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Colorado Crush game notes

May 26, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Colorado Crush (10-5) vs. Chicago Rush (11-4)
Date: May 30, 2004
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. MT
Site: Pepsi Center (capacity 18,063)
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire),
Jim Hatfield (Head Linesman), David Chesney (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)
Television: NBC (KUSA Ch.9 in Denver)
Radio: AM 760 The Zone
(Marc Stout – play-by-play, David Diaz-Infante – analyst)
Series Record: Chicago leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 22, 2004 (Wk 3): CHICAGO 65, Crush 35
Coaches: Mike Dailey (73-51 in 8th year, 10-5 w/ Colorado)
Mike Hohensee (84-75 in 1st year, 37-27 w/Chicago)

ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the third meeting between the two teams, and the second in Denver. The Rush won the first two meetings by a combined 48 points, including a 65-35 win in Chicago in Week 3 (2/22). In that game the Crush committed three turnovers and allowed six rushing touchdowns to the Rush.

RADIO/TV COVERAGE: The game will be regionally televised by NBC and broadcast on AM 760 The Zone (KKZN) and online at www.760thezone.com/listen with Marc Stout handling play-by-play duties and former NFL lineman David Diaz-Infante serving as color commentator.

Practice Schedule
Wednesday, May 26
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Practice at Crush Facility

Thursday, May 27
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pepsi Center

Friday, May 28
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pepsi Center

Saturday, May 29
10:00-10:45 a.m. Walkthrough at Events Center

Sunday, May 30
2:00 p.m. Crush vs. Chicago
at Pepsi Center
Colorado Crush
Date Opponent Time/Score Record
Fri, 2/6 LAS VEGAS W 43-42 1-0
Sat, 2/14 @ Grand Rapids W 55-37 2-0
Sun, 2/22 @ Chicago L 35-65 2-1
Fri, 2/27 AUSTIN W 37-35 3-1
Thu, 3/4 DETROIT W 62-61 4-1
Sun, 3/14 @ San Jose L 55-35 4-2
Sun, 3/21 @ Philadelphia W 40-33 5-2
Sat, 3/27 ARIZONA W 54-46 6-2
Sat, 4/3 INDIANA L 42-45 (OT) 6-3
Sat, 4/10 @ Los Angeles W 57-55 7-3
Sun, 4/18 @ New York L 49-52 7-4
Fri, 4/23 GRAND RAPIDS W 69-30 8-4
Sat, 5/1 PHILADELPHIA W 58-40 9-4
5/8-5/9 Bye Week
Sun, 5/16 @ Indiana L 56-59 9-5
Sun, 5/23 @ Detroit W 45-42 10-5
Sun, 5/30 CHICAGO 2 p.m.
(All times Mountain)






DRIVE TO ARENABOWL XVIII:
Team W L T Pct
1. h-San Jose* 11 4 0 .733
2. h-Chicago* 11 4 0 .733
3. p-Arizona 10 5 0 .667
4. p-New Orleans* 10 5 0 .667
5. p-CRUSH 10 5 0 .667
6. Los Angeles 9 6 0 .600
7. Orlando 9 6 0 .600
8. Tampa Bay 8 7 0 .533
New York* 8 7 0 .533
Austin 8 7 0 .533
===========================
Indiana 8 8 0 .500
Las Vegas 7 8 0 .467
Columbus 6 9 0 .400
Georgia 6 9 0 .400
Carolina 6 9 0 .400
Dallas 6 9 0 .400
Philadelphia 5 10 0 .333
Detroit 4 11 0 .267
Grand Rapids 1 14 0 .067
p-Clinched playoff berth h-Clinched 1st round home game
*-Current division leader (standings show current seeds)
Mike Dailey (73-51 in 8th year, 10-5 in 1st w/ Colo.):
Dailey became the Crush's second head coach on June 26, 2003. Dailey joined the Crush after seven seasons as head coach of the Indiana Firebirds, and his teams have compiled an overall record of 73-51, a winning percentage of .589. He is seventh on the AFL's all-time list for coaching wins. In 1999 Dailey led the Firebirds to their only ArenaBowl championship and a combined regular season/playoff record of 14-3, best in Firebirds history. He was named AFL Coach of the Year following that standout campaign. He joined the Firebirds prior to the 1992 season, spending five seasons as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 1997. Dailey began his Arena Football coaching career with the Washington Commandos where he served as offensive/defensive line coach. Prior to the AFL, Dailey worked as an assistant coach at Towson State University and was the Offensive Coordinator at Montgomery College-Rockville (MD).


