Believe it.
Sunday in the Arena Football League team’s first home playoff game, the Colorado Crush defeated the previously dominant San Jose SaberCats 56-48. Crush quarterback John Dutton threw six touchdown passes and spirited play by defensive backs Delvin Hughley, Rashad Floyd, Willis Marshall and Ahmad Hawkins enabled Colorado to turn the tables before 13,315 fans.
What better way to usher in the playoffs at the Pepsi Center than by beating an old nemesis, which won the four previous meetings by an average of 31 points – including an 89-41 rout April 22? San Jose was eliminated from defending its AFL championship in ArenaBowl XIX on June 12 in Las Vegas.
The Crush advanced to meet the Chicago Rush in the American Conference championship game next Sunday at the Pepsi Center. The Rush advanced with a 52-45 win at Los Angeles.
“This was a great win for us,” Crush coach Mike Dailey said. “We played well early, San Jose battled back … Our defense, and especially the secondary, was unbelievable. We want an opportunity to move beyond the next game. That’s our ultimate goal. I’m happy, but not satisfied.”
The Crush took a quick lead on Kevin McKenzie’s return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The SaberCats battled back and took their first lead at 42-35 on Barry Wagner’s 1-yard run, but Dutton threw touchdown passes on three of the next four series, one to Marshall and two to Damian Harrell.
SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb, who set a league record for pass completions without and incompletion at 15 in San Jose’s lopsided first meeting with Colorado this season, found a different Crush defense Sunday. Grieb completed a 14- yard touchdown pass to James Roe to pull San Jose within 49-48 with 9:15 left in the game, but Derek Schorejs’ extra-point kick failed.
“Their two fourth-down stops in the second half pretty much killed our chances,” Grieb said. “You have to give credit to Colorado. The Crush played with such intensity. Playoffs or whatever you want to call it, they played great today.”
Grieb completed 34-of-55 passes for 392 yards and matched Dutton’s six touchdowns.
“This is a brand-new season,” Marshall said. “San Jose was king of the jungle last year. We knocked them off. We didn’t panic.”
Hughley made his bid for play of the game on the second play of the fourth quarter, when he knocked down Grieb’s fourth- down pass to Roe in the end zone.
“I knew the ball was coming to him,” Hughley said. “When they need a play they go to No. 9.”
As the game moved into the final minute with the Crush leading 56-48, the SaberCats picked up a first down at the Crush 7.
The pass rush by linebacker Rich Young came up big in the series, as did the play of Floyd and Hughley in the backfield. Grieb’s fourth-down pass fell in front of Rashied Davis, who was covered by Floyd. Colorado ran out the last 42 seconds.
“I was 0-4 against them and we were blown out the last four games. But this is the one that counted,” Dutton said.
San Jose 14 14 14 6 – 48
Colorado 21 14 7 14 – 56
First quarter: Col, McKenzie 56 kickoff return (Rush kick), 14:46. Col, McCullough 37 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 10:05. SJ, Davis 21 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), 8:10. SJ, Roe 37 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), 3:04. Second quarter: Col, McKenzie 1 run (Rush kick), 13:00. SJ, Davis 12 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), 6:37. Col, Hawkins 32 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 3:30. SJ, Wright 6 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), :50. Third quarter: SJ, Rob 4 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), 12:11. SJ, Wagner 1 run (Schorejs kick), 4:37. Col, Marshall 38 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 2:40. Fourth quarter: Col, Harrell 38 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 13:39. SJ, Roe 14 pass from Grieb (Schorejs kick), 9:15. Col, Harrell 17 pass from Dutton (Rush kick), 6:38.
SJ Col
First downs 32 20
Rushing attempts 4 6
Net yards rushing 4 3
Net yards passing 392 308
Passes 34-55-1 19-29-1
Total offensive plays 59 35
Total net yards 396 311
Average gain per play 6.7 8.9
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 13-76 6-36
Kickoff returns 1-22 6-135
Interceptions 0-0 1-4
Fumble returns 0-0 0-0
Sacks by 1-7 0-0
Time of possession 35:09 24:51
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – SJ, Wagner 2-4, Buck 1-1, Dozier 1-(-1). Col, Marshall 2-5, McKenzie 2-1, Dutton 2-(-3).
PASSING – SJ, Grieb 34-55-1-392. Col, Dutton 19-29-0-315.
RECEIVING – SJ, Wagner 10-54, Roe 9-120, Wright 9-96, Davis 5-70, Baker 1-12. Col, McCullough 7-122, Harrell 5-102, McKenzie 4-46, Marshall 2-13, Hawkins 1-32.
Kickoff returns – SJ, Davis 1-22. Col, Marshal 3-54, McKenzie 1-69, Hawkins 1-12.
Interception returns – SJ, None. Col, Hughley 1-4.
A – 13,315.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
