Crush Lose at Home To Dragons; 73-65
June 3, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER, Colo.- On what was a historic passing night for Colorado Crush QB JOHN DUTTON, the result seemed to overshadow the achievement as the visiting New York Dragons filtered out of Pepsi Center with a 73-65 win.
Dutton became just the eighth quarterback in AFL history to surpass the 27,000 yard mark with his season-high 340 yards, eight touchdowns on 29-of-40 passing performance. He also moved passed Todd Hammel into seventh place all-time in career passing yards as he currently stands at 27,320 yards in nine seasons.
The accomplishment was soured early in the first quarter of the Crush (4-9), Dragons (7-6) inter-conference matchup as a turnover became a fitting bookend in what was another disappointing Colorado loss.
The Dragons took advantage of that early and another late Crush turnover to get a much needed win in front of 14,078 in Denver.
The Crush gave the Dragons their first added opportunity in the first quarter when FB/LB ROBERT THOMAS fumbled on their second drive of the game on the New York 10-yard line. Dragon's QB AARON GARCIA would quickly lead a five-play drive capped by a WR KERONN HENRY one-yard run. The points off the turnover gave the Dragons a 21-7 lead with 1:07 left in the first quarter.
The other side of the bookend was another late turnover in the fourth quarter, an ailment that has plagued the Crush all season. Crush QB JOHN DUTTON threw a jump ball for WR BEN NELSON deep in the end-zone that was picked off by Dragons DB BILLY PARKER and returned to the Crush 17-yard line, giving the Dragons another two touchdown lead late in the fourth.
A deficit the Crush was unable to fight back from.
"We are just not at the point where we can turn the ball over and hope to overcome late in ball games," Crush head coach Mike Dailey said. "It's been a similar situation in several of our games this season and we just have to find a way to work out of it."
As for the middle portion of the final Week 14 game of the season, the Crush looked impressive. Crush WR CHAD OWENS returned the first kickoff return for a touchdown this season for Colorado on the first play of the second half. The 56-yard return was the first in 78 tries this season and tied the ballgame at 38.
Owens finished his night with 10 receptions for 132 yards and five touchdowns, including the returned kick.
New York however, would answer score-for-score with the Crush as they converted on every possession of the game. Garcia's six touchdown of the game, a seven-yard pass to WR KEVIN SWAYNE on the first drive of the fourth quarter, poised the game for a momentum shift. Garcia finished the night 27-39 for 298 yards and seven touchdowns.
That shift came when on the very next possession the Crush gave away their second turnover of the game and their 26th of the season. Parker returned the Dutton interception 22 yards back to the New York 17-yard line. The mistake all but sealed the loss for the Crush.
Colorado would get within seven at 66-59 with over four and half minutes left, but were unable to convert the ensuing onside kick attempt. New York would recover on the Crush two-yard line and punch it in on a Garcia run the very next play going back up by 14, 73-59.
Dutton would find WR WILLIE QUINNIE from six-yards out with 38 seconds left in the fourth, but it proved not to be enough as Colorado missed on their final onside attempt and dropped to 4-9 on the season.
However the Crush have failed to overcome turnovers in games this year, they still have a fighting chance to make the playoffs with three games remaining, two of which are against divisional rivals.
NOTES:
2 IN A ROW
For the second time in as many weeks, Colorado Crush QB John Dutton found a wide open WR Chad Owens on the first play from scrimmage for the Crush. Last week against San Jose the two connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass. This week a 22-yarder was enough to get Colorado their first points.
5 and Done
With a five yard pass early in the second quarter, Colorado Crush QB John Dutton surpassed the 27,000 yard passing mark for his career. He becomes just the eighth quarterback in AFL history to reach that mark. The nine-year AFL veteran also surpassed Todd Hammel for seventh all-time with his performance tonight.
EIGHT PACK
McConnell got his eighth sack of the season which puts him into 3rd place in the AFL this season. He has already set the Crush single season record besting former DL Dustin Barno, who had six in 2006.
OWENS
Colorado Crush WR Chad Owens' 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to begin the second half was the first all season for the Crush. It was also the first of Owens' career and the first in 78 tries for the Crush this season.
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