Winning Ugly

By: Jerome Cusson

While the game may not have always been pretty, the Chicago Rush took control of the American Conference and grabbed a stranglehold on the Central Division with a 55-52 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage.

In a game of so many near misses, Rush wide receiver Donovan Morgan was a surefire hit. After catching a touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage, Morgan would be featured all game long. His ten catches and 149 yards led the team and are his season highs so far. Morgan felt the first touchdown was huge to start the game.

“It set up the tone for our defense and amped up the whole team-up,” Morgan said.

Morgan also made a key turnover that kept the Rampage in the game. With his team down 52-48, Morgan caught the ball and almost immediately fumbled, and perhaps giving the Rush their second loss at home during the 2008 season.

Then one of the AFL’s greatest quirks kept this game alive for Coach Mike Hohensee and the gang. An errant pass made by Rampage quarterback James MacPherson was tapped off the iron by Anthony Hynes. Rush defensive back Dennison Robinson came up with a spectacular interception that woke up an Allstate Arena not used to this kind of excitement. Damian Harrell caught the game-winning touchdown with 1:32 to go in the game.

Just about every other home game had been over by the fourth quarter, but the Rampage showed some offensive punch. MacPherson did a tremendous job finding his three top receivers and his presence alone insured this wouldn’t be a 29-point loss like the first Rampage/Rush game had been.

While Russ Michna was deadly accurate most of the game, missing just five of 33 passes, the banged up Rush defense couldn’t seem to figure out Grand Rapids game plan until the fourth quarter. As Coach Hohensee said, “They came up big in the end.”

While MacPherson picked apart the defensive backs all game along, the last drive of the game showed the difference between a good team and one that has aspirations of winning a championship. The Rush denied passing lanes and blocked or deflected passes to insure a tough victory.

Things will be all the more difficult after defensive back James Sadler suffered a ruptured Achilles, a season-ending injury. John Moyer and Jonathon Ordway each missed another game with their respective injuries, though one or both may return for next week’s game.

Finally, in this game of back and forth, too close for comfort action, Rush tight end Robert Boss made a 15-yard catch at the end of the first half that brought new meaning to the phrase rumbling for a first down. He was seemingly hit by every Rampage defender and some of the players sitting on the bench before finally being tackled. If the Rush are to continue improving their 6-2 record, they’ll need the attitude symbolized by the Boss catch.

On tap will be an emotional homecoming to play the Crush. Even though the Rush cruised to a 70-35 victory earlier in the season, the Crush will be desperate for a win. Right now, the team is 3-4 and coming off a loss to the once winless Kansas City Brigade. Friday’s game in Denver could very well be the Rush’s toughest of the season.

RedEye Slams Rush, AFL

For those of you who may have missed the weekend edition of the RedEye, the “newspaper” actually wrote about the Rush. In their 5-on-5 segment, the question was asked, “The Chicago Rush Is In First Place. Why Didn’t You Know That?” Four so-called journalists and an animated dog named Wheezer provided very caustic responses that demeaned not only the team but the league as well. It would be easy to ignore this as just another slap in the face, but I’ve grown tired of the lack of respect the Rush and AFL get from the media. How is it that a team whose made seven straight playoff appearances, been a model of success for the league, been a huge part of the community, and up until this year was consistently outdrawing the Chicago Blackhawks, one of the most storied franchises in Chicago, can’t get more respect from the media in general.

Writer Leo Ebersole may have provided the most ignorant answer of all when he said, “Because a 50-yard football field with no sidelines is an abomination. There. I said it.” I know his job is to be sarcastic and provide humor, but I have to question whether he’s been to a game. I’ve met and known a lot of people who would never go to a game. Then once they’ve gone, they’re hooked for life.

And considering Ebersole works at a paper that has to be given away, considering the fact that the Tribune owns the paper he writes for, and considering those same owners manage the Chicago Cubs, you’d think he’d be an expert on abominations. Guess that’s what a Northwestern degree gets you these days.

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Jerome Cusson is a proud graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Currently, he is a freelance writer and a contributer to such websites as The Cool Kids' Table and giveawaytheending.com. Check out his NSR blog as well.

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