Crush lose unlucky number 13 to Rush 65-52

Saturday April 26, 2008

DENVER, Colo. - For the second year in a row the Chicago Rush (7-2) was able to secure a season sweep of the Colorado Crush (3-5) with a 65-52 win at Pepsi Center Friday night.

Rush WR Damian Harrell made his presence felt in his return to Denver as the AFL’s all-time leader in touchdowns added two to his resume to go along with 72 yards on eight catches. Harrell spent five seasons in Colorado before being picked up by the Rush in the off-season via free agency and his return only added to one of the league’s best rivalries.

“I thought he played well,” Crush head coach Mike Dailey said. “He did his job and so did the Rush, they are a great team and will go far this season.”

Harrell’s relatively quiet night was overshadowed on the Crush bench as his replacement, Crush WR Ben Nelson was a game-time scratch. Nelson was hampered by a nagging leg injury suffered in last week’s loss at Kansas City saw only a few plays on offense and did not record a reception in the game.

His replacement WR Chad Owens however, made the decision not to play Nelson look like a smart move. Owens, in his first action at receiver ever in the AFL, took a handoff from QB John Dutton in from four yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the season to start the scoring at 6:30 in the first quarter. Owens looked encouraging with a game high 115 yards on 12 catches for two touchdowns.

The rush would answer with a FB John Moyer rushing touchdown of their own on their ensuing drive ending the first quarter at 7-7. Early on the game seemed poised to be a back and forth affair between the two bitter division rivals, but then Crush head coach Mike Dailey took a chance and went for an onside kick with a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Chicago’s DB DeJuan Alfonzo recovered the Clay Rush onside attempt 11 yards for the game tying touchdown, which proved to be the turning point in the game. Rush would miss a 53-yard attempt on the Crush’s next possession leaving Chicago plenty of time to orchestrate an eight play scoring drive to end the first half with the lead 28-21.

Chicago’s final two scores of the first half and their first two of the second equated to 28 unanswered points that the Crush were unable to overcome. The Crush were able to cut the lead to two scores mid way through the fourth quarter on a 23-yard touchdown from Dutton to WR Willie Quinnie at 46-59, but that would be as close as they would get.

Dutton finished the night 28-of-47 for 331 yards and seven touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions; numbers 11 and 12 on the season. His counterpart Chicago QB Russ Michna was solid in his fourth win as a starter this season. Michna threw for 280 yards and six touchdowns on 24-of-35.

The Rush has now won five straight against their Central Division rival, and lead the overall series 9-4. The Crush will host the Grand Rapids Rampage next Friday at Pepsi Center as the Rush will travel to Tampa Bay next week to take on the Storm.