Rush Riding D’Orazio’s Spirit
Jeff Sims
Friday February 17, 2006
The Rush scored only 13 points in the second half with their offense looking lackluster at best. This coming on a day when their defense picked up after a sub par first two weeks of the season.
Opting for shorter plays due to their respect of the intensity of Nashville’s front line, the Chicago offense seemed rushed (no pun intended) and out of sync. But after the Kats tied the game at 48-48 with no time remaining on a perfectly executed hook and lateral play, the Rush needed someone to step up and lead the team into the overtime period. That guy was new Rush QB Matt D’Orazio.
D’Orazio is certainly not the most athletic guy, but his character and love for the game make him an asset to this year’s Rush squad. He seems to have an uncanny ability to elude sacks and still have an attempt to make a play.
"Matt does a heck of a job buying time, getting himself out of trouble, getting that 1,2,or 3 yards scrambling and keeping drives alive," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "That is who he is and I cannot take that spirit out of him. It is instinctive for him to do."
On Sunday, D’Orazio performed his best Houdini act escaping a number of potential sacks with the grace of a beer-bellied couch potato. What’s more impressive is that it works for him and he gets the job done gaining those few needed yards.
"Everybody is saying ‘get down’ and do things like that, but unfortunately that’s not in my DNA," said D’Orazio. "I feel like I have to give everything I’ve got all the time for the fans, players, and coaches."
Stated perfectly like he just came out of media relations 101, D’Orazio says the right things. But in his case, he really seems to take it to heart.
After the Kats scored on the first possession of overtime, D’Orazio took over and led his team to victory. He threw a perfect pass to OS CJ Johnson on a fourth down and 15 all or nothing play. In order to avoid heading into sudden death and losing with Nashville’s next possession, the coaching staff decided to go for the two-point conversion and the win. The team didn’t disappoint as D’Orazio hit Cornelius White in the back of the endzone for the win.
"We got focused," stated D’Orazio. "I talked to everybody to make sure that everyone had their assignment right and it worked out as we planned."
"(Matt) is the one clapping his hands, talking to everyone on the bench with a smile, and that positive attitude is contagious," said Hohensee. "The guys are eating it up from him right now. You gotta love the way he competes."
The team will try to continue it’s winning ways when they travel to Los Angeles for a game against the Avengers on Saturday night. The Rush will be looking to extend their winning streak in Los Angeles to two games. After a terrible history when traveling west, the Rush defeated the Avengers in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Game Notes
Chicago seems to have found their transitional kicker while Keith Gispert recovers from his groin injury. Dan Frantz, who kicked for the 2004 ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats, signed a one-year deal with the team prior to Sunday and was able to convert six out of six extra-point attempts, sending the Allstate Arena crowd into a frenzy. Frantz converted more attempts in the first half than the team converted in its first two games.
New addition Jeremy Unertl, obtained in a trade for Henry Douglas earlier in the week, made his presence known as a part of the Rush defense. He put a couple of hard hits on Kats receivers getting some "oohs and ahhs" from the fans. Unertl moved from WR/DB to DS midway through the game after Tony Lukins injured his hamstring and ankle. Lukins is listed as out on the injury report for this weeks game in L.A.
Etu Molden bruised his shoulder and remained on the bench for most of the second half. Bob McMillen sprained his ankle and was able to return. Both of these guys are listed as probable and should play this week.
Jeff has been writing for ArenaFan.com since 2004. Originally from New York, Jeff has been living in the Chicago area for the past ten years and is an avid football fanatic. He holds a BA in communications from Hofstra University in New York and a sports management certificate from Loyola University in Chicago.