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| (photo credit: Indoor Football League/Twitter) |
While both teams have had a season to forget (Colorado starting 0-8, Iowa coming in at 4-5 after breaking a four-game losing streak), this was certainly a game to remember, especially for Crush fans, as they set a franchise record with their 93-56 victory.
Attempting to avenge a 56-50 season opening loss on their home floor, they wanted to get the best start possible. It didn't happen, as Johnny Thomas returned the opening kickoff 43 yards for a score, and a Jimmy Allen drop kick made it 8-0 Barnstormers after 14 seconds. From there, however, the flood gates opened.
Colorado scored three straight touchdowns, two on offense and one on a fumble return, to quickly take a 20-8 lead. Iowa did manage to slow down the tempo with a ten-play drive taking up 5:28 late in the second quarter, overcoming a 3rd-and-16 to set up another Johnny Thomas score. It didn't take long for the Crush to answer right back. While they did catch a break as a Breon Allen fumble was cancelled out by a penalty, they earned another six points as QB Damien Fleming snuck over to extend the lead to 27-14.
The two teams then went toe to toe, as they traded scores over the next five drives. Both quarterbacks found their groove, save for an interception by Colorado DB Rashard Smith on Iowa QB Brion Carnes with just under five minutes to go in the second quarter. While the Crush turned that turnover into points, they couldn't two it twice in a row, as another Smith interception went wasted when K Spencer Groner missed a 51-yard field goal. Johnny Thomas would find the end zone one more time before the half, but the teams wouldn't go into the locker room without one last score, as Groner hit from 40 yards out to give Colorado a 44-34 halftime lead.
The Crush lived up to their name in the second half, as Smith got his hands on the ball for a third time to start the third quarter, and FB Josh Ford took care of the rest. Ford carried the ball three straight times for 22 yards and a score, helping Colorado start to carry the game with a 58-34 lead.
Brion Carnes tried to keep the Barnstormers in the game with an eight yard pass to Brady Roland halfway through the third quarter, but the game was too far gone. Josh Ford and Rashard Smith reminded the visiting crowd who they were, as they both netted another touchdown to end the third quarter (Ford on a run, and Smith's touchdown return on his fourth interception of the night).
Starting the final 15 minutes up 72-40, the Crush started to call off the dogs and go into cruise control. Donovan Porterie finished the game under center for Iowa, with little difference in terms of offense. Porterie finished his first drive with a touchdown, but Damien Fleming answered almost immediately with a touchdown pass of his own. Colorado rubbed a bit of salt in the wound by recovering the onside kick and marching down the field to finish with another Ford score, and Quentin Richardson capped off a historic night by matching his teammate with a pick-six of his own.
Iowa did manage the last points of the game, but another Porterie touchdown pass and a Jimmy Allen rouge through the uprights meant little against a team that set a regular-season IFL record for points in a game.
Colorado didn't play like a 1-8 team, as they put on quite a show. Damien Fleming had a quiet night through the air, completing 18 of 23 passes for 170 yards and two scores. Brion Carnes fared much worse, completing 23 of 35 attempts for 234 yards and three scores, but with four interceptions. Donovan Porterie didn't have an easier night, completing nine of his 12 passes for 74 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick-six.
The ground game was the real star, as there were 10 total rushing touchdowns. Fleming led the way with four on eight carries for 31 yards, and Josh Ford was right behind with three on 12 carries for 82 yards (including a 30-yard run to start the third quarter). Lucas Hefty carried most of the load for Iowa, as he finished with nine carries for 53 yards and a score.
Lemans Casimier was the star receiver, finishing with game highs in catches (10), yards (99), and touchdown catches (2). Brady Roland also caught two scores, needing eight catches for 88 yards to do so. Demarius Washington led Colorado through the air with six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Defense was also on huge display, as Quenton Richardson was one of the stars for the Crush. He had a game-high 10 tackles to go along with his 47-yard pick-six. Rashard Smith was another ball hawk, as he grabbed four interceptions, returning one for a score. The front three also brought some pressure, as Braylon Broughton netted 1.5 sacks, while Armonti Tarbrough registered a half sack.
To his credit, Chayz Holt led the Barnstormers with 9.5 total tackles, and Derrick Morgan broke up three passes.
The win gives Colorado a two-game win streak, but little consolation sitting at 2-8, last place in the Intense conference and two games out of a playoff spot with six games left to play. Iowa still has a chance at 4-6, as three of their remaining six games are against the team they're chasing for the third and final playoff spot in the United conference, the Cedar Rapids Titans. But, this will leave a sour taste for two weeks, as they have their third and final bye of the season coming up.
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