Third time a charm, Rush advances to ArenaBowl with 59-56 win
June 3, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
San Jose - After losing in the AFL semifinals in back-to-back seasons, the Chicago Rush finally got over the hump, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59-56 in front of 12,229 fans at the HP Pavilion to advance to ArenaBowl XX next Sunday, June 11, in Las Vegas.
The Rush will play the winner of tomorrow's Orlando-Dallas National Conference title game.
"I am so proud of this team," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "Nobody gave us a chance at the middle of the season, but we re-grouped and started playing like the talented football team I know we are.
Trailing 42-39 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Rush opened the final period by moving 42 yards for a touchdown to take a 45-42 lead on a DeJuan Alfonzo three-yard touchdown reception with 12:09 remaining in the game.
Next, the Rush defense made one of its biggest stands of the season when it held San Jose on downs to get the offense the ball back at midfield with 8:25 to play in the game. The key plays in the series came on third and fourth downs, when Jeremy Unertl and Russell Shaw broke up passes to stop the SaberCat drive.
It took the Rush offense just two plays and 50 seconds to capitalize as QB Matt D'Orazio first hit OS Bobby Sippio with a nine-yard reception, and then found Sippio again with a 17-yarder for a TD to give the Rush a 52-42 lead with 6:48 to play.
D'Orazio finished the game completing 21 of 36 passes for 219 yards and six touchdowns while Sippio had with seven receptions for 78 yards and five touchdowns.
But the SaberCats would not go away, as Mark Grieb, who played brilliantly completing 28 of 36 passes for 314 yards and five touchdowns, found Kevin McKenzie behind the Rush defense for a 40-yard TD strike with 5:48 to play, narrowing the Rush lead to 52-49.
The Rush responded, putting together a 10-play, 45-yard drive capped with Sippio's fifth touchdown of the day to take a 59-49 lead at the 34 second mark of the fourth quarter.
After McKenzie returned the ensuing Rush kickoff for a touchdown to cut the score to 59-56, Chicago recovered an onside kick and ran the clock out.
The win was Chicago's team-record fifth in a row, while the loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for San Jose.
Prior to Chicago's defensive stand in the fourth quarter, the game was a see-saw battle with each team giving the other its best shot.
After falling behind 21-10 early in the second quarter, the Rush finished the first half with a 22-7 run.
The run began when Alfonzo picked up a San Jose kickoff after it went through the hands of Chicago kick returner Carlos Wright and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 21-16.
The Rush defense then kept the momentum going as lineman John Moyer beat Albrey Battle and sacked Grieb, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Curtis Eason.
The Rush scored four plays later, as D'Orazio dove in from the 1-yard line to put Chicago back in front 22-21.
The battle continued as Marquis Floyd caught a 34-yard TD pass from Grieb to put San Jose back up 28-22 with just 1:06 remaining in the first half.
Sippio answered back with just 41 seconds remaining in the half when he caught a 9-yard TD pass from D'Orazio to give Chicago a 29-28 lead.
After SaberCats kicker Brian Schmitz missed a 42-yard field goal attempt wide left, Rush kicker Dan Frantz responded with a Frantz 51-yard field goal to give Chicago a 32-28 halftime lead. It is the third-consecutive game in which Frantz has hit a field goal on the final play of the half.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 3, 2006
- Avengers in the community - Los Angeles Avengers
- Chicago Advances To ArenaBowl With 59-56 Win Over San Jose - San Jose SaberCats
- Third time a charm, Rush advances to ArenaBowl with 59-56 win - Chicago Rush
- Chicago Rush earns berth in ArenaBowl XX - AFL I
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