Byline: Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News
It was hard to choose between sloppy, shoddy, dreadful, ugly, mediocre or all of the above to describe the first half of the Arena Football League game Sunday at the Pepsi Center between Colorado and Las Vegas.
The Crush, though, recovered from its slow start and rolled to a 61-40 victory against the Gladiators to improve to 7-2 and claim the best record in the AFL.
'It could have gotten real ugly early just with our three turnovers, but holding them to seven points in the first half was great,' Crush quarterback John Dutton said. 'We had some drops, I had some misreads and that was an unbelievable first half by two quarterbacks. It wasn't good, but we came back. Our defense won it for us.
'Now we're the No. 1 team in the whole league for the first time ever. We still have to keep going and get better in all phases.'
Colorado's Damian Harrell broke an AFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (42) and his two first-half touchdown receptions helped the Crush grab a 27-7 lead. He caught two more touchdown passes in the second half.
The teams combined for six turnovers in the first two quarters, three by each team. In the first six possessions of the game, there was only one touchdown, which is highly unusual in the high-scoring AFL.
Dutton threw only four interceptions in the first eight games but threw three in the first half against the Gladiators.
Las Vegas managed a touchdown on its first possession but failed to score on its next five, and Colorado turned three turnovers into 20 points. The Gladiators were called for seven penalties in the first half.
'We each had three turnovers apiece,' Las Vegas quarterback Clint Dolezel said. 'We couldn't take advantage when they turned it over, and when we turned it over, they took advantage of it.'
Dolezel, who tied an AFL record with 11 touchdown passes in Las Vegas' previous game, against San Jose, threw two of his three interceptions in the first half.
With Colorado leading 14-7, Ahmad Hawkins picked off a Dolezel pass at the Crush 1-yard line and returned it 31 yards to set up Dutton's 5-yard scoring pass to Harrell that staked Colorado to a 21-7 lead with 4 seconds remaining in the first half.
After a touchback on the kickoff, the Crush's Andy McCullough intercepted a Dolezel pass that bounced off the hands of fullback Rodney Filer and returned it 6 yards for a touchdown.
Clay Rush's extra-point attempt was blocked, but the Crush led by 20 at halftime.
'It was funny, because all the guys were saying, 'You always find a way to get a touchdown,' ' McCullough said. 'The last home game, I recovered the kickoff for a touchdown. I just try to contribute in any aspect of the game.
'Any time you can score back-to-back like we did was big because they were going to get the ball back at the start of the second half. That was a big play.'
Crush coach Mike Dailey agreed.
'It was sloppy play by both clubs in the first half,' he said. 'The good thing is, although we've had a couple games where we didn't start good, we don't seem to panic. It was a great play Andy McCullough made just before halftime to get the interception and take it in.'
Despite his three interceptions, Dutton finished the game with 192 yards passing and six touchdowns.
Harrell finished with five receptions while former Denver Broncos receiver Marcus Nash made nine catches, including four for touchdowns.
'Now we don't have to talk about (the record) anymore and we can keep on letting (the streak) grow,' Dutton said. 'He came through and had four touchdowns for us.'
Las Vegas ......7...0...13...20...-...40...
Colorado ......7...20...14...20...-...61...
First quarter
Las Vegas - Nash 1 run (kick good), 10:28.
Colorado - Harrell 21 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 2:42.
Second quarter
Colorado - Marshall 4 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 3:59.
Colorado - Harrell 5 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 0:04.
Colorado - McCullough 6 interception return (kick failed), 0:00.
Third quarter
Las Vegas - Konopka 10 pass from Dolezel (kick good), 11:22.
Colorado - Harrell 4 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 7:19.
Las Vegas - Nash 22 pass from Dolezel (kick failed), 4:01.
Colorado - Marshall 1 run (Rush kick), 1:38.
Fourth quarter
Las Vegas - Nash 4 pass from Dolezel (kick good), 14:12.
Colorado - Harrell 11 pass from Dutton (kick failed), 11:50.
Las Vegas - Nash 19 pass from Dolezel (kick good), 9:31.
Colorado - Patu 1 run (Rush kick), 6:48.
Las Vegas - Nash 28 pass from Dolezel (kick failed), 5:07.
Colorado - Barno 2 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 3:23.
TEAM STATISTICS
...Las Vegas...Colorado...
First Downs...21...19...
Turnovers...4...3...
Penalties-Yards...10-57...3-25...
Net Total Offense...327...205...
Time Of Possession...32:11...27:49...
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing - Las Vegas, Dolezel 1-1; Jackson 2-(-3); Filer 1-2; Nash 2-3. Colorado, Hawkins 1-3; Marshall 3-1; Peaua 3-4; Patu 2-4.
Passing - Las Vegas, Dolezel 25-45-3-321. Colorado, Dutton 21-32-3-192.
Receiving - Las Vegas, Payton 1-18; Blalock 4-48; Douglass 7-84; Filer 3-35; Konopka 1-10; Nash 9-126. Colorado, Harrell 5-58; McKenzie 4-32; Hawkins 2-23; Marshall 6-50; McCullough 2-18; Barno 1-2; Anderson 1-9.
CAPTION(S):
Photo
Damian Harrell reaches to break the plane of the end zone and score his fourth touchdown of the game Sunday at the Pepsi Center. Defending are Cornelius Bonner, bottom left, and Marvin Taylor of the Gladiators. EVAN SEMON / ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