All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Rk Coach Team Wins This Week
1. Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 166 at Dallas
2. Danny White Arizona 138 at San Jose
3. Perry Moss 86
4. Mike Hohensee Chicago 84 at Colorado
5. Michael Trigg Philadelphia 78 at New York
6. Mike Dailey Crush 73 vs. Chicago
John Gregory 73
8. Darren Arbet San Jose 70 vs. Arizona


Mike Hohensee (84-75 in 11th year, 37-27 in 4th w/ Chi):
In his 11th season as a head coach in the Arena Football League. Hohensee was hired as the first coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000. Also served as the head coach of the Washington Commandos (1990), Albany Firebirds (1994-96), Anaheim Piranhas (1997) and New England SeaWolves (1999-2000). He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Chicago Bruisers in 1989, becoming the first former AFL player to join the league as a coach. He quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Gladiators 1987-88 and played in the first ArenaBowl.
8 has a regular-season record of 79-68 (including a
35-24 mark with the Rush) ... has a career 5-7 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to four-consecutive playoff berths and 2002 and 2004 Central Division titles
8 is 2-0 against the Crush franchise.
8 became the sixth head coach in AFL history to achieve 70 career wins (postseason wins included) ... his 70th win was April 13, 2003, at Colorado (76-58).

LEADERS OF THE PACK: Crush players who rank in the Top 10 in the AFL entering Week 17:
Colorado Crush
Player Rank Category Stat
Anthony Brenner 6th Scoring (Kickers) 123
John Dutton 1st3rd4th4th5thT-5thT-6th8th8th9th Fumble RecoveriesPassing Yards% INT / Pass AttemptPass AttemptsPass CompletionsInterceptionsPassing TDsQB Pass RatingYards/AttemptCompletion % 83,9291.4506323770116.57.7663.8
Rashad Floyd 1st1st1st3rdT-6thT-6th TacklesSolo TacklesTackles for LossInterceptionsFumble RecoveriesPass Breakups 114.5995.56418
Damian Harrell 2nd3rd3rd3rd3rd5th First DownsReceiving YardsYds fr ScrimmageScoring (non-Kick)3rd Down ReceptionsReceptions 941,6351,63524619110
Ahmad Hawkins 7th Solo Tackles 73.5
Willis Marshall T-1st9th 3rd-and-1 rush %Missed FG Return Yds 100.080
Kevin McKenzie T-8th Interceptions 4
Saul Patu T-8th Tackles for Loss 3.0
(Top 5 in Bold)

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Crush and the Rush stack up (through Week 16): (Top 5 in bold)
Statistical COLORADO CHICAGO
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Points per Game 11th 49.1 4th 53.3
Points Allowed 5th 46.5 2nd 44.7
Total Offense 5th 275.6 17th 248.7
Pass Offense 4th 260.5 18th 216.0
Rushing Offense 15th 15.1 3rd 32.7
Total Defense 11th 266.8 3rd 250.7
Pass Defense 16th 251.3 3rd 223.7
Rushing Defense 3rd 15.5 16th 27.0
Kickoff Return Avg. 19th 15.7 9th 18.0
Opp. KO Return Avg. 2nd 16.1 9th 17.9
Field Goal % 16th .355 2nd .632
Turnover Margin 4th +13 1st +15
Avg. Yds per Play 6th 6.6 8th 6.4
Opp. Avg Yds/Play 6th 6.1 4th 5.9
1st Downs/ Game 10th 18.8 8th 19.4
Opp. 1st Dwns/Game 19th 20.1 T-9th 19.1
3rd Down Efficiency 17th 42.7 1st 58.8
Opp. 3rd Down Eff. 15th 52.1 18th 56.2
4th Down Efficiency T-10th 50.0 8th 53.3
Opp. 4th Down Eff. 8th 48.0 T-9th 50.0
TD% Inside the 10 18th 65.2 1st 87.0
Opp. TD% Inside the 10 9th 75.3 T-15th 77.8

