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Columbus Destroyers Weekly

June 3, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers will host the Georgia Force, presented by NTE Supplements, on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, June 7. Kickoff 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/FORCE PREVIEW: This marks the ninth meeting all-time between the two franchises. The two teams last met in the 2007 National Conference Championship Game with the Destroyers defeating the Force 66-56 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga. to advance to their first ArenaBowl appearance. The Force hold a 3-5 advantage in the all-time series.

Six current Destroyers have donned a Force jersey over the course of their careers; quarterback Matt Nagy (2005-06), wide receiver Derek Lee (2005-07), defensive back Nate Coggins (2005-06) and Kevin Gaines (2003-05), defensive lineman Prentice Purnell (2006-07) and Mike Sutton (2007). Four were members of the 2005 National Conference Champions that played in ArenaBowl XX-Las Vegas.

The Georgia (8-5) offense is led by quarterback Chris Greisen. The fourth-year quarterback from Northwest Missouri State is the fourth rated signal caller in the AFL this season (121.5) and has completed 332-of-486 passes (68.3%) for 4,023 yards (2nd in the AFL) and 76 touchdowns (4th in the AFL).

The receiving triumvirate for the Force is led by Carl Morris. He leads the team with 105 receptions for 1,172 yards and has added 18 touchdowns. Rookie standout Tiger Jones has hauled in 78 passes for 998 yards and 25 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 on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena are closed.

Day Event Time Place

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

Wednesday Practice/Conditioning 9-11:40 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Thursday Practice 9-11 a.m. Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena

Friday Walk-Thru 10-11 a.m. Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena

NAGY BY THE NUMBERS: Quarterback Matt Nagy has completed 178-of-278 passes for 2,357 yards, 41 touchdowns and only five interceptions over the last eight weeks. Averaging just under 300 yards passing per game (294.6) over the last eight games he has moved the Destroyers passing attack from last in the AFL (227.7) in Week 7 to 11th in the League (264.7) this week.

Last week against the New Orleans VooDoo he completed a career-high 33 passes and tallied his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season, setting a new career-high (three in 2006).

LEE-DING THE WAY: Wide receiver Derek Lee hauled in two touchdown receptions and set the franchise's single-season record for touchdown receptions in a season with 28. With five receptions and 33 yards receiving this week he will become the franchise's single season record holder in those categories. Damien Groce, current Force receiver, set the bar with 117 receptions in 2007 and 1,426 receiving yards in 2005.

CELEBRITY BARTENDING: Join Justin Zwick , Leroy Thompson , Mark Lewis and the Bombshells for Destroyers Celebrity Bartending sponsored by Budweiser and QFM 96 on Friday, June 6 at McFadden's (1576 N. High St. Columbus) from 6-8 p.m. Don't miss your chance to hang out, talk to and get autographs from your favorite Destroyers as they serve up Bud Light at a discounted price. All tips and proceeds from the Jersey auction will benefit the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation in support of Tackle Hunger.

ON THE AIRWAVES: This week's contest between the Destroyers and Force 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) and Archie (sideline reporter) 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 Columbus Sports Network (CSN) beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) with Randy Rhinehart (play-by-play), former Ohio State quarterback Greg Frey (color analyst) and Courtney George (sideline reporter).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Join us for the Rooster's Wing Bash before the game on Saturday, June 7 against the Georgia Force presented by NTE Supplements. The party on the plaza gets underway at 4 p.m. (ET) along with Rooster's wings, fans will be treated to LIVE music from Jakob Freely and the Mixtape Bandits. The Dispatch/Mix 97.1 Family Night package will also be available and includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns, four Pepsi products, four Dispatch Ice Haus skate passes, family discount admission to Pro Football Hall of Fame and one foam football for just $66.

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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