Dicken Unflappable While Porter Unstoppable ... Eventually
Mary-Ann Williams
Tuesday May 15, 2001
Back-to-back scoring gave the 7,341 fans on hand a great show and ended the night with a Rush all-time high score, beating the ‘Birds 72-64. The unflappable Dicken, taking over for injured QB Jeff Loots while he nursed a nasty shoulder and elbow injury, left no doubt in anyone’s mind who deserves top spot on the roster, big league experience or not.
“I think we know who our quarterback is,” said Coach Hohensee. “The kid had a great week of practice. He wasn’t intimidated by these guys at all.”
“I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Dicken. “I’ve played in front of 100,000 people…I mean, I had butterflies. There’s butterflies in pee-wees.”
The former af2 Steamwheeler star managed to keep up with the high-scoring Indiana Firebirds despite a weak effort by his defense. The first half saw limited results by the defense so highly touted in their last two match-ups. Against the Firebirds and Raymond Philyaw, the defense didn't do much…until the second half, that is. Make that until the fourth quarter. (Nothing like cutting it close.)
Dicken’s cool worked magic on his teammates and earned him MVP for a reason. If he continues to play like he did in this game, the Rush may very well get that 10-3 record DS Derek Stingley once predicted.
 Dameon Porter now sports a new number (1), and has a new chance at proving himself. Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
Dicken stayed with the Firebirds, but it was Porter who pushed the Rush over the top...and kept them there.
Porter handled the fourth quarter beautifully, but he eased into his game a little slower than one would like. After missing two easy catches in the first fifteen minutes, Porter had to dig in and do something spectacular for the crowd to forgive him. He did it, but took his time getting there.
Going into the game against Indiana, the buzz in the pressroom was all about Firebirds’ QB Philyaw and how he’d never thrown an interception in his AFL career. Really, someone should mention something about knocking on wood when they discuss those things.
After going head to head with the Firebirds the first 45 minutes, Chicago dominated the final quarter, started off by a Porter interception.
“We do a meticulous job of preparing during the week,” said Porter. “And all I did was execute the defense. No superman tactics in me whatsoever. They put me in the right place. The coach called some great plays and you execute them. You execute and great things happen.”
Indeed. Philyaw seemed as serene as Dicken, but somewhere things broke down. Instead of a touchdown pass, Philyaw tossed one that seemed meant for Porter, if high. A vertical leap later, the Rush had the ball heading the other direction. Philyaw was taking a rest and Porter finally saved face. End of story…or maybe not…
Next came a tag-team Henderson-Koscielski play. A fumble forced by Rush WR/LB Dale Koscielski and picked up by OL/DL Tony Henderson was converted into a big TD for the Rush. Then, up steps Porter for interception number two.
Huh? Second in a career on the same night? By the same guy? It happens, and Philyaw can attest to it.
Not a shining example of great football the whole game, Porter still put his face where it was needed, when it was needed.
Brought onboard late in the pre-season after he was cut by the New Jersey Red Do…uh, Gladiators, Porter has waited to shine. His time with the Rush marks his first chance to start and prove that he can hang with the big boys. Lucky for the Rush, Coach Hohensee knows a diamond in the rough when he sees one. And luckier still that Hohensee is a fantastic jeweler.
Mary-Ann Williams lives in Chicagoland with her four children, Carter, Jackson, Jeremy, and Riley Jade. As a freelance writer, she`s written articles for the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Daily Herald. She also serves as editor of the AFL-side of Arenafan Online, and covers the Chicago Rush.
