D'Orazio carries Rush to title

Posted: Sun Jun 11 7:39 PM

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Matt D'Orazio threw six touchdowns and ran for two more as the Chicago Rush upset the Orlando Predators, 69-61, to win ArenaBowl XX at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Bobby Sippio caught 10 passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns while Etu Molden hauled in two touchdown passes for the Rush, who have won a team-record six-straight games. D'Orazio finished the day 26-of-36 for 250 yards without an interception for Chicago, which won its first Arena Football League title.

Joe Hamilton completed 23-of-35 passes for 291 yards and six scores, but he was intercepted once and sacked twice for Orlando, which made its seventh appearance in the ArenaBowl. Javarus Dudley caught 10 passes for 117 yards and four scores while Jimmy Fryzel had 10 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown for the Predators.

Chicago had lost in the conference finals in each of the past two seasons before defeating the San Jose SaberCats to capture the American Conference crown. The Rush had to win three-consecutive road games to advance to the ArenaBowl.

The Rush jumped out in front early, taking a 10-0 lead into the second quarter. D'Orazio scampered in from one-yard out to highlight the low-scoring opening frame.

Orlando took a short-lived lead early in the second quarter, but an eight-yard touchdown grab by Sippio and a 51-yard field goal on the last play of the first half by Dan Frantz helped give Chicago a 34-28 lead at the break.

The Rush extended that lead in the third quarter thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by D'Orazio and a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dennison Robinson to build a 48-28 advantage.

Charlie Davidson's 29-yard touchdown grab with 13 seconds left in regulation pulled Orlando within eight, but Chicago recovered the onside kick and D'Orazio ran out the clock to secure the championship for the Rush.