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Brigade Drop Another Nail Biter, 45-42 To Colorado Crush

April 27, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


KANSAS CITY - When they last met, just four points separated division rivals Kansas City and Colorado. This time, three points was the margin, but unfortunately the result was the same for the Brigade. Missed opportunities continued to plague the team in a 45-42 loss in front of 11,246 at Kemper Arena Friday night.

At 4-4 halfway through the season, the Brigade travels to Philadelphia next Saturday, May 5 to play the Soul - another team that in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Kansas City does not play another Central Division opponent until June.

Looking at an early 7-0 deficit, Jerel Myers broke free on the kickoff return prior the Brigade's first series, setting up Kansas City's offense at the Colorado 21-yard line. When several short passes failed to push the Brigade into the end zone while in scoring position, Philyaw handed off to Dawan Moss to even the score with 7:29 left in the opening quarter.

Colorado continued the exchange with another scoring drive, despite solid defense from Denario Smalls, who tipped out of bounds what would have been a touchdown pass.

On the Brigade's second kickoff return, the team found itself with yet another short field, this time thanks to the services of Ironman of the Game Charles Frederick, who put the Brigade on the Colorado 18-yard line. Frederick also finished the drive, scoring on a wide open pass from Philyaw to keep up with the Crush, 14-14 early in the second quarter.

Frederick and Myers took turns all night giving the Brigade stellar field position off of 198 combined return yards - 115 from Frederick and 83 from Myers.

Needing a score before half, Philyaw found Frederick for two quick passes to drive the Brigade to the Colorado 12-yard line. A defensive holding call against the Crush gave the Brigade an automatic first down at the two-yard line as the one-minute warning approached. Two plays later, Moss rushed around the left side for his second score of the game.

Myers' contributions were not limited to the return game, as he continued to prove a reliable threat in the Brigade passing game. He reeled in two-straight first down catches on one Brigade drive, his second a show stopper. Myers stretched out his arm to pull in a one-handed grab moments before crashing into the wall.

Grit would prevail over flair on the drive, however, as Moss would power his way into the end zone yet again - his third trip of the game - and put the Brigade ahead for the first time at 28-24 early in the third quarter.

Pressure continued to mount against the Crush and it came in the form of Isaiah Trufant who provided sticky defense on three straight plays - two deflections (one that drew and offensive pass interference call) and a punishing tackle on a Colorado receiver, one of his eight stops on the night.

Colorado responded with a touchdown to go up 31-28, but it was Frederick's turn to shine on the Brigade's ensuing kickoff return. Once he received the ball he sidestepped his defender and jolted for a 45-yard return to put the Brigade immediately in scoring position. Only Colorado's kicker prevented a return for a touchdown.

The Brigade kept it on the ground with four straight rushes in the red zone but none crossed the goal line. Trailing by three with 5:04 left in the third, the one positive that came out of the drive was that the next Crush possession began in their own end zone.

Trufant continued to shine at the safety position as he began the drive with a deflection on a long pass, one of an astounding eight pass breakups on the night. The Brigade then got after Colorado quarterback John Dutton, sending him to the turf and regaining the possession they just lost after the Crush missed a long field goal - a crucial development in such a tight game.

Plenty of gas remained in Moss' tank as he continued to grind out first downs for the Brigade. However, one play later the Crush offense would return to the field following a Philyaw interception. The Colorado defender tipped the pass and pivoted to retrieve the ball in a sour turn of events for the Brigade.

Ten points stood between the Brigade and a winning record at the season's half. With time winding down in the fourth quarter, Kansas City could not catch a break as a penalty nullified a Frederick touchdown run and a fumble gave the ball back to Colorado with more than half of the quarter already elapsed.

If the first half was an offensive chess match, the Brigade defense made the second half a battle when they forced the Crush into another long field goal that missed and was returned by Kansas City.

Needing two scores, Philyaw took to the air and found Boo Williams for his first touchdown catch of the night that put the Brigade within a field goal at 38-35 with 2:28 left in the game. Colorado's next touchdown at the one-minute warning would prove decisive as a late Philyaw touchdown to Williams was not enough to bridge the gap between their division foes.

Philyaw finished the game with 224 yards passing and two touchdowns after completing 22-of-37 pass attempts. Frederick and Williams led the way for the Brigade receiving corps, reeling in nine receptions for 99 yards and a score and eight catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, respectively.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2007


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