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Destroyers' comeback bid falls short

April 3, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OH – Marcus Knight caught three touchdown passes and Philadelphia's defense stopped a rally by Columbus to give the Soul a 62-45 victory over the Destroyers before a crowd of 15,316 at Nationwide Arena Sunday afternoon.

The Destroyers cut a 20 point second half deficit to 3 late in the fourth quarter, however Philadelphia scored with one minute left when Tony Graziani hit Tyronne Jones on a 3-yard pass to make the score 55-45. Knight capped the afternoon with a 38-yard touchdown catch with 0:25 left that put the game out of reach for the Destroyers.

Knight finished with four catches for 81 yards, while Steve Smith pulled in five catches for 60 yards and one touchdown for the Soul (5-5). Graziani finished 20 of 29 for 261 yards with seven touchdowns.

Columbus (1-8) was led by Damien Groce, who made nine catches for 109 yards with two touchdowns. Sedrick Robinson added four catches for 38 yards and one touchdown.

Matt D'Orazio completed 24 of 44 passes for 253 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Columbus scored first on a 2-yard touchdown run by D'Orazio. Philadelphia answered when Chris Ryan scored with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter on a 1-yard run, but Tim Seder missed the extra point. The Soul scored again on a 29-yard touchdown pass play from Graziani to Tyronne Jones to end the quarter with the score, 13-7.

The Destroyers opened the second quarter with D'Orazio completing a 33-yard touchdown pass to Groce. The Soul then scored back-to-back touchdowns to Marcus Knight, the first from 15 and second from 19 yards to put Philadelphia up 27-14. Columbus responded when Justin Isom scooped up a fumble by D'Orazio and scampered to the end zone from 10 yards. But Philadelphia's Sean Scott caught a 6-yard touchdown pass with 0:8 left to make the halftime score 34-21.

Columbus made a comeback in the third quarter by recovering an onside kick After Philadelphia scored with 9:59 left, D'Orazio connected with Sedrick Robinson and Groce after recovering an onside kick. Both scores were from 11 yards out that pulled the Destroyers within six at 41-35.

Isom led the Destroyers' defense with five tackles.

The Destroyers return to the road when the club travels to Arizona to face the Rattlers at America West Arena on Friday, April 8.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 3, 2005


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