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Columbus Destroyers Weekly: Week 12 at Philadelphia Soul

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


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers play the second of back-to-back road contests when they face the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, May 17. Kickoff at Wachovia Center is set for 7 p.m. (ET). Below is a look ahead at this week's opponent, practice schedule, team news and notes and broadcast information.

DESTROYERS/SOUL PREVIEW: Saturday's contest marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two franchises. The Soul (9-2) won the first meeting this season 76-55 in Columbus on Apr. 21 and the game was broadcast in front of a national audience as part of Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday night.

In that game, the Destroyers scored on their first three plays from scrimmage to start the game, as quarterback Matt Nagy found Calvin Russell (42 yds.), Derek Lee (45 yds.) and C.J. Johnson (45 yds.) for long touchdowns. The feat was the first in the franchise's 10 seasons.

Nagy went on to throw for a career-high 389 yards on 20-of-34 completions and seven touchdowns. For the first time in franchise history, three Columbus receivers finished with over 100 yards receiving in a single game. C.J. Johnson led the triumvirate with seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns, Derek Lee had 138 receiving yards on six receptions and two touchdowns and rookie wide out Calvin Russell recorded a career-high 128 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.

Columbus native Matt D'Orazio came off the bench to lead the Soul after starting quarterback Tony Graziani left the game with a knee injury. The Otterbein College graduate completed 15-of-19 passes for 167 yards, five touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown. Philadelphia wide receiver Larry Brackins garnered Offensive Player of the Game honors after hauling in nine passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns.

On the season, D'Orazio has completed 193-0f-269 passes for 2,146 yards, 45 touchdowns with four interceptions. His favorite targets are among the top receivers in the league, Chris Jackson has caught 96 passes for 1,196 yards and 33 touchdowns, tied for the league lead. Brackins has hauled in 85 passes for 1,117 yards and 23 touchdowns.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The practice schedule for this week is below. Practice times and locations are subject to change. All practices at the Columbus FieldHouse (6124 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229) are open to the public. Practices/Walk-Thru's at Nationwide Arena are closed.

Day Event Time Place

Tuesday Practice/Conditioning 11 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Wednesday Practice/Conditioning 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Thursday Practice 9-11:40 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Friday Walk-Thru 7-8 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

LEE-PING FRANCHISE RECORDS: Wide receiver Derek Lee has 90 receptions for 1,129 yards and 25 touchdowns. With 10 more catches, Lee will become the fourth receiver in franchise history to haul in 100 receptions in one season (Bobby Olive; 106 in 2000 and Damien Groce; 116 in 2005 and 117 in 2007). This season he became the 35th player in AFL history to record 100 touchdown receptions in a career after he caught two scores against the Soul in Week 8.

SEEING "RED": The 2008 Destroyers are close to automatic when they reach the "Red Zone." Columbus is second in the league with a touchdown percentage of 81.4 once they reach inside the opponent's 10-yardline. Of 43 possessions they've scored 35 touchdowns and three field goals, a score percentage of 88.4, which is also second in the AFL.

ON THE AIRWAVES: This week's contest between the Destroyers and Soul can be heard on your home for Destroyers football, WNKK 107.1 FM, with the broadcast tandem of Todd Walker (play-by-play) and Rob Blackman (color commentator) on the call. Tune in at 6:30 p.m. (ET) as the Destroyers pre-game show gets underway with a one-on-one interview with Destroyers Head Coach Doug Kay, player interviews and insider information.

The game can be seen LIVE on FSN Ohio beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) with Ari Wolfe (play-by-play) and Bill Osborne (color analyst).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Saturday, May 24, is Motorsports Night presented by Marathon. Vehicles that are scheduled to appear are: the Marathon #45 Kyle Petty car, the Jeff Gordon simulator and the #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Tundra show truck from Germain Racing. For the remainder of the Destroyers home schedule, fans are invited to the "Budweiser Tailgate Zone" on the McConnell St. plaza from 5-7 p.m. for beer from Budweiser, Bud Select and Bud Light, food from Roosters and Donatos, prize giveaways and music from QFM 96, 95.5 The Hawk and WINK 107.1 FM. Fans can also purchase tickets for All You Can Eat Night presented by 99.7 The Rock. The all-you-can-eat package includes hot dogs, bratwurst, popcorn, peanuts and a 22-ounce Pepsi product, for only $30.

TICKET INFORMATION: Single game tickets starting at just $15 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, ticketmaster Ticket Centers, ticketmaster.com, ColumbusDestroyers.com and FSN Ohio Blue Line team stores located at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Chiller Easton, Chiller Dublin and Chiller North. Only on game nights, the Huntington $10 Ticket Blitz offers available lower bowl seats, regularly priced at $26, for just $10 at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office two hours prior to game time. Also two hours before kickoff at the arena ticket office, college and high school students with a valid full-time student ID can purchase Raising Cane's Student Tickets for just $7. Students receive a voucher for a FREE Raising Cane's box combo with each ticket purchased.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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