Rush to open ArenaBowl quest today

It seems like a lifetime ago since the Chicago Rush and the Grand Rapids Rampage met in Rosemont in April for their second and final regular-season showdown.

The Rush eventually eked out a 55-52 win to finish off a sweep of what is affectionately known as the Amtrack Classic series.

When asked earlier this week what they remember about that particular game, Rush players had to hop on the wayback machine for a second before the memories came rushing back.

"I remember a team not giving up," said rookie wide receiver Donovan Morgan. "A team not intimidated by Chicago, a team that wants to win."

"They're a hard-working team," said Rush quarterback Russ Michna. "They aren't going to make a lot of mistakes. They're going to keep coming at you no matter what the situation. They're basic in a lot of ways, but what they do, they do well. You just have to go out there and execute and try and outlast them."

Today at 2 p.m. at the Allstate Arena, the Rush, fresh off a bye week, will try to do just that when they again take on the Rampage, a 48-41 winner over Arizona in an AFL wild-card game last week. It was Grand Rapids' fourth straight victory, making it the hottest team in the league heading into today's divisional-round matchup.

"The nice thing is it's been quite some time since we played them," Michna said. "Both teams have changed. Playing a team a third time always comes up. You just have to take it out of your mind-set and just go out there and perform."

While his teammates treaded lightly to avoid any bulletin board material, Rush receiver Damien Harrell spoke in capital letters and then bolded them for good measure.

"I don't think anyone can beat us," Harrell said. "It really doesn't matter if it is Grand Rapids or Arizona or Colorado. It doesn't matter.

"I love our chances right now."

It would be hard not to, considering the Rush has just one loss at home this season and has homefield advantage throughout the playoffs en route to what they hope will be a return trip to the ArenaBowl in New Orleans in three weeks.

"We understand we should be here all the way to the 27th," Rush coach Mike Hohensee said. "Their mind-set is, 'That'when I'm going home.'"

But the playoffs are a different animal. One miscue and the season can end in an instant.

"You have to strive to be perfect, there's no doubt about it," Hohensee said. "There is no margin for error; you can't make mistakes."

It's a message Hohensee has been drilling into his players the past two weeks and it has come through loud and clear.

"Like Coach said, they're going to play good," Morgan said. "We just have to play great."