ROSEMONT, IL-C.C. Cage caught three touchdown passes to help the Milwaukee Mustangs gallop past the Chicago Rush, 34-20 in their AFL season opener.
Milwaukee was forced to punt on its inital possession, but a pinpoint coffin corner kick placed the ball on the Rush's own 5 yard line. On Chicago's first offensive play, QB Arman Drummond was sacked in the end zone by Mustangs DE Cecil Hyde for a safety and a 2-0 Milwaukee lead with 10:18 to go in the first quarter. After Milwaukee was forced to punt again, Chicago drove 37 yards on 4 plays, with Dete Justin kicking a 39-yard field goal with 6:05 left in the first to take a 3-2 lead.
Milwaukee punted again, and the Rush drove 78 yards on 9 plays, ending it with a 2-yard touchdown run by FB Ward Despain to extend the Rush lead to 10-2 with 14:14 left in the second quarter. The teams then traded punts, then the Mustangs moved the ball 59 yards on 9 plays, and QB JC George connected with Cage for an 18-yard touchdown. Milwaukee went for two and made it, to tie the game at 10-10 with 5:21 remaining in the half. Chicago punted on its next possession, and the Mustangs moved down the field again, going 69 yards on 8 plays. K Rock Philbrook made a 27-yard field goal with 46 seconds left to go up 13-10. Chicago quickly moved down the field and had a chance to tie with a Justin 40-yard attempt with 5 seconds remaining. The kick went wide, and the half ended.
The Mustangs got a big break to start the third quarter, and took advantage when George hit Cage for a 6-yard touchdown to put Milwaukee up 20-10 barely a minute into the third quarter. The Rush would respond, and Justin would connect on a 51-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 20-13 with 12:14 to go in the third. Milwaukee responded with a quick drive of their own, however, as George connected with HB Chester Brice for a 25-yard touchdown pass with 10:20 to go in the third to make it 27-13, Mustangs. The Rush would respond with a 7-play, 67-yard drive that culminated with a Despain touchdown run from the 1 to make it 27-20 with 6:41 remaining in the third. After both teams traded punts, Milwaukee scored again with another George-to-Cage connection, this one from 23 yards to make it 34-20 with 48 seconds left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was fairly uneventful, save for three different attempts by the Rush to make a fourth down conversion, and failing, and a blocked field goal by the Mustangs that Philbrook fell on at the Chicago 24.
Milwaukee gained 384 yards of total offense. The Mustangs gained 99 yards rushing, led by Brice's 51 yards on 10 carries. George went 21-for-28 for 300 yards and 4 TD. He was sacked 5 times, losing 40 yards. Cage was the Mustangs' leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 125 yards and 3 TD. Brice's TD reception was one of five catches he caught for 55 yards.
Chicago gained 361 yards of total offense. The Rush gained 132 rushing yards, with Lonnie Clements gaining 81 yards on 12 carries. Despain had 3 carries for 2 yards and 2 TD. Drummond went 25-for-39 for 267 yards. He was sacked 6 times, losing 38 yards. Marty Margerum was Chicago's leading receiver, catching 6 passes for 46 yards.
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