COLORADO CRUSH NEXT WEEK
The Crush know they are in the playoffs, they just don't know when or where. They can clinch a quarterfinal home game with a victory AND a loss by either Arizona or New Orleans; OR with an Orlando loss AND a loss by either Ariz. or N. Orleans.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
OS Damian Harrell: Now in his sixth AFL season, Harrell has amassed 6,851 receiving yards on 483 catches, an average of 14.18 yards/catch, along with 146 career touchdowns (1 on return) ... Has second-most receiving yards in the AFL since 2000 ... Ranks 2nd in AFL in first downs (94), 3rd in receiving yards (1,635), scoring (non-kickers) with 246 points on 41 touchdowns and third-down receptions (19), and 5th in receptions (110) ... Leads the Crush in catches and receiving yds ... Has a TD catch in 32 straight games, including all 29 games as a member of the Crush (longest active streak in AFL)... Has been named Offensive Player of the Game 7 times in 15 games ... Reached 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth straight season ... Has eight 100-yd receiving games this season, including six of last nine games ... Has caught 3+ touchdowns in a game 10 times this season ... 1st season with 100+ receptions.

QB John Dutton: The former ArenaBowl MVP (XVI w/ SJ) has completed 323-of-506 passes (63.8%) for 3,929 yards, 70 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions... Three times named Offensive Player of the Game ... Threw for a season-high 333 yards vs. Indiana on 4/3... Surpassed 10,000 career passing yards at Indiana on 5/16 ... Ranks 3rd in AFL in passing yards, 4th in interceptions per attempt and pass attempts, 5th in completions, tied for 6th in TD passes, 8th in completion percentage and QB Rating... Has thrown for 300+ yards five times this season, including his last 2 games and 3 of his last 4.

WR/DB Kevin McKenzie: Twice named AFL Ironman of the Week (2, 10) ... Crush's second leading receiver with 82 catches for 982 yards and 13 TDs... Tied for 8th in the AFL in interceptions (4), tied for 13th in receptions ... Scored a TD rushing, receiving and on an interception return in a win @ GR (Ironman of the Week)... He has been named Ironman of the Game in 7 of 15 games ... Caught 6 passes for 133 yards vs. his former team at San Jose on 3/14 ... Has two interceptions returned for TDs (44, 9) ... Has two 100-yd receiving games ... Scored on a 4-yd net recovery on the opening kickoff vs. Philadelphia (5/1) ... Has scored TDs 4 different ways this season (rushing, receiving, Int. return and net recovery).

DS Rashad Floyd: Voted AFL Defensive Player of the Mid-Year by the AFLWA ... Named AFL Defensive Player of the Month for March ... Also Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 after 11.5 tackles, a forced/recovered fumble, an INT and a 4-yd. net recovery for a TD vs. Ari. ... Leads the league in tackles 114.5 and tackles for a loss (5.5) ... Also 3rd in interceptions (6), tied for 6th in fumble recoveries (4) and pass break-ups (18) ... Has been named Defensive Player of the Game in 7 of 15 games ... Made 2 interceptions in win at Phi. ... Returned a fumble 35 yds for a TD at NY on 4/18 ... Has two net recoveries for TDs ... On pace to tie AFL record for tackles in a season (121.5 by Cornelius Coe, Ind., 2001).

INJURY REPORT
Colorado Crush
Player Pos. Injury Status
Maurice Anderson OL/DL Right Knee on IR (1/27)
Chad Dukes FB/LB Sprained left ankle on IR (4/8)
Nate Jacquet WR/DB Rt. Achilles' Rupture on IR (2/2)
Derrick Pickens OL/DL Right Shoulder on IR (1/30)
Tony Scott WR/DB Strained rt. quadriceps On IR (5/21)
Thal Woods WR/DB Hamstring On IR (5/14)

