Rush Don’t Lag After Bye Week, Take Division in Rout

Jeff Sims
Tuesday May 20, 2008

After a bye week that allowed some players to take a well deserved break and allowed others to shoot spots for ESPN’s SportsCenter, the Chicago Rush looked like a team that was energized and ready to take the rest of the season head-on. They came out and took an early 14-0 lead in the first five minutes en route to a 72-28 victory Monday night over the Los Angeles Avengers.

“I was worried about how our execution was going to be,” said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. “We had only played one game in the last 23 days. But these guys worried about the task at hand and really put everything out there for us.”

With the win, the Rush became only the second team this year in the AFL to win the game right after its bye week. In its history, the Rush are 6- 1 after bye weeks.

The 44 point win Monday night set a team record for largest margin of victory, gives the Rush their second straight Central Division title, and guarantees them a first round playoff bye and a home game in the quarterfinals.

Rush fullback Dan Alexander started fast as he rushed for a 13 yard touchdown to give the Rush an early 7 -0 lead. Then after Rush DB Dennison Robinson intercepted Avengers QB Sonny Cumbie, his ninth of the season, Alexander took a dump pass from QB Russ Michna and turned it into a 14 yard touchdown.

“We wanted to soften them up a little bit,” said Hohensee. “We knew they had some small DBs and we figured they would be worried about how they would compete with our big receivers. I wanted to let them know that they had something else to worry about too.”

“At the beginning they were blitzing the mack (linebacker) a lot,” said Alexander. “It just took the pressure off because the mack stopped blitzing because they were worried about getting screened or run on a lot. So it helped us pass block. I not only look at it as a way to get the ball in my hands, but to also lighten our load as far as the blocking goes.”

After the teams traded touchdowns, it was the Rush defense that flexed its muscle for a while. First they forced the Avengers into a bad snap that got kicked through the back of the endzone for a safety. The Rush offense capitalized as Michna found WR Travis Latendresse for a 21 yard score. Latendresse was once again impressive with eight catches for 91 yards and three scores.

On the ensuing Avengers possession, QB Tim Hicks was sacked in the endzone by Rush defensive end Joe Peters for a second Rush safety. Then the offense did not disappoint as Michna once again found Latendresse for an eleven yard touchdown and a Rush 44 -14 lead at the half.

The second half would be no different.

The teams would exchange touchdowns and then Mr. Robinson protected his neighborhood again. He picked off a Sonny Cumbie pass in the endzone and would return it to midfield. On the next play, Michna would hook up with Latendresse for a third time. This time, it was a 27 yard pass that would put the Rush up 58 -21.

And when the Rush made an error, they were able to make to make up for it. Midway through the fourth quarter, Michna fumbled prior to a pass attempt that was returned by Avengers DB Terrell Maze to the Rush 4 yard line.

The defense would make up for that as Rush DB Jeremy Unertl would intercept a Sonny Cumbie pass and return it 47 yards for a score.

And then on the ensuing Avengers possession, D-Rob was at it again picking off Cumbie for the third time in the game. This one went back 26 yards for a touchdown and gives him the league lead in interceptions at eleven.

“I always say the best pass coverage is the best pass rush,” said Robinson. “It is just an all around team effort when everybody is running to the ball, making reads, and making blocks. Good things will happen for you.”

The Rush are now 9-2 and have a commanding lead for home field advantage thoughout the playoffs. They lead second place San Jose by three full games with five to go.

“I thought the effort was tremendous,” stated Hohensee with a rare smile on his face. “I wanted to make sure that our guys came out and made a statement tonight as to what we are all about. We are getting ourselves ready for the ultimate game, and that is every week.”

Game Notes

The two safeties by the Rush defense in the first half set an AFL record for safeties in a half and tied the record for most in a game.

Russ Michna still remains perfect as a quarterback in the AFL. His extends his record as a starter to 6-0. For the game Michna completed 18 of 22 passes for 223 yards and six touchdowns. Going into the week, Michna was ranked second in the league in pass completion percentage behind former Rush QB Matt D’Orazio.

“I keep saying that I was thrown into a great situation,” said Michna. “We have three great receivers and guys that are doing a great job up front. All I’m trying to do is throw the ball to the right guy and not screw it up. It’s really that simple.”

Rush All-Pro LB DeJuan Alfonso left the game late in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed arm injury. He was icing it after the game and says that he will be ready to play on Saturday at Utah.

The Rush introduced their new alternate uniform on Monday night. The all black uniforms with silver numbers and a silver helmet made them look like the Oakland Raiders. These were supposed to have been a “one time thing”, but with such a lopsided victory, will we see them again?