Sippio returns with Six TDs to lead Rush past Rampage
Published on June 9, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
After three losses in its last four games, the Rush came home determined to get back on track against the Grand Rapids Rampage. That's just what happened as the Rush (10-4), sparked by the return of star wide receiver Bobby Sippio, built a 14-0 first quarter lead and never trailed, coming away with a 55-32 victory before 15,113 at the Allstate Arena Saturday night.
Sippio, who had missed the team's last three games with an injured ankle, caught nine passes for 179 yards and equaled his team record with six touchdown catches.
The win helps the Rush maintain its one-game lead in the Central Division over Kansas City with two games left to play. Chicago will finish its regular season schedule at Colorado on June 18 and then at home against Kansas City on June 23. Any combination of Chicago wins and Kansas City losses totaling two would give the Rush the division title and a first round bye in the playoffs.
"I am just so happy to be back in the lineup," said Sippio. "Watching from the sidelines I just didn't think we had the same swagger and I wanted to make a point to bring it back tonight."
The pitch-and-catch combination of QB Matt D'Orazio and Sippio was clicking right from the start. Not only did Sippio have dominant numbers, but it was the ease with which he got by defenders. His helped D'Orazio connect on 19 of 22 passes for 248 yards and seven touchdowns and sent a message to the rest of the league: The Rush will be a major factor in the postseason and will have a solid chance at defending the league championship.
Sippio now has 47 touchdown catches this season and would be running away with the league's touchdown lead if he hadn't missed the three games with the injury.
However, Saturday's game was far from a two-man show. The Rush defense set the tone from the start as linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo tied a league record early in the first quarter when he recovered his sixth fumble of the season.
Shortly after the Rush capitalized with a TD, Chicago DB Dennison Robinson intercepted quarterback Adrian McPherson to set the Rush up again. D'Orazio took advantage by leading the Rush on a four-play, 45-yard drive culminated by a six-yard touchdown strike to Rob Mager.
A 14-0 lead in Arena Football can easily disappear, but the Rush was in good position to deal with the back-and-forth surges that are such a big part of the game. McPherson tried to get the Rampage into the game with two TD passes in the second quarter, drawing Grand Rapids within a touchdown at 21-14.
Then the game nearly turned in Grand Rapids favor on the ensuing kickoff. Former Northwestern kicker Brian Gowins executed an outstanding onsides kick that the Rampage recovered. But the Rush defense came up big and stopped Grand Rapids. D'Orazio followed by hitting Sippio with his third TD pass of the half.
Leading 28-17 at the half, the Rush continued to pour it on in the third quarter.
Chicago dominated on both sides of the ball reeled off three-straight touchdowns to put the game away. Two of the scores came on D'Orazio-to-Sippio hookups and the other was a 12-yard return of a missed field goal by Alfonzo.
Grand Rapids was able to score a couple of fourth quarter touchdowns, but was never back in the game after halftime.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 9, 2007
- Blaze come up short at home against San Jose, 70-49 - Utah Blaze
- Wranglers lose in home finale to Force, 81-64 - Austin Wranglers
- Georgia Force defeat Austin Wranglers 81-64 - Georgia Force
- SaberCats win 8th Straight; Top Blaze 70-49 - San Jose SaberCats
- Crush earn playoff berth - AFL I
- Tampa Bay Becomes Seventh Team to Earn Playoff Berth - Tampa Bay Storm
- Soul fall short in Tampa Bay, 69-59 - Philadelphia Soul
- Sippio returns with Six TDs to lead Rush past Rampage - Chicago Rush
- Rampage Playoff Hopes Fade with 55-32 Loss to Chicago - Grand Rapids Rampage
- AEDs purchased with LSAFC proceeds by Wranglers Foundation - Austin Wranglers
- Predators Clinch Playoff Berth - AFL I
- ESPN2 To Nationally Broadcast Monday Night's Showdown vs. Los Angeles - Arizona Rattlers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
