The Force is with Georgia as Rush falls, 55-20
April 29, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
Atlanta - Chicago's quest to earn its sixth-consecutive playoff berth took a big hit Saturday night in Atlanta.
Nothing went right for the Rush as it suffered its worst defeat of the season, falling to the Georgia Force 55-20 in front of 13,087 fans at Philips Arena.
The loss drops the Rush to 5-9 on the season and ensures the team's first losing season in the franchise's history.
However, despite its record, the Rush still has a shot at making the playoffs this season.
As the team heads into the final two weeks of the season, the Rush will find itself tied for the sixth and final American Conference playoff spot with the loser of this weekend's Las Vegas-Utah game and possibly the Grand Rapids Rampage (pending the outcome of Saturday's Rampage game vs. Nashville).
The Rush holds the tiebreakers over Las Vegas and Grand Rapids by virtue Chicago's wins at Allstate Arena earlier this season, and the Rush closes its season by hosting Utah next Saturday, May 6 before traveling to Grand Rapids May 13.
"We didn't play very well tonight, and I am sure a lot of people are doubting if we are good enough to make the playoffs, said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "We will find out a lot about the character of this team as we enter the final two weeks of the season.
"I know none of these guys wants to be remembered as being on the first Rush squad to fail to make the playoffs, so I hope we can use that as our motivation to regroup this week and prepare for Utah."
If the Rush is going to sweep the final two games of the season, it will have to get off to a quicker start than it did against the Force. Chicago failed to stop the Force on any of its six first half drives, falling behind 42-7 at the half.
The 42 points were the most surrendered by Chicago in the first half this season, while the seven points is the fewest the Rush has ever scored in the first half of a game.
Georgia built its big lead on the backs of WR/LB Derek Lee and a dominating performance by the Force defensive line.
Lee caught seven passes for 105 yards and three touchdowns in the half. On one of his touchdowns he broke three tackles and turned a short third-and-11 catch into an 18-yard touchdown. On another of his TDs he out-jumped solid coverage by Rush DS Jeremy Unertl and DB Dennison Robinson for another 18-yard TD.
Meanwhile, the Force defensive line pressured the Rush QBs from the start. On the game's first series, Matt D'Orazio was sacked on third-and-three and suffered a sprained ankle, forcing him out of the game. The Rush missed a 54-yard field goal attempt on the series, giving the ball back to Georgia and allowing the Force to build a 14-0 lead.
On Chicago's second series, backup QB looked sharp in leading the Rush on a five-play 33-yard drive resulting in an Etu Molden eight-yard touchdown to bring the Rush within at TD at 14-7.
However, the super-mobile Bishop didn't have much success evading the pressure as the first half evolved. He was sacked twice and forced into throwing an interception, as the Rush failed to score again in the first half.
Bishop finished the game by completing 28 of 42 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions - one of which was returned 45 yards by Lee for the final Force touchdown.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 29, 2006
- New York takes the Soul - New York Dragons
- Rampage Bags Kats 61-54 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Wranglers lose heartbreaker, 40-33 - Austin Wranglers
- Storm Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Rout of Kansas City - Tampa Bay Storm
- Destroyers pick off Wranglers, 40-33 - Columbus Destroyers
- Kansas City Brigade falls short in 58-42 loss at Tampa Bay - Kansas City Brigade
- One-step closer, Georgia 55 Chicago 20 - Georgia Force
- The Force is with Georgia as Rush falls, 55-20 - Chicago Rush
- Double Dip: Division, Home-Field Clinched - Dallas Desperados
- Rush signs Frantz, activates Cook - Chicago Rush
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