WEEK 3 RECAPS FRIDAY, APRIL 23 CHICAGO RUSH 63, Utah Blaze 40 (Attendance: 7,459) Chicago - The Chicago Rush charged past the Utah Blaze in Week 4 play, defeating the Blaze by 23 points. This is only the second time in team history the Rush have started the season with a record of 4-0; they also started the 2004 season 4-0 and went on to finish with an 11-5 record and a trip to the semifinals. Utah took the lead early, when QB Brett Elliot found his favorite receiver WR Aaron Boone in the end zone for a four yard score. It was the only time the Blaze would lead in the game. Chicago was quick to strike back just a minute later when QB Russ Michna found WR Samie Parker for a score to tie it up at 7. Chicago's staunch defense would play an integral role in putting more points on the board throughout the game, but especially in the next possession. FB Clifton Smith sacked Elliot for his league-leading third sack of the season, and went on the block a field goal attempt as Utah struggled to move the ball on fourth down. Chicago regained possession, and it was Smith who rushed a score in just minutes later to give the Rush a 14-7 lead. Chicago made it a 21-7 game in the second quarter when Michna found WR Nichiren Flowers open. Flowers would make 9 catches on the night for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Nygel Rogers made his presence known in the second when he nabbed his league-leading fifth interception of the season. The Rush went into halftime leading 28-14, and continued to hold off the Blaze the rest of the second half. Utah never got within 18 of the Rush. Michna threw 22-of-31 for a season-high 330 yards. Michna now leads the league in total offensive yards (1,148) as well as total passing yards (1,121). Elliot went 31-of-44 for 316 yards and five touchdowns. ARIZONA RATTLERS 77, Tulsa Talons 76 (Attendance: 10,083) Phoenix - It was a knock-down, drag out fight between the Rattlers and the Talons last weekend, with the Rattlers pulling away with a one-point victory in the final seconds of the game. The Talons were the first to score in the game when QB Justin Allgood found WR Jeff Hughley open to take a 7-0 lead. Arizona was quick to tie it up, however, when Anthony Mix made the Spalding Highlight of the Game catcha one-handed grab in the end zone after bulldozing through two defenders. Arizona took a three point lead soon after with a field goal by K Jason Witczak, but the Talons responded with a touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. Allgood found WR Donovan Morgan open in what would be one of Morgan's nine catches on the evening. The scoring continued back and forth through the first half. The halftime score proved to be an indicator of what was to come, as the Rattlers went into the break up only by two, 36-34. Both teams managed two scores in the third, and despite the Talons' four touchdowns in the fourth, the Rattlers managed to outscore Tulsa when it mattered for the win. WR Ron Windsor was huge for Arizona. He grabbed 16 catches for 230 yards and six of QB Nick Davila's 8 touchdowns. It was Windsor's catch and run down the sidelines that sealed the deal for the Rattlers, scoring the winning touchdown as the clock struck 00:00. Windsor also rushed in two touchdowns. Allgood finished the evening with 29-of-40 passes completed for 350 yards and 10 touchdowns. Davila went 30-for-42 for 413 yards and eight touchdowns. Both quarterbacks were intercepted once. SATURDAY, APRIL 24 IOWA BARNSTORMERS 68, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz 60 (Attendance: 8,312) Des Moines - The Iowa Barnstormers pulled out their first victory of the season, defeating the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz by eight in Iowa. Oklahoma City was the first to score on the night, but Iowa was quick to respond with a score of their own. A few mistakes early in the game proved to be costly for the Yard Dawgz, including an Iowa touchdown that was the result of a fumbled kick-off return in the end zone by Yard Dawgz' Craig Fulton, Jr. Iowa outscored the Yard Dawgz in the second quarter, kicked off by a quick score from QB Ryan Vena to WR Jesse Schmidt. Oklahoma City's Al Hunt returned the favor soon after, and their defense stepped it up on the next possession to sack Vena and score one of two defensive touchdowns on the night. Oklahoma City lead the Barnstormers, 31-27, going into the half. The second defensive touchdown came in the third, when the Yard Dawgz' QB Tommy Grady was sacked and fumbled the ball, resulting in an Iowa defensive score. Oklahoma City sat ahead of the Barnstormers by a mere four points heading into the 4th quarter, and it proved to not be enough of a cushion against the Iowa offense. Iowa scored back-to-back touchdowns to start off the final quarter of the game, taking the lead for good. Vena managed two rushing touchdowns in addition to a passing score when he found Schmidt open for Schmidt's third touchdown of the night. Overall, Vena threw 17-for-30 for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Grady threw 31-for-44 with one interception for 383 yards and six scores. Schmidt lead the Barnstormers with seven catches for 141 yards and three scores. Oklahoma City's leading receiver was Xavier Lee with nine for 117 yards. SUNDAY, April 25 MILWAUKEE IRON 72, Tampa Bay Storm 61 (Attendance: 4,049) Milwaukee - Milwaukee remained one of two undefeated teams in the league this weekend when they toppled the legendary Tampa Bay Storm in Milwaukee. All three of Milwaukee's victories have been by double digits. It was a high scoring, offensive game for both teams. Milwaukee was the first to strike, but the scoring was even all through the first quarter. The second quarter began with the two foes tied at 14, but Milwaukee pulled ahead 21-14 off a pass from QB Chris Greisen to WR Damian Harrell. It was the second of Harrell's nine total catches on the night, including his 1,000th career catch in the third quarter. Tampa Bay QB Brett Dietz found WR Cleannord Saintil to tie the game at 21, but Tyre Young runs in another score for Milwaukee minutes later. Milwaukee would score one more touchdown in the first half while in addition to a field goal, while the Storm would score two more touchdowns to give them a 34-31 lead at halftime. Tampa Bay scored almost immediately in the third for a 10 point lead, a daunting challenge the Iron were willing to tackle. Milwaukee managed to pull ahead by four 45-41 in the third, but the Dietz-to-Saintil connection was made again to put the Storm up 48-45. Milwaukee pulled ahead by 11 points early in the fourth and were threatened by the Storm, who managed to get as close as five points. But Greisen continued to shine as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, finding WR Nate Forse for a score to pull ahead 12 and never look back. Greisen threw 26-of-41 for 270 yards and seven touchdowns. Dietz also threw for seven touchdowns, but was intercepted twice. He made 21 completions on 34 attempts. Saintil ended the evening with nine catches for 128 yards and four touchdowns. *HOME TEAM LISTED IN CAPS
