Second Half Surge Give Rush Homefield Advantage for Playoffs
June 22, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Using one of its best offensive performances of the year, the Chicago Rush clinched homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a 75-63 win over the Dallas Desperados at the Allstate Arena Sunday.
After a bye week next week the Rush will host a Divisional Round playoff game Sunday, July 6 and, if the Rush advances, the American Conference Championship on Sunday, July 13.
"We knew what was on the line today and we asked the guys to play the game of their lives," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "I think we showed that even though we struggled the last two week, we still are a pretty good football team.
"I know we are looking forward to a week off and then coming back healthy on July 6 as we try to get back to the ArenaBowl."
The Rush had been in a position to clinch homefield advantage after a May 31 win over Kansas City, but back-to-back road losses to Cleveland and Georgia prevented that from happening. But with a return back home, Chicago (11-5) was not about to let that opportunity slip away.
After an entertaining and explosive first half in which the teams left the field tied at 35-35, Rush QB Russ Michna opened the third quarter by directing the Rush on a seven-play, 47-yard drive that culminated with a five-yard touchdown pass to Damian Harrell to give the Rush a 42-35 lead - one the team would not relinquish.
Like Chicago, Dallas (12-4) was playing for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. However, for the Desperados to gain the No. 1 seed in the National Conference, they would need a loss by Philadelphia against New York along with the road win over Chicago. IN a game that started an hour earlier in New York, Philadelphia dominated the Dragons and had finished up a 59-30 victory by the early part of the third quarter in Chicago.
Once that score was announced, Dallas head coach Will McClay pulled starting quarterback Clint Dolezel in order to preserve him for the playoffs.
The Rush defense then stepped up with a stop against backup QB Chris Sanders and got the ball back for the offense at the Dallas 20-yard line. Four plays later, Michna powered into the endzone from a yard out to give the Rush a two-TD lead.
The Rush registered another stop on Sanders' second possession and the Rush put the game away with another touchdown. Backup fullback John Peaua scored on a 2-yard run to give Chicago a 55-35 lead early in the third quarter.
Chicago scored on every one of its possessions and the 75 points scored was a season-high for head coach Mike Hohensee's team. Wide receiver Donovan Morgan, who led the Rush with nine receptions for 123 yards and three TDs, said the unsung heroes of the game were the Rush offensive linemen.
"The offensive line did an outstanding job," Morgan said. "Those guys came to play and really worked their butts off. It wasn't easy out there but they summoned up their best effort and just played a great game."
The Rush ended the regular season with an 11-5 record, marking the third time in their history they had 10 or more regular-season wins. They finished with a 12-4 record last year and were 11-5 in 2004.
The first half was back-and-forth with the Rush providing the initial explosion on the opening kickoff. New kicker Todd France's kick went high off the net and Dallas was unable to control it. The ball rolled around in the endzone and Rush coverage man Dan Alexander simply fell on it for a touchdown.
Dallas was not about to roll over, even though Philadelphia's ongoing destruction of New York meant the Desperados could not improve their playoff position. Josh Bush made up for the miscue on the opening kickoff when he took the ensuing kickoff 56-yards for a score.
The Rush answered with a Dan Alexander 1-yard touchdown run, but Dolezel had his own response. He hit Marcus Nash with a 22-yard TD pass to show that the Desperados had more than just special teams working for them.
Both teams scored three more touchdowns in the first half and the game looked as if it could go down to the final possession. But Chicago's relentless attack and its opportunistic defense allowed the Rush to survive and move on to the playoffs with a sense of relief - knowing that all postseason games prior to the ArenaBowl will be at home.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 22, 2008
- Utah to host the Colorado Crush in first-ever home playoff game - Utah Blaze
- Desperados to Host Wild Card Playoff Game - Dallas Desperados
- Second Half Surge Give Rush Homefield Advantage for Playoffs - Chicago Rush
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- Gladiators to Host Home Playoff Game - Cleveland Gladiators
- Philadelphia Clinches Top Seed in National Conference - Philadelphia Soul
- Rush Signs Kicker Todd France - Chicago Rush
- Blaze Clinch Playoff Berth With Win Over Arizona, 62-45 - Utah Blaze
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- Rampage clich playoff berth - AFL I
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- Rattlers fall to Blaze - Arizona Rattlers
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