Crushed Rush loses Philyaw for 2-4 weeks

Avengers 71, Rush 35

After a 7-2 start, the Rush was poised for its best season in theArena Football League. Things have changed fast, however.

On Sunday the Rush suffered the worst loss in its four-yearhistory -- a 71-35 beating from the Los Angeles Avengers -- before13,927 at Allstate Arena. And that wasn't all.

Raymond Philyaw, the fourth-ranked quarterback in the 19-team AFL,suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee. Raj Khanna, the teamphysician, said Philyaw would be out 2-4 weeks. That jeopardizes theRush's playoff chances. Only five games remain in the regular season.

Philyaw went down on the key play of the game. The Rush (7-4) wastrailing 27-21 midway through the second quarter when Al Lucas hitPhilyaw on a pass rush. Philyaw's hurried throw was intercepted byJason Moore and returned 35 yards for a touchdown.

It freaked me out because [a knee injury] never happened to mebefore," Philyaw said. I hope it's not anything bad, and that I cancome back in a couple weeks."

Until the injury, Philyaw had completed 11 of 13 passes for 103yards and two touchdowns. The interception was only his fourth in 280pass attempts this season.

Chad Salisbury, who had appeared in only three games -- the lastof which was on March 21 -- replaced Philyaw and was called forintentional grounding on his first play. That gave the Avengers (7-4) a safety, and they promptly turned the game into a runaway.

The next time Salisbury touched the ball the Rush was down 57-21midway through the third quarter. The Rush surrendered 37 second-quarter points and 50 in the first half, both franchise records. The36-point loss was also the club's worst, eclipsing a 58-30 drubbingagainst Indiana in 2001.

Tony Graziani, the Los Angeles quarterback, threw eight touchdownpasses, four to Chris Jackson. Joe Douglass, an offensive spark forthe Rush in 2001 and 2002, caught another amongst his five receptionsfor 48 yards. Graziani entered the game as the AFL's second-rankedquarterback. He was 19-for-25 without an interception and has beenintercepted only once in 230 attempts this season.

Rush coach Mike Hohensee said Salisbury will take over untilPhilyaw is healthy. Salisbury was 11-of-17 for 110 yards and twotouchdowns on Sunday.