Rush overcome 21-point deficit to beat Rampage, 51-44
Published on March 26, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Rush fans have learned that a grim start doesn't always have to mean an awful finish.
Pushed around for 29 minutes of the first half and staring at a 24-3 deficit, the Rush (4-5) came roaring back to register a 51-44 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage (3-6) in front of 15,228 fans at Allstate Arena Sunday afternoon.
The win helped the Rush stop a three-game losing streak and give the team life for a playoff push in the second half of the season.
Credit the Rush defense for stopping Grand Rapids after a rough start and QB Matt D'Orazio, who threw three TD passes and ran for two more.
After the Rush had closed to within 24-16 at halftime, Chicago brought the fans to their feet when it got within one point, 24-23, on the first possession of the third period as D'Orazio culminated a five-play, 41-yard drive by connecting with Russell Shaw on a 13-yard TD pass.
After Grand Rapids QB Chad Salisbury hit Josh Bush with a nine-yard TD pass to extend its lead to 31-23, the Rush bounced right back. FB Charlie Cook pounded one in from five yards out late in the third quarter and then the Rush took its first lead of the game when D'Orazio culminated a 33-7 run by firing a nine-yard laser to Cornelius White in the endzone for a touchdown and a 36-31 lead.
Grand Rapids bounced back when FB Chris Ryan scored from four yards out to give the Rampage a 38-36 lead.
But Chicago had come from too far back to let it slip away. Cook scored his second rushing TD, taking two defenders into the endzone from a yard out - and giving new meaning to the term "moving the pile."
Salisbury answered with a 45-yard TD to a streaking Anthony Hines on the next play, setting the stage for heroics from D'Orazio. He calmly led the team downfield with the clock winding down and connected with Cornelius White on a 14-yard TD pass with four seconds left.
Grand Rapids still had one more shot at it, but Salisbury was sacked in the endzone by Curtis Eason for a game-ending safety.
It couldn't have been an uglier start for the Rush, falling behind 24-3 late in the first half. While Chicago was fighting on defense to allow the team to stay in the game, the Rush offense misfired.
On the second possession of the game, the Rush moved the ball deep in Grand Rapids territory and was poised to score when D'Orazio hit Cook with a 13-yard pass. On the next play, the drive stalled when Cook fumbled.
Early in the second quarter, Jeremy Unertl registered his sixth interception of the season, a spectacular leaping grab of a Chad Salisbury pass. However, D'Orazio threw an interception on the next play - a soft pass at the Grand Rapids eight that was stolen by Timon Marshall. That was D'Orazio's first interception in 231 passes, dating back to the 51-47 loss to New York February 3.
But the Rush showed life in the final 30 seconds. Carlos Wright had a 54-yard return of a Peter Martinez kickoff, giving Chicago possession at the Rampage 2-yard line. D'Orazio took two plays to push the ball into the endzone from a yard out.
Grand Rapids tried to push it on the final possession of the half, but the Rampage paid a price when WR Timon Marshall fumbled the ball at midfield with 13 seconds left. The Rush took over at its own 15-yard line, and D'Orazio immediately went deep to Dennison Robinson. Rampage defender Marshall tackled Robinson in the endzone before the ball arrived and that gave Chicago possession at the Grand Rapids one. D'Orazio punched that one in as well, cutting the deficit to 24-17 at halftime.
The Rush had been outplayed for the majority of the half, but because it was able to take advantage of two plays in the final 30 seconds, Mike Hohensee's team was able to climb back in the game.
Notes: Rush receiver Etu Molden missed the game with a knee injury suffered in practice this week...The win was the 99th of head coach Mike Hohensee's career...Rush kicker Keith Gispert was activated from Injured Reserve prior to the game and saw his first action of the season.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 26, 2006
- Jackson's record setting night leads Force to a 61-51 victory - Georgia Force
- Rampage loses 51-44 to Chicago - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush overcome 21-point deficit to beat Rampage, 51-44 - Chicago Rush
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