In Complete Control

By: Tom Alexander

The Chicago Rush took complete control of the division and perhaps the conference with yet another dominating victory over a team that had once been their tormenters. With the Rush’s 65-52 over the Colorado Crush, they may have taken the next step toward their goal of one not being enough.

Russ Michna played another tremendous game. He threw for 6 touchdown passes and went 24 of 25 with 280 yards. The offense seemed quietly efficient while the Colorado Crush offense seemed unable to get anything going. A 28-0 run that spanned the second and third quarter proved to be the undoing of a team that desperately needed a victory to have any hopes of getting back in the division race.

The Rush managed to sweep the Crush for the second straight year. Michna managed to use all three receivers wisely again. Damian Harrell did lead the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns against his former club. But once again, Donovan Morgan and Travis LeTendresse made major contributions with more than 100 yards combined and three touchdowns.

DeJuan Alfonzo and Dennison Robinson continued their fantastic play on defense as each had a pickoff. The 13-point differential doesn’t indicate the blow-out this game truly was. The Rush dictated the pace and flow of the action.

As you begin to survey the American Conference, you’ll realize just how much the Rush are in control. They currently hold a three-and-a half game lead over the Crush and Grand Rapids Rampage. By virtue of a victory over the San Jose Sabercats and two more victories, the Rush own a three game lead for the one seed. But all that will be put aside with just one more game before the bye.

The Rush have a Monday night date with the Tampa Bay Storm. Although the Storm haven’t had a very good season, going on the road to play a team coached by Tim Marcum is a definite challenge the Rush must respond to. Marcum is a four-time Arena Bowl champion, and the Rush will be heading into enemy territory before a national television audience on ESPN2.

With a 7-2 record and a conference that has much to be desired, there’s no reason to think the Rush won’t be playing well into the month of July.

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Tom Alexander founded the Chicago Sports Review in 2003, and currently serves the publication as its co-publisher. Alexander's media career has spanned a variety of interests, including newspaper reporting with the Times of Northwest Indiana, online reporting with ePrairie.com, and a two-plus year stint as a professor in Columbia College Chicago's journalism department. Outside of journalism, Alexander works to redevelop communities that have been struck by natural disasters. Alexander, a 2000 graduate of the University of Chicago, currently lives with his wife Tiffany and their black lab mix, Johnny Cash, in Arlington, Va.

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