What was supposed to be a big step toward home-field advantage in the Arena Football League playoffs turned into soul-searching Friday night for the Colorado Crush.
The Utah Blaze didn’t play like an expansion team and the Crush didn’t play like the defending ArenaBowl champions as Colorado stumbled 52-40. After the disappointing performance, quarterback John Dutton issued marching orders for the remaining three games.
“We have to win every game that’s left,” Dutton said. “That’s where we were before this game, but somehow we forgot about that. My interception right before the half really hurt us.”
Dutton threw two interceptions, and Thal Woods’ pick just before halftime proved the key turning point. Instead of adding to its 19-14 lead, the Crush gave up a touchdown with two seconds left in the half and the Blaze took the lead for good.
“I thought we played uninspired and that hurt us,” Crush coach Mike Dailey said. “It was unacceptable. When you come out and play hard and get beat, that’s part of sports. But to come out and play uninspired, that’s not acceptable.”
Veteran quarterback Andy Kelly took the Blaze to points on his team’s first five possessions of the second half, more than enough to hold the lead.
The loss dulled any celebration of the three touchdown catches by Crush offensive specialist Damian Harrell. The three scores brought his season total to 46, tying the league’s single-season record.
“The record feels good, but the loss takes all the fun away from it,” Harrell said. “Hopefully, we can get this thing turned around.”
Kelly finished with 314 yards passing and four touchdowns. Dutton threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
Utah receiver Siaha Burley, who scored before halftime on a 17-yard play from Kelly, caught seven passes for 101 yards.
Dutton bemoaned the missed opportunity.
“Somehow we thought we didn’t have a lot to play for, but we do have a lot to play for,” Dutton said. “We’re nowhere near where we have to be.”
“We had to show up today, but all three aspects of our game were disappointing,” defensive specialist Rashad Floyd said. “We just didn’t enough done.”
The Crush plays two of its final three games at the Pepsi Center, Sunday against Orlando and May 12 against Arizona. The Crush plays at San Jose on May 6.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
