Rush stays alive with 54-46 win over Grand Rapids
Published on April 27, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
ROSEMONTâThat was a small but significant chip sitting on the shoulder of Chicago Rush quarterback Billy Dicken Sunday.
Dicken struggled against Grand Rapids on March 29. Playing with a broken jaw suffered just weeks earlier, Dicken threw four interceptions en route to a 48-34 Rush loss.
However, on Sunday Dicken and the Rush (6-7) avenged its loss and kept its playoff hopes alive, defeating the division-leading Rampage (8-5) 54-46, in front of a lively crowd of 13,050 at the Allstate Arena.
Dicken completed 20 of 24 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns, with just one interception in leading the Rush to its third victory in the last four weeks. For the second straight week Dicken also rushed for a TD.
"He made one bad mistake," Rush head coach Mike Hohensee said about Dicken. "Besides that, he played great."
"This year has been a struggle, but this is the healthiest I've been all year," Dicken said. "Hopefully we can keep it going."
Grand Rapids struck first with a quick score on its opening drive, marching down the field in six plays, where Rampage quarterback Clint Dolezel scrambled five yards for the score. Dolezel completed 22-of-38 for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Dicken was on from the start, completing five of his first six passes, connecting with Antonio Chatman at 3:51 left in the first quarter to tie it up at 7-7. The Rush went deep to start the game, but Dicken's pass was picked off in the end zone, his only incomplete pass. Chatman, who came into the game leading the AFL with 2,690 all-purpose yards, finished the game with eight catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns.
At 14:23 in the second, after Rush lineman James Baron recovered a Rampage fumble, Dicken hooked up with Cornelius Bonner for 15 yards. Bonner bullied his way into the end zone, carrying two Rampage defenders over the pylon for the score and a 14-7 Rush lead.
Grand Rapids answered the Rush at 7:21 in the second when Rampage fullback Chris Avery rumbled in from the Rush 10 to even the tally at 14.
An unnecessary roughness penalty on the ensuing kickoff on Rampage tackle Corey Mayfield put the Rush at the Grand Rapids 23. After a 15-yard reception to Chatman, Dicken bootlegged right with nothing but daylight in front of him, giving the Rush a 21-14 lead.
The Rush had a chance to put some distance between itself and the Rampage late in the second quarter as the Chicago stiffened not once but twice. Even a botched Grand Rapids snap couldn't get the Rush defense off the hook, however. Rush offsides penalties on third and goalâtwiceâgave the Rampage second life and finally, a 21-21 tie when Grand Rapids' Steve Smith dove in from the one for the score.
Trying to create some momentum going into the half, Grand Rapids attempted an onsides kick, where the Rush's Jaime McGourty recovered at the Rampage's 9-yard line. It took Dicken just two plays to find Anthony Ladd at the goal line and a Rush score, giving Chicago the lead, 28-21.
A chip-shot field goal by Rampage kicker Brian Gowins with two seconds left narrowed the Rush lead to 28-24 going into the half.
The Rush continued to pour it on in the third, as the running attack supplemented Dicken's passing efficiency. Fullbacks Bob McMillen and Jamie McGourty both rumbled in for scores, as did the Rampage's Willis Marshall, leaving the third quarter tally 41-31. McGourty's score put him over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. McGourty led the Rush with 21 yards rushing.
"We have run the ball better this year than just about any other team I've ever coached," said Hohensee. Good blocking from our wide receivers is leading to our improved running attack."
"We said we had to come out and score on our first possession in the second half," Dicken said. "That's what we did."
The Rampage drove again to the Rush 10 late in the third, but the stingy Rush defense held Grand Rapids to a Gowins field goal attempt, which sailed wide left.
The beginning of the fourth quarter saw Dicken find Bonner for the second time one the first play of the series to set up first and goal. One play later, McMillen forced his way into the end zone to put the Rush up 47-31.
Fittingly, Dicken and Chatman nailed the coffin shut late in the fourth after Grand Rapids had crept to within eight at 47-39. Dicken heaved up a pass that fell short of a streaking Chatman, but Chatman adjusted and came back for the ball at the goal line and literally fell into the end zone, leaving the Rampage cornerback stunned, increasing the Rush lead to 54-39.
The Rampage added a late score on a long Dolezel touchdown pass to Smith. Rush cornerback Marvin Taylor, covering Smith, went flying headfirst into the end zone boards and laid motionless for several minutes. Fortunately, Taylor walked off the field on his own power.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2003
- Week 13 AFL Game Summaries - AFL I
- Rush Hand Rampage Second Straight Defeat, 54-46 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Gladiators Defeat Detroit to Claim First Place in the East - Las Vegas Gladiators
- SaberCats Drop Crush 65-49 - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Upend League Leading Avengers - Dallas Desperados
- Rush stays alive with 54-46 win over Grand Rapids - Chicago Rush
- Firebirds Fall Short in Defensive Battle - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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