Crush Steamrolls Rampage, 73-48
April 9, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
Defensive specialist Rashad Floyd intercepted three passes and forced a fumble that Ahmad Hawkins returned 23 yards for a touchdown to lead the Colorado Crush to a 73-48 rout of the Grand Rapids Rampage at the Van Andel Arena on Saturday night.
All three of Floyd's interceptions came in the Colorado end zone, with one in each of the game's first three quarters. Floyd's interceptions helped the Crush open the game with four consecutive defensive stops. Colorado, meanwhile, scored on each of its first six possessions and had 42 points by halftime.
Floyd's interception hat trick came just a week after he picked off two passes in a 77-47 win over the Nashville Kats. That effort earned him the league's Defensive Player of the Week plaudits for Week 10.
"This is Crush football, physically coming out every week and getting better, and that's what we want to do coming into the postseason," Floyd told KHOW-AM 630.
Colorado took a 35-0 second-quarter lead before Grand Rapids finally lit its half of the scoreboard on an 11-yard scoring pass from Ryan Van Dyke to Timon Marshall just 57 seconds before halftime. The Rampage offense fared much better in the second half, but could never narrow the deficit to anything less than 21 points.
"Right after the big win against Nashville (seven days earlier), we said we had to come out and play the same way against Grand Rapids," wide receiver/defensive back Willis Marshall told KHOW-AM 630. "I think we did that."
Colorado scored on offense, defense and special teams. Marshall returned a second-quarter kickoff 54 yards for a score, Hawkins scored on the fumble recovery and Colorado's offense accounted for eight scores -- five on John Dutton passes and three more on the ground.
Marshall ripped off a 25-yard run on a second-quarter fake field goal, helping the Crush set a franchise record with 69 rushing yards. Hawkins, John Peaua and Saul Patu all had rushing touchdowns in the win.
Colorado improved to 8-3 and finished the season with a 5-1 mark in Central Division games. Grand Rapids dropped to 3-8.
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- Crush Steamrolls Rampage, 73-48 - Colorado Crush
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