Empire strikes for franchise-record 97 points

SPOKANE — Carl Sims and Trevor Kennedy caught three touchdown passes each as the Spokane Empire rolled past the Colorado Crush 97-72 in an Indoor Football League game on Saturday at the Spokane Arena.

Spokane (4-1) jumped out to a 56-31 lead, scoring on each of its first-half possessions to race out to a huge advantage.

Colorado (0-6) cut the deficit to 18 points twice in the second half, but was unable to get any closer as the Empire rolled up a franchise record 97 points.

Spokane quarterback Charlie Dowdell completed 21 of 27 passes for 127 yards and eight touchdowns. Jefferson Hayes had a team-high eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns for Spokane, which travels to Iowa next Saturday at 5 p.m. Spokane beat Iowa 54-51 on Apri1 1 at the Arena.

Colorado 13 18 20 21 — 72

Spokane 28 28 13 28 — 97

First quarter

Spo — Trevor Kennedy 1 run (Kyle Brotzman kick), 13:45

Colo — Doug Williams 10 pass from Fleming Damein (kick failed), 12:36

Spo — Jefferson Hayes 6 pass from Charlie Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 11:22

Spo — Carl Sims 17 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 8:27

Colo — Williams 21 pass from Damien (Theord Beuchet kick), 5:25

Spo — Kennedy 5 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 1:41

Second quarter

Colo — Breon Allen 12 run (Beuchet kick), 14:44

Spo — Kennedy 10 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 12:56

Spo — Nick Haag 1 run (Brotzman kick), 9:13

Colo — Dem Washington 13 pass from Damien (kick failed), 5:02

Spo — Kennedy 6 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), :07

Third quarter

Colo — Josh Ford 5 run (Beuchet kick), 10:41

Spo — Hayes 16 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 9:36

Colo — Damien 2 run (Beuchet kick), 7:10

Spo — Kennedy 15 run (Brotzman), 6:13

Colo — Washington 24 pass from Damien (Beuchet kick), 3:36

Fourth quarter

Spo — Sims 3 pass from Justin Helwege (Brotzman kick), 13:44

Colo — Ford 5 run (Beuchet kick), 12:47

Spo — Sims 5 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 9:04

Colo — Washington 3 pass from Damien (Beuchet kick), 7:10

Spo — Samuel Charles 5 pass from Dowdell (Brotzman kick), 4:47

Colo — Washington 43 pass from Damien (Beuchet kick), 2:57

Spo — Kennedy 15 (Brotzman kick), :53

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Colo, Ford 7-39, Allen 4-36, Damien 4-14. Spo, Kennedy 14-59, Dowdell 7-53, Haag 2-2, Hayes 1-0.

PASSING — Colo, Damien, 19-27-1-193. Spo, Dowdell, 21-27-0-172, Helwege, 1-1-0-3.

RECEIVING — Colo, Washington 7-107, Williams 5-46, Allen 2-13, Ford 2-12, Kaiser 2-8, Rivers 1-7. Spo, Hayes 8-95, Sims 7-52, Kennedy 4-18, Charles 1-5, Helwege 1-4, McNeal 1-1.