Cobras Stun Destroyers 54-53 On Final Play
Published on February 14, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
COLUMBUS - Matt Nagy found Damien Groce open in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown with no time on the clock to cap a dramatic 54-53 come-from-behind victory for the Carolina Cobras. The Cobras, who fell behind by as many as 16 points late in the third quarter, outscored Columbus 20-3 over the game's last 16 minutes to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
A 24-yard field goal by Steve Videtich gave Columbus a 53-48 lead with just under a minute remaining. On the ensuing drive, Nagy completed three of five passes to drive the Cobras to the 15-yard line. After Travis Reece converted a fourth-and-one with a three-yard run, the Cobras found themselves on the 12-yard line with seven seconds on the clock. On the next play, the Destroyers were flagged for pass interference. The ball was spotted on the six-yard line with two seconds on the clock, setting the stage for the game's final play.
"Words can't even describe the feeling," said Nagy. "I knew if our defense came through in the fourth quarter that we were going to win that ballgame. They couldn't really stop D.G. (Groce) too much today. I knew the whole time I was going to him. We had other guys cross underneath and he spun his guy around and was wide open."
For the second consecutive week, the Cobras were led by the passing arm of Nagy and a strong fourth-quarter defensive effort. Trailing 50-34 with one minute remaining in the third quarter, the Cobras responded with three touchdown passes from Nagy and a defense that forced a fumble and blocked a field goal to keep the Destroyers off the board for much of the final frame.
Nagy finished the game 26-of-39 for 236 yards and five touchdowns. He also had a one-yard scoring run in the first quarter. Todd Doxzon had 10 receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Groce finished with seven catches for 91 yards and three scores.
For the second consecutive week, the Cobras jumped out to an early 14-0 advantage. On the first drive of the contest, Nagy completed four consecutive passes, including a 16-yard scoring strike to Groce. On the Destroyers' ensuing drive, Sir Mawn Wilson picked off a pass across the middle by Ryan Vena and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown to give Carolina a two-touchdown lead.
The Destroyers finally got on the board with 2:36 remaining in the first quarter as Vena plunged into the endzone from one yard out. The Cobras responded with a 46-yard field goal from first-year kicker Rob Bironas to increase their lead to 17-7 heading into the second quarter.
The Columbus fans were treated to plenty of offensive fireworks in the second frame as the home team tallied 28 points. On the first play of the quarter, the Sedrick Robinson returned the kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown to cut the Cobras lead to three points. Following a 29-yard field goal by Bironas, Columbus responded with a 23-yard TD pass from Vena to CoCo Blalock to take a 21-20 advantage. This marked the first time the Cobras had trailed in the 2004 season.
The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the remainder of the quarter, with the Destroyers taking a 35-34 lead with eight seconds to go in the half on Vena's third scoring pass of the quarter, a 9-yard TD pass to Cornelius White. In the first half, Nagy completed 14-of-20 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Vena countered with a very efficient first-half, completing 11-of-13 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Columbus' momentum continued into the second half as Vena completed his fourth and fifth touchdown passes to give the club a 50-34 lead and complete a stretch of 23 consecutive points for the home team.
Carolina will look to jump out to a 3-0 start for the first time in franchise history next Saturday, February 21 at the Charlotte Coliseum against the Arizona Rattlers. Kickoff for the club's home opener is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 14, 2004
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- Wranglers win inaugural performance with 49-48 overtime victory over Orlando - Austin Wranglers
- Final pass knocked down as Gladiators fall to Avengers - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Late TD Run Halts Firebirds Rally, 41-40 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Rush block out past, defeat the Dragons - Chicago Rush
- Rampage fall in home opener 55-37 to Crush - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Cobras Stun Destroyers 54-53 On Final Play - Carolina Cobras
- Destroyers drop heartbreaker to Cobras in inaugural home opener - Columbus Destroyers
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