CLEVELAND -- Not only will the Rush miss
the playoffs for the first time in their 11-year Arena Football League
existence, they lost their final game of 2012 in preposterous fashion.
Wide receiver Dominic Goodman made a
30-yard catch off the net behind the end zone on the game's final play to give
the Gladiators their third touchdown in the final minute and a 60-54 win
Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Playing the ball expertly off the net,
Goodman wrestled it away from a Rush defender.
The Rush finish the season at 10-8.
Quarterback Luke Drone was 20-of-29 for 311
yards and four scores for the Rush, including a 38-yard strike to Reggie Gray
with nine seconds left to even the game at 54. Drone also rushed for two
touchdowns in his second straight start following a season-ending injury to
Russ Michna.
However, Drone also threw a terrible
interception to Levy Brown with 25 seconds left, resulting in a 52-yard return
for a score that allowed the Gladiators to take a 54-47 lead.
It appeared that the Rush would escape when
Cleveland's Carlos Ojeda clanked his extra-point attempt off the left upright
after Matt Bassuener hit Goodman with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds
remaining, then bounced his onsides kick out of bounds to give the Rush
possession at the Cleveland 4 with a 47-46 edge.
But the Rush couldn't run out the remaining
time and had to go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 3. Drone underthrew his pass
into the right corner of the end zone and Brown picked it off, setting into
motion a crazy and disappointing end to the season.
Extra innings: Larkin's 16-year-old
daughter, Cymber, sang the national anthem before Sunday's induction. ... When
Bruce Sutter was introduced as one of the 44 Hall of Famers on stage for the
ceremony, emcee Gary Thorne didn't reference his time with the Cubs, only the
Cardinals. ... While Larkin mentioned many of his former teammates in his
33-minute speech, he never mentioned Ken Griffey Jr., who goes on the ballot in
2016. ... The 2014 induction should be a big one for Chicago fans. The White
Sox's Frank Thomas and the Cubs' Greg Maddux will be on the ballot for the
first time. ... The 2013 induction is set for July 28. It was moved up a week
this season so it wouldn't overlap the start of the London Olympics.
gs. l s i �/O �I ng all five
batters in two appearances, left-hander Donnie Veal was optioned to Triple-A
Charlotte. ... Pitcher John Danks hopes to resume throwing off a mound soon
after reporting his left shoulder feels better after throwing from 120 feet.
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