Here's why:
* Connotation: "Crushing" carries a strong negative connotation. It suggests a complete and overwhelming victory, implying that the Jefferson Eagles were utterly defeated and left in a demoralized state.
* Objectivity: While the sentence reports a victory, the word "crushing" is subjective and adds an emotional weight that goes beyond simply stating a fact.
Other words in the sentence, like "experienced" and "well," are more neutral and descriptive.