A HARD HABIT TO BREAK
D'Orazio and Unertl's heroics in 4th quarter, OT stun San Jose for third straight win

By: Gary Zahara
Photos: Richie Pawlak

It's becoming clear to the AFL that you can't count Matt D'Orazio and the Chicago Rush out.

Posting a 1-4 overall record against the San Jose SabreCats and trailing by 12 late in the third quarter, Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio donned his comeback cape again. The well traveled, hardly used quarterback before this season hooked up with rookie Buchie Ibeh for a 12 yard score to tie the game at 48 with 11 seconds left in regulation. He then proceeded to turn a Jeremy Unertl interception into a 27 yard touchdown pass to Cornelius White for a stunning 54-48 overtime win in front of 12,950 at Allstate Arena Sunday.

After dropping its first two games, Chicago(3-2) has now won three in a row and continue their longest homestand of the year next Sunday against 4-1 Dallas.

"This team finds a way to win. We're not supposed to win when you're down twelve to a team like that," head coach Mike Hohensee said. "There was no panic on our sideline and huddle. Matt had a tremendous fourth quarter again.

Another shaky start by the Rush put them behind 13-0 with just six and a half minutes gone by in the game.

A botched kickoff return off the net by Dennison Robinson was recovered by Phil Glover at the Rush four yard line. Two plays later, Calvin Schexnayder went in untouched from a yard out to make it 7-0. The Rush went four and out on its first possession and SabreCats quarterback Mark Grieb connected with James Roe for a 24 yard score for a 13-0 lead.

C.J. Johnson(8-81 2TD)got the Rush on the board with a four yard pass from D'Orazio(29 of 39 for 351 yards and 7 TD's) with 4:39 left in the opening quarter. Rookie Buchie Ibeh, called up from the practice squad this week to replace the injured Etu Molden, kept the Rush in the game with a career day. Ibeh(8-102 3 TD) hauled in two touchdown passes in the second quarter keeping Chicago within striking distance at halftime, 33-21.

"We thought (Ibeh) was a great athlete in the first place. We didn't have anybody like him who can take the football when the defense is in press coverage. He was tearing us up in practice and the timing was right," Hohensee said.

The secondary woke up to start the second half as Russell Shaw intercepted Grieb at the Rush 13. Seven plays later, D'Orazio hit Johnson for a ten yard score pulling Chicago within five at 33-28 with 8:55 left in the third. Grieb came right back one play later on a 46-yard bomb to James Roe making it a twelve point lead once again.

But the final fifteen minutes belonged to D'Orazio, White and Jeremy Unertl.

A long 10-play 47-yard drive that took 8:27 was capped off by White's 5 yard TD catch. Kicker Dan Frantz, perfect in his last twelve PAT's, missed leaving the Rush with a 40-34 deficit with 13:40 left in regulation.

The Rush defense smothered San Jose on its next possession forcing kicker Brian Schmitz to attempt a 56 yard field goal. It sailed wide left off the net to C.J. Johnson who proceeded to take it 56 yards for the touchdown give Chicago its first lead of the game 41-40 with 9:41 left.

Hello Jeremy.

With Grieb and company looking to answer again, Unertl timed an out pattern to Kevin McKenzie perfectly and intercepted the pass at the Rush six yard line. Anxious to add to the lead, D'Orazio hit White in stride over the middle. Trying to make a play, he was stripped by Roe and Clevan Thomas recovered at his own 17.

Six plays later, Grieb and Roe connected on a 19 yard touchdown pass. Brian Johnson added a two point conversion run and just like that, San Jose was back on top 48-41 with 3:24 left.

But Super Matt and his trusty companions Jeremy and Cornelius swooped in to save the day that for three and a half quarters looked very bleak.

"Both plays were similar. They were post patterns. With a short field, I can make up space very quickly. Being able to make an impact at the end of the game, I was hyped," Unertl said.

It would have been twice as painful if the Rush didn't pull out the victory.

Bob McMillen came into the game needing five yards to break Les Barley's seven year rushing record. In the third quarter needing one yard, McMillen took a pitch left and rumbled two yards for the record. He received a standing ovation, the game ball and a hug from his son.

The celebration was short lived.

Two plays later, McMillen was brought down for and eight yard loss putting him seven yards away from the record. Nobody felt worse than John Moyer. Moyer missed the block that lead to the loss.

"The most important thing was the win," McMillen said. "Nobody feels worse than John. He apologized to me in the locker room and I told him don't worry it. The record will come again. I feel bad for him."

"This team is one of the greatest teams I've been around. I can't say enough about these guys," he said.

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