Rush season ends in San Jose, 61-49
July 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
San Jose - Chicago's drive to become the first team in more than a decade to repeat as AFL champions ended Saturday in San Jose, as the Rush fell to the SaberCats 61-49 at HP Pavilion.
The Rush (13-5) committed an uncharacteristic five turnovers and QB Matt D'Orazio's back injury was too much to overcome, as the Rush fell behind by 21 points in the second quarter and could never quite recover.
"I think the pain was just a little too much for Matt today," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "He gave it a great effort, but I think it hurt his decision making and that led to some of the turnovers."
D'Orazio, who has been playing with a back injury sustained June 23 vs. Kansas City, completed only 6 of 18 passes for 64 yards, and a career-worst three interceptions, before being forced to leave the game late in the second quarter.
Backup QB Russ Michna entered the game and settled the team for a while, leading the Rush back from a 28-7 deficit to within six points at 34-28 at the end of the third quarter.
"Russ played very well," said Hohensee. "He is going to be a great quarterback in this league and showed what he can do when he was thrown into the game today."
Despite Michna's efforts, San Jose was able to hold off the Rush charge as QB Mark Grieb hit receiver Rodney Wright with a 35-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to put San Jose back up by two scores, 41-28.
Then Michna made his only mistake of the game with 11:53 remaining, trying to force a pass into the end zone to Sippio. The pass was intercepted by Marquis Floyd, who returned it to the San Jose 24-yard line.
Two plays later Grieb hit Ben Nelson with a 19-yard TD pass and the lead was back up to an insurmountable 20 points, 48-28.
With the win San Jose advances to play the Columbus Destroyers in ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans on Sunday, July 29.
Notes: Michna finished the game 22 of 30 for 247 yards and five touchdowns . Bobby Sippio caught 15 passes for 194 yards and five touchdowns . Rush DB Jeremy Unertl intercepted a Grieb pass in the first half - the fifth interception Unertl has against San Jose in the last four games between the teams . Rush fullback Bob McMillen played in his final AFL game. McMillen is retiring after 13 seasons.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 14, 2007
- Rush season ends in San Jose, 61-49 - Chicago Rush
- Columbus and San Jose advance to ArenaBowl XXI - AFL I
- Rush Season Ends - Chicago Rush
- Grieb Throws Six TDs In Win - San Jose SaberCats
- Columbus and San Jose in ArenaBowl XXI - Columbus Destroyers
- Georgia Force Come up Short 66-56 - Georgia Force
- Destroyers Win National Conference Championship Game, 66-56 - Columbus Destroyers
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