Rush Unleash Fury on Fury
Published on April 5, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Auburn Hills, Mich. â Talk about pent-up aggression.
The Chicago Rush (4-6) took out a season's worth of frustration Friday afternoon at The Palace in Auburn Hills, whipping the Eastern-division leading Detroit Fury (5-5) 62-45 before nearly 5,000 stunned fans.
The team's dominating performance -- on both sides of the ball â helped remind Rush head coach Mike Hohensee about his team's capabilities.
"This is exactly what we expected from this group of men," said Hohensee. "We've been hit hard by injuries this season, but we're starting to get healthy again. I hope this is a sign of good things to come."
Hohensee certainly was pleased with the performances of lineman John Moyer. Moyer exploded in the second half, recording two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, the first of his career.
"Our entire line came to play today," said Hohensee. "Moyer was terrific, but he was helped by the great play of (James) Baron and (Riley) Kleinhesselink as well.
"It was the best overall team performance we've had all year."
A few of Moyer's teammates also turned in terrific performances.
Quarterback Billy Dicken, still healing from a broken jaw suffered against Buffalo on March 1, played his best game of the season, completing 15 of 24 passes for 213 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Rush WR/LB Lindsay Fleshman set a career-high with three touchdowns, including a crucial score on an interception return. Kicker Keith Gispert set a franchise record with a 54-yard field goal, and offensive specialist Antonio Chatman played another superb game, amassing 256 total yards along with two touchdown receptions and a two-point conversion.
After trading scores on the first eight possessions of the game â without a single defensive stop by either team -- the Fury held a slim 24-23 lead with just 2:44 remaining.
The final moments of the half, however, displayed the purest form of Arena Football's wacky potential. For in less than three minutes the teams combined for three turnovers and two touchdowns. And the Rush, which had trailed by one, went into the locker room at halftime up 38-24.
Chicago was the first to falter when Fury WR/LB Ty Grovesteen intercepted a Dicken pass on Detroit's 7-yard line. The turnover gave Detroit an opportunity to grab an 8-point lead and, with the possession to begin the second half, a chance to put the Rush at a serious disadvantage.
But with 39-seconds remaining, Kelly fumbled a handoff. Rush defensive specialist Marvin Taylor recovered and the Rush took full advantage of the gift, scoring nine seconds later when Dicken found WR/LB Anthony Ladd on a 16-yard score. After Dicken found offensive specialist Antonio Chatman for a two-point conversion, Chicago held a 31-24 lead.
Following a 40-yard kickoff return, Detroit began its final possession on Chicago's 14-yard line with 16-seconds left. But Rush WR/LB Lindsay Fleshman intercepted Kelly's pass near the Rush 5-yard line and returned it 45-yards for another Rush score.
The first quarter was a picture of offensive perfection, as the teams combined to score four touchdowns on four possessions.
The Rush began the scoring less than four minutes into the game when Dicken found WR/DB Cornelius Bonner alone in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. Gispert missed the extra point and the Rush led 6-0.
Detroit matched Chicago moments later when Kelly hit Grovesteen on an 11-yard corner route. The PAT gave Detroit a 7-6 lead.
The Rush took the lead five plays later when FB/LB Jamie McGourty busted through two Fury tacklers for a two-yard touchdown run and a 13-7 advantage. But the Fury countered on the final possession of the quarter when Fury FB/LB Rupert Grant rumbled into the end zone from 1-yard out for a 14-13 Detroit lead.
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