Buffalo Slays Dragons In Scrimmage
Published on January 22, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(UNIONDALE, NY) â The Buffalo Destroyers picked up a 48-42 victory over the New York Dragons Wednesday morning at the Nassau Coliseum. The scrimmage was played as live game action and NBC Sports used the scrimmage as a practice for their first season of AFL coverage.
"We got a lot accomplished today," said Destroyers head coach Ron Selesky. "We got to see everyone at every position and I can see we have a lot of athletic talent on this team.
Buffalo fell 14 points down early in the first quarter after Steve Papin returned the opening kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown and Mike Furrey caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Garcia. Buffalo went four plays and out on its first drive. The Destroyers only points of the first quarter came on an Anthony Hicks three-yard run. Buffalo was down 21-7 after the first quarter.
The Destroyers scored 21 unanswered points to close the half. Anthony Payton recovered a fumble as the Dragons were threatening to score and on the ensuing drive backup quarterback Tim Carey hit Jarrail Jackson for a 24 yard score. The next drive for New York started deep in their own territory and Gonzalo Floyd intercepted a Brett Petrus pass returning it 11 yards for a Buffalo touchdown as they tied the score at 21. After a New York missed field goal, Carey found Malik Campbell for a 22-yard touchdown as Buffalo went into the locker room with a 28-21 lead.
In the third quarter, New York scored two touchdowns on Buffalo miscues. Their first score came after a missed field goal and the second came after Mel Miller fumbled at the Dragons five-yard line. Carey accounted for his third touchdown of the game as he ran it in from one yard out. The touchdown was set up by a Jarrail Jackson 44 yard kickoff return to the nine-yard line. Buffalo led after three periods, 35-34.
Quarterback Chris Sanders got Buffalo on the board in the fourth as he hit Campbell for a 10 yard touchdown, Campbell's second of the game, as Buffalo went up 41-34. New York responded with a touchdown and two point conversion to take a 42-41 lead. With four minutes left, Mike Moser missed a 45-yard field goal. New York missed a field goal with 1:35 left to play as Buffalo took over at their own two-yard line. On a second down and four from the nine yard line with 50 seconds left, Sanders was chased out of the pocket, he flipped the ball to Jason Collins-Baker and he ran 41 yards for the touchdown to put the Destroyers ahead for good.
Buffalo who currently has 37 players on its roster will cut down to 24 players this weekend.
"All the quarterbacks were able to move the ball and score," Selesky added. "We had some nice stops on defense as well. We will have some tough decisions to make.
Buffalo kicks off its fifth season in the Arena Football League Saturday, February 1, 2003 as the Destroyers host the Grand Rapids Rampage at the HSBC Arena. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Season and group tickets are on sale now.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 22, 2003
- Firebirds Win Second Preseason Contest - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- SaberCats Add a Third QB to Camp Roster - San Jose SaberCats
- Buffalo Slays Dragons In Scrimmage - Buffalo Destroyers
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