Rush Topple Mustangs; Look ahead to Orlando
Mary-Ann Williams
Sunday July 15, 2001
Despite the win, game Ironman WR/DB Dameon Porter recognized the lackluster performance by both teams. “It was a boring game,” he said. “I mean, the penalties, everything. But we won. You all have been sittin’ here and sayin’, ‘Y’all not winning. Y’all not winning.’ Well, we won.”
It wasn’t a pretty win, but for the stalled Rush team, the win accomplished what most didn’t expect to happen: it offered them another shot at the playoffs. Coming off a disappointing four-game losing streak, the expansion team needed this win to even have a chance.
“We’re half way there,” said Hohensee. “We just need to get next week, now.”
If the Rush play the defending champion Orlando Predators next Saturday anything like they did the Mustangs this week, they can kiss any chance at the playoffs goodbye. The Rush counted 12 of the night’s 25 penalties, losing 84 yards. QB Billy Dicken pulled off 13-25 passes and one interception for the night. In the end, a final push by the floundering Mustangs nearly finished off any hope of a post-season.
Injured Milwaukee QB Kevin McDougal came back into the game for the Mustangs’ final drive after sitting out most of the fourth quarter. The drive, jump-started by a WR/LB Gary Compton interception on Milwaukee’s 15-yard line was a last-ditch effort to claim the game. With under a minute to go, the Mustangs tried to hold on, but were stopped 15 yards and four points short of the win.
“It shouldn’t have been that close,” Porter said. “We won by only four points. I don’t know what that says about us.”
“If anything, our team lacks consistency,” said Hohensee. “We know that as well as anybody.”
Now, having tucked away Milwaukee, the Rush have to look toward bigger fish.
“Nobody wants to play Orlando this late in the season,” said Porter. “We have to look ahead, though. We can go out and have a beer tonight, but come tomorrow, that’s where we need to be. That’s the biggest game I’ve ever played in. I’ve never played in a play-off game, so, this is it.”
Porter worked toward another big goal during the Milwaukee game. The third-year player nearly grabbed his 12th interception for the season tying the league record. Sitting at 11 and one game to go, Porter admits that it’s on his mind.
“There might have been some pressure there. It’s slipping away from me, but I got one game left, so we’ll see what happens.”
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.