RECENT CRUSH TRANSACTIONS
Date Transaction
5/21/04 Signed WR/DB Touré Carter to the active roster from the practice squad. Placed WR/DB Tony Scott (strained rt. quadriceps) on injured reserve.
5/19/04 Signed OL/DL Brian Creel to the practice squad.
5/14/04 Activated FB/LB Rich Young (sprained rt. shoulder) and WR/DB Tony Scott (strained rt. quadriceps) from injured reserve list; placed WR/DB Thal Woods on injured reserve (hamstring).
5/12/04 Signed WR/DB Touré Carter to the practice squad.
5/11/04 Placed OL/DL Patrick Downey on reserve/retired list
5/4/04 Grand Rapids signed OL/DL Tyshaun Whitson off of the Crush practice squad.
5/3/04 Waived QB Pete Gonzalez from the practice squad.
4/22/04 Placed FB/LB Rich Young on injured reserve (sprained rt. shoulder); Activated FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko from injured reserve (sprained lt. shoulder); Signed OL/DL Tyshaun Whitson to the practice squad.
4/20/04 Placed OL/DL Tyshaun Whitson on recallable waivers.
4/16/04 Placed WR/DB Tony Scott (strained rt. Quadriceps) on injured reserve. Signed WR/DB Thal Woods and OL/DL Tyshaun Whitson from the practice squad to the active roster.
4/8/04 Placed FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko (sprained lt. shoulder) and FB/LB Chad Dukes (sprained lt. ankle) on injured reserve. Activated FB/LB John Peaua (Lt. knee MCL sprain) and OL/DL Bryant Shaw (Lt. knee MCL sprain) from the injured reserve list.
4/6/04 Activated WR/DB Kamau Peterson from injured reserve (hamstring) and placed him on waivers.
3/26/04 Placed WR/DB Kamau Peterson on injured reserve (hamstring). Activated WR/DB Robert Redd from injured reserve (influenza).
3/16/04 Activated WR/DB Wade Davis from injured reserve and waived him.
3/12/04 Signed OL/DL Aaron Johnson. Placed OL/DL Patrick Downey (groin strain) and WR/DB Robert Redd (flu) on injured reserve. Activated WR/DB Kamau Peterson (left ribs) and WR/DB Tony Scott (foot sprain) from injured reserve.
3/10/04 Waived OL/DL Winfield Garnett.
3/9/04 Placed OL/DL Bryant Shaw on injured reserve (left knee MCL sprain). Activated OL/DL Winfield Garnett from the refused to report list.
2/26/04 Activated WR/DB Dwayne Stukes from the injured list (left Quadriceps strain).
2/24/04 Placed WR/DB Ron Rogers on waivers.

MILESTONES & RECORDS
Coach Mike Dailey: A win over Chicago would move Coach Dailey past former Iowa/New York & Carolina coach John Gregory alone at sixth on the AFL's all-time list. Including the playoffs, Dailey is currently 73-51. Gregory was 73-56.

OL/DL Kyle Moore-Brown: A true AFL Ironman, he is in his 10th season in the league and has never missed a game. The game vs. Chicago will mark his 155th consecutive start. The first 139 all came with the Firebirds organization before he signed with the Crush this past offseason.

DS Rashad Floyd: Leads the league in tackles with 114.5, 21.5 ahead of second place - Indiana's Anthony Derricks with 93.0 ... At his current pace, Floyd will finish with 121.5 to tie the AFL single-season record ... He already has the second highest single-season total in AFL history.
AFL Record - Most Tackle in a Season
Player Team Year Total
Cornelius Coe IND 2001 121.5
Rashad Floyd COL 2004 114.5*
Damon Mason ORL 2000 108.0
Damon Mason ORL 1999 103.0
Damon Mason ORL 2001 101.0
* indicates still has 1 game remaining


OS Damian Harrell: Has caught a TD pass in 32 straight games, including all 29 games as a member of the Crush ... That streak is the longest active streak of consecutive games scoring a TD and consecutive games with a TD reception ... The mark is the third longest streak of consecutive games with a TD reception in AFL history ... It is also the fifth longest streak of consecutive games with a TD ... Harrell's streak began with the Toronto Phantoms vs. Carolina on 7/4/02 ... Ironically, Chris Jackson's consecutive TD streak (2nd all-time), was snapped by the Crush, at LA during Week 15 of the Crush's inaugural season (5/10/03).
AFL Consecutive Games with a TD Reception
Year (Week)
Player (team) Stk began Stk ended # Games
Eddie Brown (Alb/Ind) 1997 (Wk 3) 2000 (Wk 1) 41
Eddie Brown (Ind) 1994 (Wk 1) 1996 (Wk 14) 33
Damian Harrell (Tor/Col) 2002 (Wk 12) --- 32
Chris Jackson (LA) 2000 (Wk 1) 2002 (Wk 7) 28

AFL Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown
Year (Week)
Player (team) Stk began Stk ended # Games
Eddie Brown (Alb/Ind) 1997 (Wk 3) 2002 (Wk 3) 65
Chris Jackson (LA) 2000 (Wk 1) 2003 (Wk 14) 47
Barry Wagner (Orl) 1992 (Wk 10) 1996 (Wk 11) 43
Eddie Brown (Ind) 1994 (Wk 1) 1996 (Wk 14) 33
Damian Harrell (Tor/Col) 2002 (Wk 12) --- 32

More Harrell Marks: Harrell also has the second-most receiving yards in the AFL since 2000 ... Made 450th career receptions during win over Grand Rapids on 4/23 ... Set Crush single-game records with 13 receptions for 208 receiving yds at Det., besting his own record of 176 set vs. Gr. Rapids on 4/23.

