Colorado Crush coach Mike Dailey isn’t one to credit individual players, win or lose.
“When you’re in a team sport, you don’t look at one individual and say that individual will make the difference for you one way or the other,” Dailey said during a Crush practice.
His team was a little more relaxed after snapping a three- game losing streak with a 63-57 victory Sunday at New Orleans.
But if Dailey would ever identify one player as the difference maker, he would look to lineman Hugh Hunter.
“He is a fierce, fierce competitor,” said Dailey, whose 9-5 team plays Nashville at 7 p.m. Friday at the Pepsi Center. “Everyone at this level is a competitor, but there are two or three guys you cross paths with in your coaching career that have that fierce competitiveness.
“And he has that demeanor.”
So it might be more than coincidence that the Crush snapped its losing streak on the day Hunter returned to the lineup. He was sidelined almost all of the three previous games with a groin injury, and the Crush stumbled 75-51 at Chicago, 89-41 to San Jose at home and 58-52 at Grand Rapids.
“I bring a lot of attitude to the team,” Hunter said. “I’m an eight-year veteran and I play with emotion, and the younger guys follow the lead. It didn’t have anything to do with me coming back.
“Everybody wanted to bring their ‘A’ game last week – offensively, defensively and special teams.”
Crush teammate Dustin Barno, in his second year in the Arena Football League, says Hunter is being modest.
“He knows how to push guys’ buttons in the right way and get them to step up,” Barno said. “He brings a very good attitude. I can’t say enough about him.”
Hunter plays on both lines and also contributes on special teams. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder came into the AFL from Hampton (Va.) University.
Los Angeles Avengers defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt coached Hunter when they were with the Indiana Firebirds, before Hunter came to the Crush last year.
“Hugh could be the best lineman in the league on special teams,” said Wilpolt, a Broomfield High School graduate. “He’s an excellent three-way player and very athletic for a big man. When he doesn’t play, I imagine they have to spread the minutes among two or three other players.”
Said Hunter: “A lot of people don’t see the hard work that goes on in the line. If you don’t protect your quarterback and you don’t get after the other team’s quarterback, it can be a long game for you.
“If you miss anyone who plays at a high level, you miss them as one of the leaders.”
Hunter is playing at less than 100 percent, but he won’t be sitting out the next two games.
If the Crush wins both of those, it wins the Central Division title and has a home game for at least the first round of the playoffs.
“You have to be mentally and physically strong to bring your ‘A’ game for 16 weeks of the season,” Hunter said. “This is a tougher game by far than the stadium game. First of all, you play both offense and defense. You have walls on the sidelines.
“This is a man’s game.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
