Rush fails to lock up homefield advantage
DULUTH, Ga. -- The Chicago Rush (10-5) failed to clinch homefield advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs for the second-consecutive week, losing 50-47 to the Georgia Force on Saturday night at Gwinnett Arena.
The Force (10-5) clinched the Southern Division title.
It was a night of bad breaks for the Rush.
A little more than an hour before kickoff, Rush kicker Paul Edinger was injured in pregame warmups. The Rush was forced to pull kicker Joe O'Donnell out of the stands and sign him to a contract shortly before the game. O'Donnell, a former teammate of Rush lineman John Moyer with the AFL's Florida Bobcats in 2000, had driven to the game from Birmingham, Ala., to watch Moyer play. He had not kicked professionally since attending training camp with the Bears in 2004.
Rush linebacker Ryan Dennard was injured on the opening kickoff and was lost for the rest of the game. Dennard was set to make his first start in place of injured All-Arena linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo, who is out for the season.
Early in the third quarter, the Rush tied the score at 27-27 when Travis LaTendresse caught a 22-yard TD pass from Michna.
The game finally turned with just 3:07 remaining in the fourth. With the Rush trailing 48-41, Force defensive lineman Will Thompson sacked Rush quarterback Russ Michna in the end zone for a safety. The play gave Georgia a 50-41 lead.
Michna finished 23 of 36 for 259 yards and 54 TDs.