The Chicago Rush has a way of taking opponents to the limit. That worries Colorado coach Mike Dailey as he takes the Crush to the Windy City for a key Central Division game tonight in Arena Football League play.
The Crush (5-1), leading the Central by a game over Memphis and two over Chicago (3-3), is facing a team that has gone to the final play to determine four of its past six games. The list includes a 49-43 overtime loss to the Crush in last season’s playoff semifinals, a game Colorado quarterback John Dutton won with a touchdown pass.
But last-play games aren’t the only problem facing the Crush. Since Colorado joined the arena league for the 2003 season, the two have become archrivals. The Rush leads the series 4-3, and Colorado hasn’t won in two games at Chicago. The Rush won 65-35 in 2004 and 75-51 in 2005 while playing the Crush at home.
“They’re an excellent football team,” Dailey said of the Rush. “The games in arena football come down to the wire most of the time. But Chicago has been such a good team, and that’s why it’s a tough matchup for everybody.”
The Rush enters tonight’s game with a banged-up line, with John Moyer and D.J. Bleisath expected to be sidelined from injuries suffered in a 59-42 loss to Dallas last week.
However, the Rush will have kicker Keith Gispert, who was injured in pregame warm-ups when the teams met in the season opener at the Pepsi Center. The Rush, without a kicker, lost 65-56.
This time, it’s the Crush that has a substitute kicker, with Jason Ball replacing the injured Clay Rush.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
