Crush lose on final play to VooDoo
Published on March 30, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER, Colo. - Talk about pulling one out of the hat.
The New Orleans VooDoo (4-1) did just that on Sunday when they defeated the Colorado Crush (1-3) by a score of 54-51 on the game's final play at Pepsi Center.
VooDoo defensive back Lin-J Shell picked off Crush quarterback John Dutton's pass in the endzone as time expired.
"We played a good football team, but in the end, we were better," Shell, who was named Defensive Player of the Game, said. "I give those guys a lot of credit, but I knew I had to make a play so I made it."
The Crush found themselves trailing most of the game by three points as the teams went back and forth. Yet, it was New Orleans that found themselves down four with just over two minutes to play. Eating up 1:32 seconds on their final drive, the VooDoo scored and left the Crush with just 36 seconds to win the game, down 54-51.
"In the Arena Football, if you tell me our offense is going to have the ball down by three with 36 seconds left, I would say we are going to win the game," Floyd said.
The interception on the game's final play overshadowed an impressive performance from Dutton, who completed 28-of-46 passes for 232 yards and 7 touchdowns.
"It was just one of those things," Dutton said. "I really don't know what else to say other than we are not playing very good football right now and we need to right the ship."
Neither team had a defensive stop in the second half until Dutton's costly mistake on the game's final play. Shell was the only player within five yards of the throw and the pick sealed a big win for a VooDoo team that is already one win away from matching its entire win total from one season ago when the team went 5-11.
"They are a great football team and they won a close football game," Crush head coach Mike Dailey said. "I appreciate a great effort from our players but the name of the game is winning and we didn't do that."
VooDoo quarterback Danny Wimprine was named the Offensive Player of the Game as he threw for 314 yards and 6 touchdowns, 4 of which went to wide receiver James Jordan, on 26-of-44 passing with one interception. He also rushed for a score on three carries for two yards.
"We played a hard football game that went right down to the wire and we came out on top," Wimprine said. "We couldn't have asked for more from a game on the road."
The second quarter came to a close after each team did it's best to get the final possession of the half. Colorado had just scored after a 6 play, 45-yard drive that saw Crush receiver Ben Nelson reel in one of his 3 touchdowns on the day. With 48 seconds left, the VooDoo scored on a three second drive that appeared to be one where the Crush defense sat down to give the offense the ball back.
When the Crush did get the ball back, now down 27-24, they could not get a first down and kicker Clay Rush missed a 51-yard field goal. New Orleans kicker Alex Romero tried a 40-yard field goal two plays later and he also missed to close the first half.
The game's first big play came in the first quarter when Floyd intercepted a Wimprine pass on New Orleans second drive of the game. The VooDoo was leading 6-3 at that point. One the very next offensive play for the Crush, Dutton hooked up with wide receiver Willie Quinnie for a 22-yard score and the momentum appeared to be shifting in Colorado's favor. The games back and forth nature eventually did them on the game's final play
Crush defensive back Rashad Floyd, who finished with a game high 11.5 tackles and one interception, said he expects the Crush to be able to turn around a season that has seen the team lose three straight after winning their season opener.
"You keep saying you want to turn things around, but after awhile, it gets old just saying that, you have to go out and do it," Floyd said.
The game-clinching interception by Shell came after Dutton had fumbled the snap earlier in the drive that was recovered by Crush fullback Robert Thomas.
"I don't think it was nerves," Dutton said. "It's just the game of football. Sometimes the bounces go the other way."
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