AFL Receiving Leaders (2000-04)
Catches – Receiving Yards
Player (team) 2000-03 2004 Total
Chris Jackson (LA) 355 – 4,992 111 – 1,657 466 – 6,649
Damian Harrell (COL) 348 – 4,851 110 – 1,635 458 – 6,486
Greg Hopkins (LA) 400 – 4,888 63 – 704 463 – 5,592
Mike Horacek (IND) 363 – 4,735 36 – 513 399 – 5,248


Three Amigos
In their first season together, Damian Harrell, Kevin McKenzie and Willis Marshall have been instrumental in the Crush turnaround and have quickly formed one of the most prolific receiving corps in the Arena Football League. As a threesome, Harrell, McKenzie and Marshall rank 1st in the league in receiving yards (3,373), receptions (269) and tied for 4th in receiving touchdowns (64).
Here is how the Crush trio compares to the rest of the league:
Trio Leaders – Receiving Yards
Receivers Team Games Rec Yds
Harrell, McKenzie, Marshall COL 15 3,373
Shelley, Pettis, Sippio DAL 15 3,348
Nash, Bonner, Blalock LV 15 3,243
Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins LA 15 3,207
Solomon, Samuels, Toliver TB 15 2,770

Trio Leaders - Receptions
Receivers Team Games Recepts
Nash, Bonner, Blalock LV 15 276
Harrell, McKenzie, Marshall COL 15 269
Shelley, Pettis, Sippio DAL 15 256
Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins LA 15 240
Solomon, Samuels, Toliver TB 15 224

Trio Leaders – Receiving Touchdowns
Receivers Team Games Rec TDs
Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins LA 15 74
Shelley, Pettis, Sippio DAL 15 69
Nash, Bonner, Blalock LV 15 65
Harrell, McKenzie, Marshall COL 15 64
Hundon, Roe, Coleman SJ 15 61



FB/LB Chad Dukes ranks fifth on the AFL's all-time rushing list with 1,111 yards. Dukes was the fourth player in AFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in his career. Currently on IR, Dukes trails Chicago's Bob McMillen by 18 yards for 4th place.
AFL Career Rushing Yards
Player Team 2004 Career
Les Barley — — 1,382
Andre Bowden TAM 5 1,199
Bo Kelly ARI 143 1,206
Bob McMillen CHI 265 1,129
Chad Dukes COL 85 1,111


DESTINATION UNKNOWN
Although the Crush have clinched a playoff spot, their seeding and opponent are still up in there entering the final week of the season. The Crush can clinch a quarterfinal home game with a victory AND a loss by either Arizona or New Orleans; OR with an Orlando loss AND a loss by either Arizona or New Orleans. If the playoffs started today, the Crush would be fifth and play at New Orleans. Playoffs start Sat. and Sun., June 5 and 6 on NBC.

8 IS GREAT, BUT 9 WOULD BE DEVINE
The Crush set a new record for the biggest turnaround in AFL history (playing at least 10 games), with +8 wins over the previous season. The 10-5 Crush finished 2-14 in their inaugural 2003 campaign. The Chicago Bruisers also won +8 games in 1988, finishing 10-1-1, but played only 6 games in 1987 as they finished 2-4. The New Jersey (now Las Vegas) Gladiators improved from 2-12 in 2001 to post a 9-5 mark in 2002 and the Detroit Fury turned a 1-13 season in 2002 into an 8-8 record and playoff berth in 2003.

HANDS OFF
After allowing 14 sacks last season (12 on Dutton), the Crush pass protection has been stellar this season. The team has allowed just four sacks through 15 games, and none since Week 6 at San Jose (3/14). Entering the game vs. Chicago, the Crush have not allowed a sack in their last 411 offensive plays (includes FG attempts as Dutton is holder). Crush quarterbacks last season combined to throw 24 picks to 86 touchdowns. With the extra time, Dutton has decreased his interception total from 19 last season, to just seven through 15 games, and the team has thrown 71 TDs (Robert Redd completed 1 to Dutton). Last season, 4.1 % of Crush passes were intercepted. This season that percentage is down to just 1.4.

