Rush 65, Crush 52

Denver – The Chicago Rush used a 28-0 run late in the second quarter and early in the third quarter to turn a seven point deficit into a 65-52 win over the Colorado Crush Friday night at Pepsi Center.

Rush QB Russ Michna ran his record as a starter to 4-0, completing 24 of 35 passes for 280 yards and six touchdowns, helping the Rush (7-2) complete a season sweep of Colorado.

With the win, Chicago now holds a 3 ½ game lead in the Central Division over both Colorado (3-5) and Grand Rapids (3-5).

“This was a big win for us,” said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. “I thought Russ played great again at quarterback and the defense made some big stops when we needed them.”

With the Crush leading 21-14 with six minutes left in the first half, Rush linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo ruined Colorado’s surprise on-side kick attempt, recovering the ball and returning it 11-yards for a game-tying touchdown.

The Rush defense then forced Colorado into a 53-yard field goal attempt, which missed wide left, giving the ball to the Rush at its own 1-yard line with 2:21 remaining in the half.

Using the clock perfectly, the Rush moved 49 yards for the go-ahead TD, scoring on a one-yard run by Michna to take a 28-21 halftime lead.

Chicago kept up the pressure in the third quarter, scoring on its opening drive when Damian Harrell caught a four-yard TD pass.

Then, after the ensuing kickoff pinned the Crush deep in its own territory, Alfonzo intercepted a John Dutton pass and returned it back to the Crush 5-yard line. On the next play, Michna hit Donovan Morgan for a TD and a 42-21 Rush lead.

A Willie Quinne TD catch with 7:08 left in the third quarter snapped Chicago’s 28-0 run, however the PAT was no good, making the score 42-27.

A 34-yard field goal from Dan Frantz extended the Rush lead to 45-27 and set the stage for the Rush defense to force another turnover.

On Colorado’s next series DB Dennison Robinson intercepted a Dutton pass in the end zone. The interception was Robinson’s seventh of the season, matching his career high set last season. Five plays later, Harrell scored again to make the Rush lead 52-27.

Colorado cut the lead to 52-39 with 6:23 remaining, sandwiching TD catches by Brad Pyatt and Chad Owens around a Michna interception.

But the Rush responded with a 23-yard TD pass from Michna to Morgan and pushed its lead up to 59-39.