Crush earn tenth win with 75-54 victory over Orlando

Published on April 30, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release


DENVER- The Colorado Crush (10-4) moved one step closer to claiming home field advantage throughout the AFL playoffs with a 75-54 win over Orlando (9-5) snapping the Predators five game win streak. Colorado, who clinched their second straight Central Division title with Nashville's loss yesterday, now needs one victory in either of their final two regular season games or a San Jose loss to secure home field advantage in the playoffs.

Offensive Player of the Game, Colorado offensive specialist, Damian Harrell set or tied multiple AFL and career marks on the night helping lift the Crush to their 10th victory of the season. It is the third consecutive year in which Colorado has posted 10 or more victories in a season.

Harrell established a new career-high with 15 receptions for 172 yards and a career-high tying five touchdowns. His five scores on the night gives him 51 total touchdowns on the season tying the AFL single-season record for most touchdowns. Harrell also broke the league mark for receiving touchdowns in a single-season of 46 touchdowns. His 172 receiving yards for the game moves his career total to 10,137 receiving yards, as he becomes only the sixth player in AFL history to surpass the 10,000 receiving yard mark.

The game began with both quarterbacks throwing interceptions on their first drives. Colorados John Dutton and Orlando's Joe Hamilton would settle in though with big first halves, combining for seven touchdowns.

Colorado made the game's first score when Damian Harrell hauled in his AFL record setting 47th receiving touchdown of the season on a six-yard pass from Dutton. Orlando would answer with one play to bring the score to seven-all when Hamilton found Jimmy Fryzel on a 45-yard pass. Both teams exchanged scores the rest of the first quarter, and Colorado held a 21-14 advantage after one period.

The Crush defense forced their second stop of the game on Orlando's first drive of the second quarter when Predator kicker Jay Taylor missed a 22-yard field goal attempt. Colorado quickly seized the opportunity as Dutton hit Andy McCullough on a one-play 30-yard touchdown pass. Crush kicker Clay Rush would miss the ensuing PAT attempt leaving the score, 27-14, Colorado. The miss was Rush's first in his last 50 attempts, which was the longest streak in the AFL since 2004. Each team would score two more times before the halftime break with the final touchdown coming on a two-yard pass from Dutton to Harrell with two seconds showing on the clock giving the Crush a 41-28 lead after two quarters of play.

Both teams scored on their opening drives of the second half, before Hamilton threw his second interception of the game on Orlando's second possession. Defensive Player of the Game Rashad Floyd hauled in the Hamilton miscue and returned it 15 yards for a score to put the Crush up 54-35.

Colorado built their largest lead of the game of 27 points, 75-48, with 8:32 remaining in the game when Dutton threw his career-high tying ninth touchdown pass to McCullough on a nine-yard strike. Dutton finished the game passing for 345 yards on 29-of-39 throws with nine touchdowns and one interception. Orlando would tack on one more score on a two-yard catch by Doug Miller from Predator back-up QB Jake Eaton, as the Crush took the 75-54 win.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 30, 2006


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