Destroyers close out home schedule with win over Rampage

Published on May 14, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Destroyers did not disappoint the 16,711 fans who showed up for the final home game of their 2004 inaugural season as they routed the Grand Rapids Rampage, 59-28 at Nationwide Arena Friday night. The win marks the Destroyers' third home win and moves them to 5-9 on the season. The 28 points the Destroyers gave up was the fewest points allowed by the Destroyers since February 16, of last year when they held the Carolina Cobras to 16 points.

As a team, Columbus finished the game with a season-high 67 yards rushing led by quarterback Ryan Vena who finished with 32 rushing yards in the game and added his team-leading 10th rushing touchdown on the season. The Destroyers' defense also got their second shut-out quarter of the season, blanking Grand Rapids in the third quarter.

Vena led the Destroyers into Nationwide Arena for the last time this season, completing 16 of his 26 passes for 225 yards and seven touchdowns before being named Offensive Player of the Game. His seven touchdown passes marks a single game high on the season for the Destroyers and those 32 yards rushing extended his total to 197 yards on the ground, making him the No. 1 all-time single season rushing leader in the franchises' six-year history.

Wide receiver/linebacker Cornelius White led the Destroyers on the other side of Vena's passes, catching six of them for 88 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver/defensive back Gunnard Twyner also caught eight balls for 62 yards and three scores.

Quarterback Anthony Buich was the leading passer for the Rampage with 22 of his 38 passes finding their mark for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver/linebacker Jeremy Dutcher led Grand Rapids in receiving with eight catches for 80 yards.

The Destroyers got out to an early 20-0 lead thanks to some aggressive play calling. After receiving the opening kickoff and driving down the field for the first touchdown of the game, the Destroyers scored two unanswered touchdowns after successfully recovering two consecutive onside kicks.

Grand Rapids would go on to score their first touchdown of the game as time ran out in the first quarter. The Destroyers answered the challenge scoring 15 straight points on Vena's lone rushing touchdown and an 18-yard reception by White, followed by a crushing safety at the hands of lineman Jamarr Ward before enjoying their largest lead of the season at 35-7.

After another Rampage touchdown, kicker Steve Vedetich made the score 38-14 on the final play of the first half to send he Destroyers to the locker rooms with their largest halftime lead of the season of 24 points.

The third quarter saw little offense, the Rampage being shut out and the Destroyers only scoring once on a five yard pass from Vena to White.

The two contestants traded touchdowns for the remainder of the game with the final blow coming on a 30-yard touchdown connection between Vena and Twyner to give Columbus their final margin of victory.

The Destroyers return to the road next weekend to face the Dallas Desperados on Saturday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m before closing out the season on Sunday, May 30 in Las Vegas versus the Gladiators.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2004


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