SPOKANE, Wash. (June 18, 2011) – The Chicago Rush (9-4) could not
continue their winning ways as the team fell to the Spokane Shock (6-7) on Saturday night in front of 9,499 fans at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington.
The Rush offense got off to a rapid start with a successful opening drive in which QB Russ Michna completed passes to each receiver on the roster before capping off the drive with a 17-yard touchdown reception by WR Reggie Gray. The Spokane Shock quickly answered with a perfectly placed 6-yard touchdown pass by QB Erik Meyer to WR Emery Sammons. The two teams would each trade an additional touchdown before the conclusion of the first quarter.
Gray who finished the game with a nine receptions for 125 yards and five touchdowns, began the second quarter with a crucial fourth down 29-yard touchdown reception from Michna. However, Shock QB Meyer led Spokane to their first lead of the game with a 15-yard touchdown pass to WR Markee White, and the Shock would never look back. Shock WR/DB Antwan Marsh recorded a timely interception against the Rush offense, and capitalized on the interception with a one-yard touchdown run by Marsh. The Rush offense suffered another costly turnover at the end of the second quarter when Michna fumbled the ball, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown by the Shock defense. Michna was 13 for 18 with 161 yards and four touchdowns before exiting the game at halftime due to injury.
The Rush began the third quarter on defense and could not contain the Shock as Meyer completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to WR Greg Orton to add to Spokane’s lead. Rush back-up QB Dominic Randolph took over the reins for Chicago and led the offense to an 11-yard touchdown reception by WR Charles Dillon to capitalize on DB Perry Kyles’ interception. Randolph was 11 for 17 with 113 yards and four touchdowns while throwing just one interception within the second half. DB Vic Hall also recorded his 15th interception to add to his record-breaking season and allowed Randolph to connect with Dillon on a 4-yard touchdown pass to cut the Shock lead to 10 before the end of the third quarter. Hall also led the defense with eight tackles on the night.
Dillon struck again to open the fourth quarter with a 31-yard touchdown reception from Randolph, and finished the game with three touchdown receptions. However, the offensive shootout continued with another Shock touchdown. The Rush defense forced two turnovers on consecutive drives which allowed the offense to capitalize and bring the score within three. But despite Chicago’s strong fourth quarter performance, the deficit was too great to overcome as the Rush fell to the Shock in the final seconds.
The Rush will return home on Sunday, June 26th to battle the Iowa Barnstormers (3-10) at the Allstate Arena on “Teddy Bear Toss” day. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to toss onto the field following the first Rush touchdown. All of the teddy bears collected will be donated to the Red Cross of Greater Chicago. Kick off is set for 3 p.m. CST.
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