MILWAUKEE—The 2010 Rush season came to an end Saturday night in Milwaukee, as the Rush fell to the Milwaukee Iron 64-54 in the opening round of the Arena Football League playoffs.Ultimately, it was a collection of injuries down the stretch that was the downfall of a team that ended the season losing four of its last five games.

“We just didn’t have the healthy bodies on the field to compete tonight against an opponent that I feel is very capable of winning the ArenaBowl,” said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. “We were so banged up – especially on the offensive line – that we just couldn’t give our quarterback enough time to make things happen.Despite the way things ended, I really enjoyed coaching this team. The players worked hard all season and were a joy to be around. I would have liked to have seen how things would have turned out if we had been completely healthy.”

Despite its injuries, the Rush (10-7) looked like it had seized the momentum in the game when defensive back Josh Ferguson intercepted a Chris Greisen pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Rush a 27-20 lead with 11:27 remaining in the first half.However, the Rush could not capitalize on the momentum from Ferguson’s big play.After Milwaukee (12-5) scored to tie the game at 27-27, Rush QB J.J. Raterink, who was under intense pressure all night long, was forced to scramble out of the pocket. He was hit from behind and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Iron.Two plays later, Greisen hit Damian Harrell for the first of Harrell’s five touchdowns of the night to put the Iron back up seven, 34-27.Raterink (25-42, 295 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT) brought the Rush right back, connecting with Syvelle Newton on a 13-yard score. However, Chris Gould’s second missed extra point of the game made the score 34-33 with 57 seconds left in the half.After a failed onsides kick attempt gave the Iron the ball with excellent field position, Greisen connected with Harrell again, making the score 41-33.The Rush got the ball with enough time to make a drive of its own, but the Iron defensive pressure was too much for the Rush to overcome, eventually forcing a turnover on downs with two seconds left in the half.The Iron used those two seconds to go up two scores for the first time in the game, as kicker Bob Forstrom connected on a 19-yard field goal that sent the two teams into the locker rooms with the score 44-33.Milwaukee’s momentum carried over to the second half, when Iron DB Carlton Brown intercepted a pass in the Milwaukee end zone.The Iron capitalized again, as Greisen hooked up with Harrell to put Milwaukee up 18, 51-33.However, the Rush kept fighting. After cutting the lead to ten, 64-54 with 4:52 remaining, Ferguson came up big again, forcing an Iron fumble at the Rush 10-yard line that was recovered by the Rush who marched down the field, moving to the Milwaukee 3-yard line. However, the Rush could not punch it into the end zone, ultimately turning the ball over when Raterink fumbled on the goal line trying to score on fourth-and-goal.The Iron took over and ran the clock out to secure the victory.