Soul hands Rush 56-55 overtime loss in Philadelphia
April 9, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Philadelphia - Matt D'Orazio's two-point conversion attempt in overtime was intercepted by Soul DS Eddie Moten - giving Philadelphia a 56-55 win over the Chicago Rush in front of 14,778 fans at the Wachovia Center Sunday afternoon.
The conversion attempt was set up when Rush backup QB Michael Bishop entered the game on third and goal and dove into the end zone for the touchdown, bringing the Rush to within one point.
The loss is Chicago's fifth in its last six games and drops the Rush to 4-7. despite the loss the Rush still is in the thick of the playoff hunt, currently holding the American Conference's sixth and final playoff spot.
The game was forced into overtime after Soul backup QB Matt Sauk, who replaced an injured Tony Graziani in the fourth quarter, hit Rob Milanese with a three-yard touchdown pass with just 26 seconds remaining to tie the score at 49-49.
Rush kicker Keith Gispert missed a 48-yard field goal attempt on the final play of regulation to lead to the extra period.
The Soul won the toss and opened the overtime period with a score, taking a 56-49 lead when fullback Wes Ours dove into the end zone from the 2-yard line with 11:50 to go in the extra period.
But it was a game that the Rush could have put away long before overtime.
Trailing 28-18 with six minutes remaining in the second quarter the Rush went on a 24-7 run to take a 42-35 lead.
But while the defense continued to hold Philadelphia time after time, the Rush offense struggled to extend its lead.
Leading by seven with the ball at the start of the third quarter, D'Orazio opened the half by throwing his fourth interception of the season.
Philadelphia capitalized seven plays later when Mike Brown caught a five-yard TD pass with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score at 35-35.
After Woody Dantzler scored his second TD of the game, a 22-yard catch and run to put the Rush back up, 42-35, the Rush defense gave the offense another shot at a two-score lead.
John Moyer knocked down a Graziani pass on first down and Curtis Eason recorded his third sack of the season on second down. Then the Rush forced Graziani out of the pocket and into an incomplete pass on third down, leading to fourth-and-15 and Soul kicker Todd France's third field goal attempt of the game. Instead of kicking the ball deep to C.J. Johnson who already had returned one missed field goal for a touchdown earlier in the game, the Soul kicked the ball short and it was fielded by Russell Shaw, giving the Rush back the ball at midfield.
However, the Rush offense couldn't move the ball and was forced to attempt a 40-yard field goal, which Gispert missed wide left - his first missed field goal attempt of the season.
The teams then traded empty possessions with Rush DS Jeremy Unertl and Soul DB Mike Brown trading interceptions.
Finally, with 5:44 remaining in the game, Sauk hit Sean Scott with a seven-yard TD pass to tie the score at 42-42.
The Rush concludes its three-game road trip when it travels to Phoenix next Saturday, April 15, to take on the Western Division leading Arizona Rattlers.
Notes: Rookie Woody Dantzler, who was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster Friday, caught two passes in the game - both of which went for touchdowns...In addition to his touchdown run in overtime, QB Michael Bishop entered the game at the start of the second quarter and played one series, completing one pass for three yards...Carlos Wright returned seven kicks for 194 yards, including his third kickoff return touchdown of the season.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 9, 2006
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- Destroyers' comeback falls short in 39-36 loss to Orlando - Columbus Destroyers
- Las Vegas stunned at home 58-44 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Soul win overtime thriller, 56-55, over Rush - Philadelphia Soul
- Brigade Dominates Second Half, Marches to 62-45 Victory over LA - Kansas City Brigade
- Kats bounce back with 58-44 win in Vegas - Nashville Kats
- Soul hands Rush 56-55 overtime loss in Philadelphia - Chicago Rush
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