TAKEAWAY
The Crush defense has been active in forcing turnovers. When they have a positive turnover margin the team is 7-1. Only three teams have forced more turnovers than the Crush's 29. The Crush also rank fourth in the league in turnover margin at +13 and only two teams have forced more fumbles (16).

KEEPAWAY
The Crush have also limited their own mistakes. They have thrown just seven interceptions, only Chicago and L.A. have thrown fewer (4 each). In fact, the Crush are tied for the fourth fewest turnovers in the league (16). Last season the Crush committed 46 turnovers while forcing just 20. This season they have committed 16 and have already taken away 29.

ODDS NOT EVENS
Although the Crush have averaged more points in the second and fourth quarters than the first and third, it is the odd numbered quarters coming out of the locker room that have made the difference in the Crush turnaround this season. The Crush have held opponents to less than 9 points per quarter in the 1st (8.7) and 3rd (8.9), and have outscored them by a total of 69 points in those quarters. The Crush however, have been outscored in both the 2nd and 4th quarters by a total of 26 points.


STREAK FREE
After a 2-14 inaugural campaign, the Crush managed to make it through the entire 2004 season without losing consecutive games. On the otherhand, the Crush have won consecutive games four times (with a chance for a fifth Sunday). They have never won three in-a-row however. Four times the Crush followed a Win 2, Lose 1 pattern. With a win, they will close the season with 2 wins.

DON'T I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE?
A few current Crush players were also teammates in college. Here are some of those faces that are familiar to one another.
Virginia – Ahmad Hawkins, Dwayne Stukes, Maurice Anderson
Ball State – Sunungura Rusununguko & Aaron Johnson
Nevada – John Dutton & John Peaua


FLOCK OF FIREBIRDS
With Coach Dailey's move to the Crush came a flock of former Albany and Indiana Firebirds migrated west to Denver. In all seven Crush players and three Crush coaches stopped in either Albany, Indiana or both before reaching the Rockies.

Former Firebirds (years with Firebirds)
Players Coaches
Jose Davis (2003) Mike Dailey (1992-2003)
Chad Dukes (1996-98) Ernesto Purnsley (1997-98, 2000-03)
Hugh Hunter (2002-03) Brian Partlow (2000-03)
Aaron Johnson (2001-03)
Kyle Moore-Brown (1995-03)
Sunungura Rusununguko (2002-03)
Rich Young (2002-03)


NEW BLOOD
In addition to a new coaching staff, the Crush features a revamped roster. Only five players from last year's inaugural season made the 2004 opening day roster.
Returning 2003 Players
John Dutton Saul Patu Ahmad Hawkins
Damian Harrell Bryant Shaw

CALL TO THE HALL
Legendary Denver Broncos QB and Crush co-owner and CEO John Elway was among four players named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2004. Elway is the winningest quarterback in NFL history (148-82-1) and led the Broncos to five Super Bowls, including championships in his final two seasons. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII. He will be inducted to the Hall in Canton, Ohio on August 8, 2004.

BAILEY BRENNER FUND
Club Crush, the official fan club of the Crush, has established a fund to raise money for the medical expenses for kicker Anthony Brenner's special needs daughter, Bailey. To contribute to the fund, make checks payable to Bailey Brenner and send to: Guaranty National Bank and Trust, Attn: Miracle Ford, 1331 17th St., Denver, CO 80202. For more information about Club Crush, log on to www.clubcrush.com.


CRUSH NOTABLES
THE STAKES: A Crush win would ...
· Give the Crush a home playoff game (if coupled with an Arizona or New Orleans loss).
· Improve the Crush record to 11-5
· Mark the biggest turnaround in AFL history at +8 wins:
(+8 wins by Chicago Bruisers, 2-4 in 1987, 10-1-1 in 1988)
· Move Coach Dailey alone into 6th on AFL's all-time win list at 74 (currently tied for 6th with John Gregory).
· Improve them to 7-1 at home
· Give the Crush their first-ever win over Chicago.
· Give the Crush a split of the season series with Chicago.
· Give the Crush their 5th two-game winning streak.
· Allow the Crush to finish the season tied with Chicago atop the Central Division (Chicago wins division record tiebreaker).

