big.
"Momentum now is in our favor and we're expecting a great game next week in San Jose."
McMillen played a key role on both sides of the ball, but made history in the first quarter. The veteran took a first-down handoff from Philyaw and rumbled seven yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for his career. He became just the fifth player in AFL history to rush for 1,000 career yards and was named the game's U.S. Army Ironman of the Game.
Following his historical run, McMillen ended the first drive of the game with a one-yard rushing score to give the Rush a quick 7-0 score following Gispert's extra-point.
Tampa Bay found the end zone on the ensuing drive as Stafford found Toliver for a 31-yard score. James Baron (two quarterback hurries) blocked the extra-point attempt and Sawyer scooped up the ball and scampered the other way for the two-point score.
On the play, Storm kicker Matt George broke his collarbone and was lost for the game, forcing Tampa Bay to go for two following each TD the rest of the game. The Storm failed to convert following each of its six touchdowns.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 11, 2004
- Wranglers snub the Force, 42-26 - Austin Wranglers
- Rush knocks off defending champs, 51-36 - Chicago Rush
- McPherson, Firebirds continue surge - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- McPherson, Firebirds Burn Cobras 65-31 - Carolina Cobras
- Arizona outguns Las Vegas, 80-63 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rattlers quiet Gladiators, 80-63 - Arizona Rattlers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
