MIAMI – When Andre Johnson walked into SunLife Stadium on Sunday, he was greeted by a former middle school classmate serving as the security guard attendant outside the visiting locker room.
The familiarity for Johnson and his fellow Miami/Colts contingent didn't stop there.
Returning to play in front of hundreds of family and friends, the southern Florida natives didn't disappoint on Sunday afternoon.
"That's all we've been talking about this whole week---just getting back home, getting some of that warm weather," a smiling T.Y. Hilton said after his four catches for 64 yards.
"You get off the plane and you just got that smell that I'm home."
The tone was set early from the play calling of Rob Chudzinski (a former Miami Hurricanes player and coach himself).
Led by Frank Gore's running, the Colts peppered their Miami skill guys (Johnson, Hilton and Phillip Dorsett) with targets, jumping out to a first-half lead they would not lose.
The homecoming wasn't reserved to just those who grew up in and around Dade County.
Former Dolphins draft picks Vontae Davis (1st round, 2009) and Kendall Langford (3rd round, 2008) also played critical roles in the 18-12 victory.
"Where it all started for me," Langford said with a grin after his two-sack afternoon in Miami.
"A great win. A great feeling."
How did those with Miami ties do for the Colts?
- Vonate Davis (one interception five tackles, including one for a loss): The end-zone interception from the Dolphins former first-round pick was an important turnover in the Colts controlling the first half.
- Phillip Dorsett (two catches for 29 yards): The Colts first-round pick was back in the stadium he called home during his four seasons at the University of Miami.
- Frank Gore (14 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns): In one of Gore's finest game as a Colt, he was tremendous playing back in Miami for the first time in his 11 NFL seasons.
- T.Y. Hilton (four catches for 64 yards): Hilton grew up in Miami and played collegiately in his hometown at Florida International.
- Andre Johnson (three catches for 39 yards): With nearly 200 family and friends in attendance, Johnson was the Colts second leading receiver in the victory.
- Kendall Langford (two sacks, five tackles): A constant presence in the backfield on Sunday, Langford was a nuisance all afternoon long for the team that drafted him in the third round back in 2008.