Team
· The Crush are 7-1 in games with a positive margin and 0-3 with a negative margin.
· The Crush have not allowed a sack since Week 6 @ San Jose (3/14). Entering the game vs. Chicago, the Crush have not allowed a sack in their last 411 offensive plays (includes FG attempts as Dutton is holder).
· 10 times the Crush have held their opponent without a sack. No Crush opponent has had multiple sacks.
· The Crush finished 0-8 at home last season. They have started the 2004 season 6-1 at Pepsi Center.
· Strange but true – The Crush are 6-2 when they commit more penalties than their opponent and are also 5-1 when they have less total yards that their opponent.
· The Crush are 2-4 on Sundays and 8-1 on all other days.
· They have been shutout in a quarter only twice all year.
· The Crush have been outscored in the 2nd and 4th quarters this season, but have outscored opponents by 69 points in the 1st and 3rd quarters.
· The Crush have not committed a turnover the last 2 games.
· The Crush held the Fury to an opponent low -8 yards rushing (-2 by Aus., 2/27).
· The Crush have not allowed a rushing TD in six games this season, including the last two straight.
· The game at Detroit was the first game the Crush failed to force a turnover since 4/10 @ Los Angeles.

Individual
· Coach Dailey (73-51) needs one Crush win to pass former Iowa/New York head coach John Gregory (73-56) for sole possession of sixth on the AFL's all-time win list.
· Rashad Floyd (114.5) needs 7.5 tackles to break the AFL's single-season record (Cornelius Coe, Ind., 121.5, 2001). Floyd moved into 2nd on the single-season list at Detroit, passing Damon Mason (Orl., 108.0, 2000) .
· The game at Detroit will mark the 155th straight start for Kyle Moore-Brown – every game in his 10-year career.
· John Dutton (316) had his 5th 300-yd passing game of the season at Det., and the third in four games.
· Dutton needs 71 yards to reach 4,000 passing for the season.
· Kevin McKenzie needs 18 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season.
· Damian Harrell set franchise records with 13 catches and 208 yards at Detroit on 5/23. The reception record was 11 (4 times). Harrell held the previous yardage mark - 176 vs. GR, 4/23)
· Damian Harrell has caught a TD pass in 32 straight games, including all 29 career games with the Crush (3rd longest streak in AFL history).
· A TD catch vs. Chicago would move Harrell into a tie for the 2nd longest streak of consecutive games with a TD reception at 33 (Eddie Brown, Ind. 1994-96), and tie him for 4th longest streak of scoring a TD in consecutive games (any type).




AWARDS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 vs. Las Vegas Damian Harrell (COL))
2 @ Gr. Rapids John Dutton (COL)
3 @ Chicago Raymond Philyaw (CHI)
4 vs. Austin John Dutton (COL)
5 vs. Detroit Damian Harrell (COL)
6 @ San Jose Mark Grieb (SJ)
7 @ Philadelphia Damian Harrell (COL)
8 vs. Arizona Damian Harrell (COL)
9 vs. Indiana Anthony Hines (IND)
10 @ Los Angeles Damian Harrell (COL)
11 @ New York Aaron Garcia (NY)
12 vs. Gr. Rapids Damian Harrell (COL)
13 vs. Philadelphia John Dutton (COL)
15 @ Indiana Adrian McPherson (IND)
16 @ Detroit Damian Harrell (COL)
AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

IRONMAN OF WEEK:
Kevin McKenzie (Week 2)
Kevin McKenzie (Week 10)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK:
Rashad Floyd (Wk 8)


AFL MONTHY AWARD WINNERS:

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF MONTH:
Rashad Floyd (March)


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 vs. Las Vegas Ahmad Hawkins (COL)
2 @ Gr. Rapids Rashad Floyd (COL)
3 @ Chicago John Moyer (CHI)
4 vs. Austin Rashad Floyd (COL)
5 vs. Detroit Willis Marshall (COL)
6 @ San Jose Joe Jacobs (SJ)
7 @ Philadelphia Rashad Floyd (COL)
8 vs. Arizona Rashad Floyd (COL)
9 vs. Indiana Rashad Floyd (COL)
10 @ Los Angeles Rich Young (COL)
11 @ New York Donvetis Franklin (NY)
12 vs. Gr. Rapids Rashad Floyd (COL)
13 vs. Philadelphia Rashad Floyd (COL)
15 @ Indiana Delvin Hughley (IND)
16 @ Detroit Hugh Hunter (COL)

