CLEVELAND—For their final game of the 2012 season the Rush (10-8) surely didn’t mail it in, but felt a sting in the final seconds as they lost to the Cleveland Gladiators (8-10) 60-54 at Quicken Loans Arena Saturday night.
A flurry of touchdowns in the final minute set up Cleveland’s final possession with nine seconds left in the game. With the score tied at 54, the Gladiators passed on a 40-yard field goal attempt to toss up a hail mary. Matt Bassuener’s pass sailed high, but bounced off the end zone rebound net and into the outstretched hand of Dominick Goodman for the winning touchdown.At least that was called by another questionable group of Officials.
“A heck of a play by a heck of a player,” stated head coach Bob McMillen regarding the final play, “Our guys fought throughout the night, but this is a memory we’re all going to have to use as motivation heading into 2013. I wish next season started next week because I believe in every single guy on this team.”
Luke Drone appeared to have the Rush primed to close out the game for their 11th win when they took over at the Cleveland 4-yard line with a minute left. Up 47-46, the Rush decided to try and burn time off the last minute of the game when Russell Monk purposely fell at the 1-yard line on second down. The haunting reality of the choice stung them two plays later when Luke Drone threw a fourth down pass into the chest of Levy Brown who returned it 52-yards for a go-ahead touchdown.
Redeeming himself on the following drive, Drone launched a towering 38-yard pass into the hands of Reggie Gray for a touchdown with nine seconds to go. It tied the game at 54, but left enough time for Cleveland to materialize the last second win.
Cleveland’s defense began the game by shutting out the Rush in the first quarter on the back of Drone’s first mistake. Driving inside the Gladiator ten-yard line he was hurried and rushed a throw that was intercepted by Lenny Wicks. Storming back after the misfortune the Rush used Jorrick Calvin’s tenth interception of the year to climb aboard the scoreboard for the first time. Semaj Moody’s ability to get the most out of his 70” frame to grab an interception a series later propelled Chicago to a 13-7 lead when ReggieGray brought in a 21-yard touchdown pass a play later.
The advantage by the Rush through two quarters brought a third quarter change in quarterback for Cleveland as Matt Bassuener replaced John Dutton who only completed 45% of his passes and tossed two interceptions. Gladiator head coach Steve Thonn was proved to be shrewd with the move because Bassuener led Cleveland to a touchdown drive on his first offensive series and never turned the ball over in the remaining thirty minutes. From the outset of the second half through the end of the game he threw for 169 yards and 3touchdowns.
Injuries began to pile up after half as Chicago lost starting wide receivers Terrance Turner and Jared Perry for the remainder of the contest. Rotating a number of spots on offense and special teams pressured jack linebacker Kelvin Morris into emergency receiving duty and threw Gray into most of the high motion routes. Despite the spirited performances, including Kelvin Morris who took a fourth down pitch from Drone 25-yards for a score to give Chicago a lead late in fourth, they weren’t enough to land a win.
Carlese Franklin led the Gladiators in receiving with 9 catches for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. Right behind him was Robert Redd who finished with 8 catches for 91 yards and touchdown, but came through more impressively on a fourth quarter 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to tie the game at 40.
Drone finished the game 20-29 for 311 yards, 4 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing scores. Six Rush players caught a pass from him as Marquis Hamilton led all by mounting 5 grabs for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Gray completed a historic 2012 by catching his 47th and 48th touchdowns on the year. His stats tonight leave him with a final line of 140 catches, 1,937 yards and 52 total touchdowns.
Moody led the Rush in tackles with 10.
Tonight marked the sixth straight game in which the Rush defense didn’t record a sack.
The last second loss wraps the 2012 season for the Rush as they earn second place in the National Central Division with a 10-8 record. The ten wins leave them on the outside looking in as the AFL playoffs begin next week.