Sudden Victory
July 13, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
QB Billy Dicken hit Cornelius Bonner with a 28-yard TD pass on Chicago's second play in overtime to give the Rush a 58-52 win over the Dallas Desperados Saturday night at the Allstate Arena.
Both teams put on a classic display of Arena Football's back-and-forth nature before the Rush closed the game in the overtime period. Neither team led by more than seven points at any point during the game before the Chicago Rush scored the final 13 points of the game to come away with the win.
The victory improved the Rush's record to 9-4 and gives them and secures a first-round bye in the upcoming AFL playoffs.
Dallas had possession and a chance to win on the game's final play. Kicker Jason Wells - who had been perfect throughout the game until the last seconds - missed a 29-yard field goal. The field goal was wide right by no more than two feet.
In the overtime period, the Rush defense turned up the heat on backup quarterback Jim Kubiak. They deflected two of his passes and sacked him once before Wells missed a desperation 58-yard field goal attempt.
Antonio Chatman gave the Rush solid field position after the miss and Dicken threw his game-winning TD pass two plays later.
"That's as good as Arena Football gets," said Chicago head coach Mike Hohensee. "They have a good field goal kicker and he missed a big kick. That gave us another chance and we took advantage."
After the Desperados had taken a 52-45 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Rush tied the score on Dameon Porter's 49-yard interception return for a score with four minutes to go in the game. The interception return was the longest in team history.
The Rush opened the scoring on its first possession. Dicken hit Chatman with a 45-yard flag pattern for a touchdown. Chatman, who has scored 23 TDs this season, beat Dallas DB Kareem Larrimore a step off the line of scrimmage and pulled away for the score.
Dallas answered as QB Andy Kelly led the Desperados on a short drive and his Shannon Culver with a two-yard scoring pass.
Dallas took advantage of the first turnover of the game - RB Jamie McGourty' s first fumble in two years - to take the lead. After softening the Chicago defense with a few short passes, FB Patrise Alexander powered in on a two-yard run to give the Desperados a 14-7 lead.
Chicago got a 34-yard field goal from Adam Hicks and then took the lead after John Moyer stripped the ball from Kelly and allowed Rich McKenzie to recover it at the Dallas five. On the play, Kelly suffered a strained hip flexor and was forced to go to the Dallas locker room. Kelly had taken every snap for Dallas this season before the injury and head coach Joe Avezzano was forced to turnover the offense to second-year QB Jim Kubiak.
Two plays after the fumble recovery, Dicken hit Anthony Ladd with a one-yard TD pass to give the Rush a 17-14 lead.
Despite Kelly's injury, Dallas was not ready to give it up at this point. The Desperados got great field position after a short kickoff by Hicks and backup QB Jim Kubiak got the lead back when he hit Andy McCullough with an eight-yard TD pass.
The teams traded touchdowns, but the Rush earned the lead in the final minute of the first half when Dicken hit Chatman on a short pass. Chatman took one step backwards to make Larrimore miss and then streaked 35 yards for the touchdown. The catch and run gave Chicago a 31-28 lead with 44 seconds remaining.
The Desperados were not able to answer with a go-ahead touchdown, but PK Jason Wells connected on a 20-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. That field goal sent the two teams into the lockerroom tied at 31-31.
The back-and-forth nature of the game continued in the second half. Dallas took the lead as Kubiak continued to lead the offense without a problem. His 15-yard TD pass to Culver gave the Desperados a 38-31 lead, and the Rush matched that score when Dicken hit playmaker Dameon Porter with a 32-yard TD pass at the nine-minute mark.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 13, 2002
- Rampage Clinch Playoff Berth with 54-45 Victory - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Sudden Victory - Chicago Rush
- Storm Edge Fury - Detroit Fury
- Safety Drops Phantoms in New Jersey - Toronto Phantoms
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
- Friday Night Recaps - AFL I
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