Rush Survive First Round of Single Elimination
Kevin Sheller
Sunday July 15, 2001
First, Milwaukee. The Mustangs are staring at a 3-10 record with one game to go. Not just one game to go this season, but one game to go forever. Next week’s match against Arizona will be the last one for a Mustangs team owned by the Velozzi family. They have every intention to sell by the time next season starts, and judging from the list of potential buyers in every city but Milwaukee, it shouldn’t be difficult.
Really, this is too bad for the fans of Milwaukee who have supported the ‘Stangs through it all: An 0-14 inaugural season, no halftime shows, little or no promotions, no post-game autographs, few giveaways, and this season, few reasons to cheer. The atrocities in Milwaukee have affected all involved, and you can bet the players felt it most. I am beginning to understand why the Mustangs started off 0-8, and it has nothing to do with head coach Rich Frazier or a lack of talent. But that’s for another article.
Now, Chicago. The last time these two teams met, the Rush manhandled this same Mustangs squad. In retrospect, that week seven matchup appears to have been a turning point in the Rush season. Up until that game, the Rush had made some surprising waves, upsetting Carolina, Indiana, and almost toppling Grand Rapids. Then, in the second half against the Mustangs, they relaxed. Sure, it was mop-up time, but AFL teams can only dress 20-men on game day, so your starters play most of the minutes – blowout or not.
Since that game, Chicago had stumbled with a 2-4 record. Even the two wins were close, sloppy games. Guess what? The Rush won on Saturday night 34-29, and it was...ahem... a close, sloppy game.
For the most part, this looked more like the Chicago Rush we’d all come to know at midseason: A solid defensive performance, both above-average and below-average line play, and just enough offense to get it done.
The last minute of regulation turned out to be a nail-biter that shouldn’t have been. On a clock-burning drive with a four-point lead, Rush QB Billy Dicken threw an interception to the jack linebacker Gary Compton, who Dicken believes was out of the box. The official’s crew, who had been so generous with flags all evening (25 total,) didn’t call illegal defense, and Milwaukee’s drive for the win was on.
While the Rush have a great deal of confidence in their defense, Arena Football wisdom says: If you give your opponent the ball with a minute to play and only a 5-point deficit, you lose -- unless they score too early and you get the ball back. Milwaukee did neither. Dinky sideline passes, some good defensive play, and 45-seconds later, the Mustangs stood inside the 10-yard line on fourth down.
“You hate to put yourself in a situation where you have the lead with under a minute left and give a team that kind of opportunity,” said WR/DB Dameon Porter. “Defensively, in that last series, we were more comfortable than we were in previous games [in similar situations] because we played so well all night.”
After WR/LB Kelvin Hunter defended the last ditch pass in the end zone, the Rush took over the ball and the game. “I thought he [the Mustang receiver] was going to run a post, but he came inside,” said Hunter, “I just hustled and made the play.”
For that hustle, Hunter received the game ball.
Whew. They squeak one out. The playoffs remain a possibility. The home fans get a treat, and the Rush have more to play for than just pride against Orlando next week.
How ‘bout those fans?
The fans came alive for the fourth quarter Milwaukee drive, giving their favorite home team standing support on the last four Mustang downs.
“There was a time out before the last play,” said Porter, “and I was saying to [QB Billy Dicken], ‘This was a boring football game. Lots of penalties, stupid mistakes, lots of pauses in the action, and they stayed. And they cheered.’ And I think that says a lot.”
Dameon, Dameon, Dameon...
The Chicago Rush’s Dameon Porter, who has positioned himself well to get on the ballot for Ironman of the Year, had three chances to tie the record for most interceptions in a season. How many did he get? Zippo. But he got something much more important.
“I’ll trade the record for the win tonight,” said Porter, "Instead of three interceptions, I had three passes defensed."
As for the record, Porter only needs one more interception to tie, two more to claim the record. “I’m probably putting a little bit too much pressure on myself. I’ve never broken a record in my life,” said Porter, “I’m not out there thinking about that. I didn’t make plays like you’ve seen me make plays before, but THEY didn’t catch the ball [on the near interceptions.]”
Cedric “Sky” Walker
Though he didn’t dress last night, DS Cedric Walker says he’s 100%, and he’s ready to start next week against the Predators. Because Chris Lawson was switched from DS to WR/DB, Walker has an opening. Walker also guarantees he brings a level of physical play to a Rush defensive backfield who have covered better than they’ve hit. Which, judging by points-allowed this season, isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but could add another element to the team.
Playoff Picture
This is one of the most confusing last weeks in AFL history. With Arizona falling to 7-6 and New York improving to 7-6, things got a lot more hairy. There are scenarios where Chicago can beat Orlando next week and still not make the playoffs. However, this is unlikely.
There is a chance that the Rush can still make the playoffs even if they lose to Orlando. But I'm sure they'd much rather win and prove to the league and themselves they can beat one of the better teams -- like last year's champions, for instance.
If the season ended today, the Rush would earn a playoff berth as the 12th seed. Strength of schedule breaks ties involving more than two teams, then head-to-head results. The Rush’s combined opponents are better than Detroit's and Buffalo's.
Kevin Sheller ia founder of Arenafan Online and was the principal owner until 2004. Kevin graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in technical writing, and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1993. He has worked as a professional web programmer and is also the executive producer for a computer/video game company. The most recent Xbox title to his credit is called Hunter: The Reckoning.
