Crush fall at home for first time this year
April 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER -- Clay Rush drilled a 20-yard field goal 7:31 into overtime to give the Indiana Firebirds (4-5) a 45-42 overtime win over the Colorado Crush (6-3) in front of 12,238 at the Pepsi Center on Saturday afternoon.
For Colorado, the defeat represented their first home setback in 2004. The Crush opened the season winning four consecutive home games. The game was also Indiana's fourth consecutive triumph since promoting assistant coach Mike Wilpolt to the head coach's slot in March.
The Crush stormed out to a strong start, grabbing a 14-0 lead on the strength of two John Dutton-to-Damian Harrell touchdown connections and a fourth-down stop midway through the first quarter. Indiana did not manage to finally tie the game until the third quarter, and could not take the lead until Adrian McPherson threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Hines with 1:38 remaining in regulation, giving the Firebirds a 42-35 lead.
Colorado rallied to force overtime, tying the score with 36 seconds remaining in regulation on the third Dutton-to-Harrell touchdown of the day. The Firebirds and Crush exchanged missed field goals in the fourth quarter's final seconds.
Indiana won the coin toss in overtime and elected to defer. The Crush drove inside the Indiana 10-yard-line on their possession, but the drive ended when Indiana's Brett Bech forced Colorado's Willis Marshall to fumble following a reception. Firebirds fullback/linebacker Leroy Thompson recovered the fumble at the Indiana 6-yard-line, allowing the Firebirds to begin what would become the game-winning drive.
Both Dutton and McPherson posted 300 yard games, throwing for 333 and 332 yards, respectively. Each quarterback also tossed five touchdown passes. Hines paced Indiana with 13 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns, while Harrell grabbed 11 passes for 167 yards and three scores to lead the Crush.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 3, 2004
- Crush fall at home for first time this year - Colorado Crush
- Crush Fall to Firebirds, 45-42 in OT - Colorado Crush
- Philadelphia Soul QB Todd Hammel nearing TD mark - Philadelphia Soul
- Firebirds Beat Crush in Overtime, 45-42 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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