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Columbus Destroyers Downed By New York Dragons 62-44

April 13, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, fell to the New York Dragons 62-44 Sunday afternoon at Nassau Coliseum in front of 7,346 fans. The Destroyers road woes continue as their record drops to 1-3 away from Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena and 2-5 overall.

Collectively the Destroyers were hit with 14 penalties for 60 yards and allowed future AFL Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Garcia to complete 27-of-37 passes for 298 yards and eight touchdowns as he earned Offensive Player of the Game honors. The Destroyers allowed 60-plus points for the first time in 22 consecutive contests.

Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy completed 18-of-36 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns. Nagy felt the pressure all afternoon as the Dragons defensive front were able to sack him twice totaling a loss of eight yards and New York defensive back Billy Parker intercepting him late in the fourth quarter putting a halt to a Destroyers' scoring drive.

Midway through the second quarter with the score 14-3 in favor of the Dragons, Rasheed Marshall returned his second kickoff for touchdown this season. The 57-yard effort ties a Destroyers franchise record (Sedrick Robinson - 2004 and Damien Groce - 2005).

With :43 remaining in the first half, Nagy connected with Lee on a 15-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to four points, 21-17. After a failed Destroyers onside kickoff attempt, the Dragons took a 28-17 lead to halftime after Garcia threw his fourth touchdown pass of the half to Kevin Swayne from eight yards.

Behind two Garcia touchdown passes to Chris Anthony and Jason Willis, the Dragons took a 42-24 lead. Willis led all receivers with 10 receptions for 131 yards and added two touchdowns. The Destroyers lone scored their lone touchdown of the third stanza as Nagy found Lee for a one-handed 10-yard touchdown catch with 9:47 remaining.

The teams traded three touchdowns each in the final quarter, as Destroyers' wide receivers Lee, Calvin Russell and Rasheed Marshall all tallied touchdowns from 30-plus yards.

Monday, April 21, is Nationwide Night "White Out" T-Shirt Night. The first 12,000 fans in attendance will receive a T-shirt compliments of Nationwide. The Pro Football Hall of Fame will display items on the Pepsi Parkway. The game between the Destroyers and the Philadelphia Soul will be shown to a national viewing audience on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday Night on ESPN2 (HD). Fans can also purchase tickets for All You Can Eat Night. The all-you-can-eat package includes hot dogs, bratwurst, popcorn, peanuts and any 22-ounce Pepsi product, for only $30.

WE BELIEVE Saturdays are made for football. Single game tickets starting at just $15 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, ticketmaster Ticket Centers, ticketmaster.com and all FSN Ohio Blue Line team stores located at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Chiller Easton, Chiller Dublin and Chiller North.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 13, 2008


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