Rush Wins Amtrak Classic, 64-35
March 14, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Grand Rapids - The Chicago Rush exploded for a 22-0 lead and went on to 64-35 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage, winning the Amtrak Classic in front of a sellout crowd of 10,594 Friday night at Van Andel Arena.
Rush backup QB Russ Michna made his first career start, filling in for Sherdrick Bonner, who left the team Thursday to fly home to Denver to witness the birth of his first child. Bonner's wife, Lindsey, gave birth to a baby boy, named Mason, Thursday afternoon.
Michna was named Offensive Player of the Game after he completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and five touchdowns, including a 45-yard strike to Damian Harrell on Chicago's first offensive play of the game to lead the team to the win.
"This is what I've been waiting for," said Michna. "Sed found out Wednesday night that his wife was in labor, so I had some time to mentally prepare for the start. And for most of the game the line gave me great protection, so all I had to do was stand back and look for the receivers."
The key to the game was its opening moments, as the Rush (2-1) jumped out to the early lead.
After the game's opening kickoff pinned Grand Rapids (0-2) inside its own 5-yard line, Rush defensive end John Moyer sacked Rampage QB Adrian McPherson in the end zone for a safety on the game's first offensive play, giving the Rush a 2-0 lead.
Then, on Chicago's first offensive play, Michna hit Harrell with a 45-yard touchdown pass and the Rush had an 8-0 lead. Kicker Dan Frantz missed the PAT attempt, ending a streak of 42-consecutive extra points made dating back to last season.
On the very next play, Frantz' kickoff hit the iron and bounced awkwardly away from returner Ahmad Hawkins. Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo scooped up the ball at the 5-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown and a 15-0 Rush lead less than three minutes into the game.
Grand Rapids second possession was only slightly more successful than its first. After getting one first down, the Rush defense held the Rampage on downs, taking over at the Grand Rapids 22-yard line with 9:20 left in the first quarter.
Again the Rush capitalized quickly. After an incomplete pass on first down, Michna hit Harrell with a 22-yard touchdown strike to give Chicago a 22-0 lead. The TD reception was number 302 of Harrell's brilliant career, one shy of equaling the AFL record of 303 held by Eddie Brown.
The Rampage finally got on the board with 4:45 remaining in the first quarter when McPherson was forced out of the pocket and scrambled 10 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Rush lead to 22-7.
But the Rampage would get no closer, as the Rush would take a 29-7 lead into the half. Chicago expanded its lead to 36-7 on its first series of the third quarter, when Donovan Morgan capped a five minute drive by catching a nine-yard TD pass in the corner of the end zone.
Grand Rapids made a change at quarterback to start the second half, inserting James MacPherson into the lineup. MacPherson led the Rampage down the field to a touchdown on his first drive under center, hitting Anthony Hines with a 10-yard TD pass to cut the score to 36-14.
The Rush kept piling it on however, as Dan Alexander scored on a four-yard run on the final play of the third quarter to make the score 43-14.
Fourth quarter touchdown receptions by Travis LaTendresse and Ryan Dennard, along with a 45-yard interception return for a TD by Dennison Robinson helped the Rush finish the game strong.
The Rush returns home next Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m. to host John Elway's Colorado Crush in a Central Division battle at Allstate Arena
Notes: Rush starting linemen Robert Boss and Beau Elliott both were injured in the second quarter. Boss suffered a hamstring injury while Elliott suffered a sprained ankle, both returned to play ... Harrell led the Rush with eight receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns. It was his 61st 100-yard receiving game, extending his own AFL record.
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