Crush defeat Rattlers, 54-46
March 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER -- The Colorado Crush opened the second half with a barrage of 20 consecutive points, turning an 11-point halftime deficit into a lead they never relinquished in defeating the Arizona Rattlers 54-46 in front of 14,514 at the Pepsi Center on Saturday night.
Colorado improved to 6-2 with the win and maintained their pace in the playoff race. The Rattlers dropped to 3-5 with the loss; it is their worst record after eight games since their expansion season of 1992.
In the final 30 minutes, Colorado dominated the action, scoring touchdowns on their first four offensive possessions and adding two more scores on a rebound-net recovery by Rashad Floyd and a Kevin McKenzie interception return. Colorado quarterback John Dutton accounted for all of the second-half offensive touchdowns, flinging three scoring passes to Damian Harrell and running 2 yards for the Crush's final touchdown of the evening.
Dutton completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns, including three to Harrell, who was selected as the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game based on his 7-catch, 109-yard performance. Rashad Floyd held up the defense for the Crush, intercepting a first-quarter pass and forcing a fumble. Floyd also scored the touchdown that put the Crush in front for good, recovering a kickoff that bounced off the rebound net and jaunting into the end zone 2:37 after halftime.
Arizona bolted to a 24-13 halftime lead thanks to a 17-0 run in the second quarter during which the Rattlers stopped the Crush twice on a Hamin Milligan interception and a failed 20-yard field-goal attempt by Brenner. But the Rattlers' offense foundered following intermission, as two of their first three second-half drives ended without a point.
The Rattlers' offense rallied for touchdowns on its final two possessions, but a pair of failed on-side kickoffs allowed the Crush to escape with the win. The eight-point margin of victory was not only the largest ever for the Crush at home, but exceeded the combined win margin of the franchise's previous three home triumphs, which were by a collective four points.
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