Last second field goal ends Kats' streak, playoff hopes
May 13, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
Clay Rush hit a 30-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Colorado Crush to a 52-49 win over the Nashville Kats in a hard-fought game that ended the Kats' six-game unbeaten streak and any hope the team had of making the playoffs.
Nashville rallied from an eight-point deficit to tie the game at 49 all with just 16 seconds remaining on a two-yard TD run and a scoring run on the subsequent two-point conversion. But the Kats' quest to send the game to overtime evaporated when Crush quarterback John Dutton connected on two passes for 25 yards to set up Rush's winning kick.
Nashville's defense, which had been the spark for the team's undefeated streak of the last month and a half, had its hands full with the Crush, who scored on all but one possession in the game. Dutton was 31-for-40 for 349 yards, five scores and no INT's. Willis Marshall led Crush receivers with 11 grabs for 109 yards and a TD, and he also ran in a TD for Colorado, who now sits at 10-5 and headed to the playoffs. A win in their season finale next week or a loss by Chicago in either of their last two games will clinch the Central Division title for the Crush.
Colorado struck on their first possession, on an 11-yard TD pass from Dutton to Marshall. After Nashville tied the score on a two-yard scoring run by Levelle Brown, Dutton struck again on scoring tosses to Damian Harrell on back-to-back possessions to give the Crush a 21-7 edge.
The Kats cut the lead to seven on a one-yard run by Jarrick Hillery with :55 remaining in the half, then went to the bag of tricks and recovered an onsides kick to set up another TD run by Brown which tied the game with only :33 left. Colorado threatened to regain the lead before intermission, but Rush missed a short field goal attempt as time expired.
Nashville ran 6:11 off the clock in their first drive of the second half and took their first lead on a five-yard TD toss from Leon Murray to T.T. Toliver. The Kats scored on the drive, despite fumbling three times on the possession. The Crush struck back a few plays later on a 27-yard TD pass from Dutton to Kevin McKenzie. The third period ping-pong battle continued when Murray hit Jarrick Hillery for a 35-yard TD pass on the very next play to regain the lead for the Kats. Marshall then scored on a one-yard run on the last play of the quarter to tie the score at 35 a piece.
Colorado was the first to hold serve in the second half, forcing the Kats to turn the ball over on downs, and then taking advantage by scoring on a 29-yard strike from John Dutton to Kevin McKenzie on the next play that put the Crush on top. However, a 22-yard flea flicker pass from Jarrick Hillery to Joe Minucci got the Kats back to within one. Tony Dodson's PAT attempt was blocked.
Nashville has had two big plays called back due to penalties - an interception by Kahlil Carter and a TD pass from Leon Murray to T.T. Toliver.
Murray finished 23-of-30 for 259 yards, two TD's, and no interceptions. Darryl Hammond led all receivers with 12 receptions for 118 yards. Murray has now gone five consecutive games without being picked off.
The Kats finish the season at home next Sunday against the Chicago Rush. Kickoff time is 2 p.m. CT.
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