Harrell Sets AFL TD Record; Rush Dominate Crush 70-35

Rosemont, IL. - Receiver Damian Harrell made Arena Football League History on Saturday night against his former team the Colorado Crush, whom he had played for the last five seasons. Harrell, signed with the Rush as a free agent over the summer, caught two touchdown passes in the final five minutes of the half to raise his career total to 304 and break Eddie Brown's old record of 303.

"[The record-breaking catch] still hasn't registered yet because I'm not a big stat guy," Harrell said. "It probably won't until after I retire."

The Rush (3-1) won the game against Colorado (1-2) 70-35 before an Allstate Arena record crowd of 16,043 fans.

The Rush used a deep rotation on offense in which seven different players scored touchdowns. Besides Harrell's two touchdowns, Backup quarterback Russ Michna and wide-receiver/defensive back DeJuan Alfonzo had two touchdown's each, and rookie wide-receiver Donovan Morgan, fullback Dan Alexander, lineman Joe Peters and receiver Travis LaTendresse had solo TDs for the Rush.

The Rush held the Crush to just one second-half touchdown and didn't allow the Crush to score any points in the final twenty-seven minutes of the game.

Peters also had a blocked field-goal in the game that led to a safety.

"That was one of the [reasons] I came here to play for coach [Mike] Hohensee," Harrell said. "This team's depth and versatility will help me extend my career and get better at the same time."

Colorado quaterback John Dutton told me before the game, "One of the reason's why he [Harrell] is going to break the record is because I have thrown alot of those[touchdown's] to him."

Rush quarterback Sherdrick Bonner made good on a promise to play better and it showed. Bonner was 24 of 29 for 211 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and no sacks.

"He was seeing the field well, and he was very poised," Hohensee said. "Plus, he had a good understanding of where our guys were coming from and who's who in the offense - especially with three new receivers."

Dutton was 23 of 36 passing for 271 yards and four touchdowns. The Rush defense did intercept him once, blocked two field goals and recovered a fumble on a snap. The Rush defense stopped the Crush on downs three different times and converted all three of those for touchdowns.

"As a defensive line, we pride ourselves in putting presure on the quarterback to take the pressure off our defensive backs," Peters said. "But our offense also is greatly improved now and getting better every week." 

Harrell mentioned also that "He expects to get a call from Eddie Brown sometime in the near future, to congratulate him on breaking the record tonight."

Harell also went over by the stands after he caught the record-breaking touchdown and threw the ball into the stands to his son.