Vigilantes fall to Rush

July 16, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Dallas Vigilantes News Release


DALLAS, TX - In a tough shootout, the Dallas Vigilantes (11-6) fall to the Chicago Rush (13-4), 53-44, tonight at the American Airlines Center. The loss snaps Dallas' five-game winning streak, is the team's second loss at home on the year, and is the Vigilantes' second loss to the Rush this season. Chicago will now clinch the Central Division title with the win, but will still have to meet up with Dallas in the first round of the 2011 playoffs. Although in a losing effort, Vigilante quarterback Dan Raudabaugh played solid, going 25 of 45 for 337 yards and four touchdowns.

"I wish I could explain what happened," Vigilante head coach Clint Dolezel said. "We just didn't play well; that's the bottom line. We didn't do much right in this game."

Raudabaugh and the Vigilante offense wasted no time with the first possession of the game, as the signal caller would fire a 33-yard strike in the back corner of the end zone to cap off a six-play, 41-yard drive.

But Chicago answered in a hurry with a score of its own, as quarterback JJ Raterink found receiver Charles Dillon on a 41-yard catch-and-run.

Following another Vigilante touchdown, a 37-yard strike to reciever DeAndrew Rubin at 8:27, the Vigilante defense stepped up and showed no mercy. In the ensuing Rush possession, Vigilante defensive tackle Larry Dibbles sacked Raterink for a nine-yard safety on fourth and 10. The safety set up yet another Vigilante touchdown, as Raudabaugh would find receiver John Ferguson for 15-yard slant, putting Dallas up, 23-7 with under four minutes to play in the first quarter.

After another Raterink touchdown pass to end the first, the Vigilantes found themselves starting the second quarter ahead, 23-14. Dallas would start the quarter with the ball. The Vigilantes drove all the way to the Rush four-yard line, where fullback Derrick Ross would barrel his way through for a four-yard touchdown through the heart of the Chicago defensive line.

The scoring would go back-and-forth between the two, until the Vigilante defense force Chicago to go four-and-out with 31 seconds left to play in the first half. Dallas would attempt a 32-yard field goal with six seconds to go, but kicker Remy Hamilton would miss just wide, slating the score halftime score in the Vigilantes' favor, 37-21.

A former Vigilante would help Chicago gain some ground in the second half. Beginning the third quarter with the ball, Raterink would find ex-Dallas receiver Derek Lee on an 18-yard post route. Dallas would fail to answer back throughout the rest of the quarter, knotting the score at 37-35.

The fourth quarter would be a different story, as Dallas would score right out of the gate. On third-and-goal, Raudabaugh found Ferguson on a six-yard out for six points, the rookie receiver's second touchdown of the game and second TD of the season.

"They were running a combo zone on that play," Ferguson said. "We figured if we could just run a quick stop we would get in the end zone. I just did the best I could to use my size in the red zone." Chicago bounced back with a vengeance, though, as the Rush would take its first lead of the game with 2:28 to go in the fourth.

After the 47-yard touchdown pass to receiver Reggie Gray, Chicago decided to up the ante by going for two. The successful attempt put the Vigilantes down, 51-44, with 1:41 left in the game.

To make matters worse, Dallas would fumble the ensuing kickoff in the end zone, resulting in a Chicago safety. If that was not enough bad news, Dallas' onside kick attempt on the next kickoff was gobbled up by Rush jack linebacker Kelvin Morris. The recovery turned out to be the proverbial nail in the coffin, as Dallas would lose to the Rush, 53-44.

Next up for the Vigilantes is a date at home with the National Conference's best: the Arizona Rattlers (15-2). The Vigilantes' last regular season game of the year will be against an Arizona squad that is currently riding an eight-game winning streak, with its only two losses coming at the hands of a one-point defeat.

"We just didn't make enough plays tonight, but we'll watch film, break'em down, and fix them," Dolezel said. "We'll be better; that's all I can say right now. Credit the Rush, because they came into a tough environment tonight and took one from us. But the bottom line is we'll be better, and we'll see them again in two weeks."



Arena Football League Stories from July 16, 2011


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