Crush Win Season Opener
March 2, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
DENVER- The Columbus Destroyers seemed to bring the cold with them to Denver on Sunday as the Crush played host to the defending National Conference Champions at Pepsi Center.
A typical early March snow storm blanketed the Front Range with several inches of snow this morning, which luckily for fans these teams play indoors.
The receiving trio of Brad Pyatt, Willie Quinnie, and Ben Nelson combined for 22 catches, 247 yards and 6 touchdowns and they proved to be the x-factor that gave the Colorado Crush (1-0) a 50-47 victory over the Columbus Destroyers (0-1) Saturday at Pepsi Center in an Arena Football League game.
Nelson had 9 catches for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the way for the Crush in the victory. It was the first game for Nelson in a Crush uniform after signing as a free agent in the off-season.
"I have all the faith in the world in Brad and Quinnie," Nelson said. "We all dropped some balls today but now we know where we can improve."
Pyatt finished with 4 catches for 67 yards for the Crush and Destroyers receiver Derek Lee had a solid performance in a day that saw receivers dominate the contest. Lee had a game-high 11 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns in a losing effort for Columbus.
"All those guys looked really good today," Crush quarterback John Dutton said. "This was only one game though and we have a long way to go."
The quality of play from the receiving corps was something the Crush was hoping for after the departure of star receiver Damian Harrell to the Chicago Rush via free agency.
"We needed those guys to step up and they did," Crush head coach Mike Dailey said.
The game started out slowly with each team's defense getting a stop on the first two possessions of the game. Colorado kicker Clay Rush and Columbus kicker Mark Lewis both missed field goal attempts on their first possession.
The two teams would exchange touchdowns the rest of the way, with Quinnie, Nelson reeling in touchdowns for the Crush and Lee catching touchdowns for the Destroyers. The only drives that didn't end in touchdowns for either team after the opening possessions of the game was a drive that ended in an interception by Columbus defensive back Sidney Haugabrook in the second quarter that stalled a Crush drive and a second missed field goal by Lewis in the fourth quarter that would ultimately proved to be the difference in the final score.
"Obviously, this is only one game but I thought both teams did some things well and then some things not so well," Dailey said. "We are trying a lot of different things with the new rules so we will see how we develop through the season."
Crush defensive back Rashad Floyd, who finished with 6 tackles in the game, said it was the performance of he receiving corps that brought the Crush their first win of the season.
"I am really comfortable with the corps of receivers we have and they proved it today," Floyd said. "Those guys really made a difference today and they are going to have to for the rest of the season,"
The Crush has their bye week next week before heading to Dallas to face off against quarterback Clint Dolezel and the Desperados.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 2, 2008
- Crush Win Season Opener - Colorado Crush
- Destroyers Fall To Colorado Crush 50-47 In Season Opener - Columbus Destroyers
- The OurSports Central Interview: Philadelphia Soul radio announcer Ari Wolfe - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Rattlers Edge Blaze In Season Opener, 63-62 - Utah Blaze
- Rattlers Burst Out Of Gate With Win - Arizona Rattlers
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