Rush fails to clinch postseason berth

TAMPA, Fla. - A battle between two of the AFL's best lived up the hype Friday night, with the Tampa Bay Storm outslugging the Chicago Rush 68-60 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

The loss prevented the Rush (9-4) from becoming the first AFL team to clinch a playoff spot. The Rush will have to wait until next week to try to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year when they host Arizona on Saturday.

"Tampa Bay has been playing really well, especially at home," said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. "I thought we also played well tonight, but we made a few mistakes - and those mistakes turned out to be the difference in the ballgame."

It was an evenly matched game throughout, with the teams trading touchdowns the entire evening. But in the end, the difference proved to be 2 missed extra points by the Rush and a fourth-quarter fumble by WR Syvelle Newton that was returned by the Storm for a touchdown.