Kats Drop Third Straight, Lose 57-35 to Colorado
May 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The Nashville Kats (4-7, 1-4) were defeated 57-35 the Colorado Crush (7-4, 4-2) in front of 7,029 Friday night at the Nashville Arena. Kats FB Dan Alexander scored his AFL-high 29th rushing touchdown of the season and QB Jeff Smoker threw four touchdown passes. Colorado swept the game honors as QB John Dutton was named Offensive Player of the Game (259 yds, six TDs), DL Dustin Barno Defensive Player of the Game (two sacks) and FB/LB Robert Redd Ironman of the Game. The loss pushed the Kats to 1-5 all-time vs. the Crush, dropping both contests of 2007
The roses were flowing in the Nashville Arena as the Kats were in observance of Mother's Day passing them out to mothers as they entered the Arena. Unfortunately for the Kats, roses weren't the only thing flowing as the Crush fresh off their battle with the Chicago Rush on Monday, hung 13 quick first quarter points on the Kats. Crush WR Brad Pyatt scored first on a 14-yard pass from John Dutton before Dutton scored the team's second touchdown on a called two-yard run off of the left side. Early in the second quarter, Crush WR Damian Harrell continued his march into the record books by catching a touchdown for the 76th game in a row when he scored on a four-yard catch making the score 20-0 Crush. Not giving in, Nashville responded with a big 47-yard return by WR Demetris Bendross who was just activated off of the team's injured reserve list. Two plays later, The Kats got their first touchdown of the night when Jeff Smoker found WR Kenny Higgins in the end zone f or a nine-yard touchdown making the score 27-7 Crush. After the Crush scored on a 30-yard field goal, Bendross again electrified the Nashville Arena this time on a 49-yard kickoff return in which the Kats capped off with a three-yard touchdown burst up the middle by Dan Alexander, making the score 30-14 Colorado at the half.
After deferring until the second-half, Nashville promptly took advantage of the their new momentum and scored quickly on a two-play drive when Smoker connected with WR Maurice Brown for a 35-yard pass and catch closing the score to 30-21. Not taking long to respond, it was a familiar face that found it his way into the end zone when former Kat WR Alonzo Nix, who was just waived by the Kats weeks ago, scored on a 23-yard touchdown. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff by Bendross proved detrimental to the Kats as Colorado capitalized with a 22-yard touchdown from Dutton to Harrell. Kenny Higgins' second touchdown of the night made the score 44-28 at the end of the third quarter.
After being held to three yards on three plays, Colorado again had to settle for a field goal, this one of 30-yards. After a 29-yard return by Bendross, Smoker threw his fourth touchdown of the night, connecting on a 27-yard pass to make the score 47-35 Colorado early in the fourth quarter. Late plays by the Crush and missed opportunities by the Kats in the end were too much for the Kats to overcome, eventually losing 57-35.
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