IRONMAN OF THE GAME (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 vs. Las Vegas Kevin McKenzie (COL)
2 @ Gr. Rapids Kevin McKenzie (COL)
3 @ Chicago Jamie McGourty (CHI)
4 vs. Austin Kevin McKenzie (COL)
5 vs. Detroit Willis Marshall (COL)
6 @ San Jose Rashied Davis (SJ)
7 @ Philadelphia Chris Ryan (PHI)
8 vs. Arizona Kevin McKenzie (COL)
9 vs. Indiana Kevin McKenzie (COL)
10 @ Los Angeles Kevin McKenzie (COL)
11 @ New York Lincoln DuPree (NY)
12 vs. Gr. Rapids Willis Marshall (COL)
13 vs. Philadelphia Kevin McKenzie (COL)
15 @ Indiana Jordan Younger (IND)
16 @ Detroit Ron Carpenter (DET)



FIRST MEETING: WEEK 3 · CHICAGO 65, COLORADO 35
ALLSTATE ARENA · ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS · Attendance: 15,406
AWARDS: OFF- RAYMOND PHILYAW (CHI) · DEF- JOHN MOYER (CHI) · IRONMAN- JAMIE McGOURTY (CHI)

CHICAGO -- Colorado's unbeaten start crashed to a halt inside the Allstate Arena, as the Central Division rivals Chicago Rush dealt the Crush a humbling 65-35 defeat on Sunday afternoon. The win allowed the Rush to sustain its undefeated start, moving to 3-0. Colorado dropped to 2-1.

The Rush jumped out to a 14-0 lead and the Crush narrowed the deficit to one touchdown three times -- at 14-7, 21-14 and 28-21 before things fell apart for Colorado. Following his third touchdown pass of the day, Crush QB John Dutton's next 12 passes fell incomplete. Two were intercepted.

The Crush finally stopped Chicago's 24-0 second-half run when Robert Redd returned a kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown with 6:07 left in the contest. The score was Colorado's first since a Dutton connected with Damian Harrell with 12:15 remaining in the third quarter.

Dutton finished the afternoon 16-of-34 for 175 yards and four scores. Three went to Harrell, who tallied five catches for 41 yards during the game. Kevin McKenzie led the Crush in receiving yardage, hauling in five catches for 75 yards and Dutton's other touchdown pass.

The Crush's defense also struggled, allowing Chicago to score points on all 10 of its offensive possessions -- nine touchdowns and a field goal. The only two times that Chicago did not score after touching the ball came on a missed field-goal return at the end of the first half and on a fumbled interception return early in the fourth quarter.

Chicago converted on four of seven third-down tries and on both of their fourth-down attempts. The Crush, meanwhile, converted just one of four third-down plays and went 0-for-2 on fourth down. The Rush outgained the Crush 236 to 165, averaged nearly one more yard per play (5.4 to 4.5), controlled the football for 9:10 longer than the Crush and ran for 56 yards, far more than the Crush's final total of minus-3 yards on the ground.
(by Andrew Mason, Colorado Crush.com)

LAST GAME: WEEK 16 · COLORADO 45, DETROIT 42
May 23, 2004 · THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS · AUBURN HILLS, MICH. · Attendance: 5,614
AWARDS: OFF - DAMIAN HARRELL (COL) · DEF - HUGH HUNTER (COL) · IRONMAN - RON CARPENTER (DET)

DETROIT, Mich. -- All day long, whenever the Crush needed a big reception, they turned to offensive specialist Damian Harrell -- 13 times, in fact, for a franchise-record 208 yards. But with six seconds left, fourth-and-goal from the 10-yard-line and a five point deficit, the Crush turned in other direction for the play that was needed in order to clinch the first playoff spot in franchise history.

"The thinking was (that) whenever we need a big play, they usually try to cover Damian with a double team," wide receiver/defensive back Willis Marshall told KKZN-AM 760. "We ran him to one side of the field, and sure enough, they played Damian heavy."

That left Marshall in the clear, where he caught the pass that put the Crush into the postseason, a 10-yard score that clinched a 45-42 victory over the Detroit Fury.

For Marshall, the catch was more than just the game-winner. It was the chance to be the star in front of dozens of friends and family members, who drove from nearby Detroit to watch the hometown standout in action.

The victory put the Crush into a three-way tie for third place in the league behind San Jose and Chicago, both of which stand at 11-4. The Crush is joined at 10-5 by Arizona and New Orleans, which lost to Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Sitting one game back of the Crush are Los Angeles and Orlando, each of which is at 9-6.
(Andrew Mason, ColoradoCrush.com)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2004


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