Rush locks up division, playoff bye with 48-21 win over KC
June 23, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
It was a record-setting night at Allstate Arena Saturday, as the defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush earned the AFL's Central Division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a convincing 48-21 win over the Kansas City Brigade
The Rush (12-4) will host a yet to be determined opponent on Monday, July 9, at the Allstate Arena.
The Rush set team records for wins in a season (12), points scored (869) and fewest points per game allowed (44.9), and linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo set an AFL record by scoring his fifth defensive touchdown of the year.
After the game, Alfonzo grabbed the field microphone and promised fans that the team would try to bring back a second-consecutive league title. "You guys are all the best," Alfonzo said. "We're going to do everything we can to bring back another title."
With six minutes remaining in the first half Kansas City (10-6) scored to tie the game at 21-21. The Brigade would not score again as the Rush closed the game on a 27-0 run.
The defensive stand began when Rush DB Dennison Robinson intercepted a Raymond Philyaw pass in the end zone with just 13 seconds left in the half, keeping the Chicago lead at 28-21 as the teams went to the locker room.
On the opening possession of the third quarter Kansas City marched down the field setting the Brigade up with a 1st-and-goal from the Rush 3-yard line. But instead of yielding the tying touchdown, the Rush turned back three straight rushing attempts and shut down Philyaw's 4th down pass attempt.
The goalline stand sent the roaring crowd of 16,391 into a frenzy and lit a fuse in the Chicago offense. Bobby Sippio culminated a 6-play, 44-yard drive when he scored on a 4-yard pass from Matt D'Orazio to extend the lead to 35-21. The TD reception was Sippio's 3rd of the game and 53rd of the season. Colorado's Damian Harrell scored 61 TDs in 2006, and he is the only AFL player to score more touchdowns in a season than Sippio.
The Rush continued to feed off the momentum when the defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession and Gary Kral attempted a pooch kick out of field goal position. But Robinson foiled that strategy when he brought the ball back to the KC 4. The offense was unable to punch it in, but Dan Frantz calmly booted home a 20-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17 points.
With the seconds dwindling down in the third quarter, the Rush put the game away on another spectacular play by Alfonzo. The big-play linebacker picked off Philyaw on 4th-down and returned the ball 47 yards for a touchdown.
The score was the fifth defensive touchdown of the season for Alfonzo, setting a league record for defensive scores. Three of Alfonzo's touchdowns came on interception returns for TDs while the other two were fumble returns.
Philyaw injured his ankle on the play and did not return to the game.
That play put the game out of reach for Kansas City and the Brigade was unable to cope with Chicago's passion and physical play.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 23, 2007
- Utah QB Germaine sets single-season passing record - AFL I
- Utah Clinches Final American Conference Playoff Spot - AFL I
- Tampa Bay Clinches third seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Rush locks up division, playoff bye with 48-21 win over KC - Chicago Rush
- Brigade completes great turnaround, looks to home playoff game - Kansas City Brigade
- Utah WR Burley breaks 2000-yrd plateau - AFL I
- Chicago Clinches Third Central Division Title - AFL I
- Storm to host Destroyers - Tampa Bay Storm
- Soul To Host First Playoff Game In Team History - Philadelphia Soul
- Rampage Lose to Kats, 57-54, Following Last-Second Missed Field Goal - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Destroyers clinch playoff berth in 74-43 victory over Dragons - Columbus Destroyers
- Columbus Clinches Final National Conference Playoff Spot - AFL I
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