Rush closes in on homefield advantage for AFL playoffs

With only three games to go in the regular season, the Chicago Rush needs just 1 more win or a loss by the San Jose SaberCats to clinch homefield advantage throughout the Arena Football League playoffs.

The Rush, which has clinched the Central Division and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, escaped with a 52-47 win over the Kansas City Brigade on Saturday to improve to 10-3.

Next up are road games against the Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday and the Georgia Force on June 14. The Rush will close out the regular season with a home game June 22 against the Dallas Desperados.

Saturday's dramatic, come-from-behind win over Kansas City came in front of a sellout of 16,164 at the Allstate Arena.

The Rush trailed 47-35 with just over nine minutes left after Brigade defensive back Chris Demaree intercepted Russ Michna's pass and returned it 42 yards for a score.

But the Rush came back as Michna, a Western Illinois and Conant High School star, threw a 5-yard TD pass to Damian Harrell with 6:12 remaining, making it 47-42.

After Kansas City failed on fourth-and-3 from the Rush 19, the Rush took over with 1:57 to play.

Michna moved the team downfield and eventually scored the go-ahead touchdown when he powered into the end zone from a yard out with just 11 seconds remaining for a 48-47 lead. Michna then hit Travis LaTendresse with the 2-point conversion.

Kansas City had one final chance for a miracle on its last possession, but Bryant was unable to secure the snap from center and the ball squirted through his legs and out of the back of the end zone for a safety to make the final score 52-47.