Sports stats



Destroyers comeback bid foiled by last second field goal

April 30, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OH – Todd Seivers kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give the Austin Wranglers a 58-55 victory over the Columbus Destroyers before a crowd of 14,064 at Nationwide Arena. With the win, Austin snapped a three-game losing streak and handed Columbus its 10th consecutive setback.

Seivers' heroics offset a Columbus comeback that saw the Destroyers erase a 55-41 fourth quarter deficit. After Austin's Dane Krager scored on a one-yard run at the 6:34 mark, Columbus' Damien Groce returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown. Steve Videtich's extra point brought the Destroyers to within seven at 55-48. Austin quarterback John Fitzgerald was intercepted by Jeremy Unertl on the next drive, setting up Ryan Vena's five-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius White with just :39 remaining. Videtich's extra point tied the game at 55-55.

Austin led 14-7 after the first quarter and built a 27-13 lead late in the second quarter when Fitzgerald hit Tacoma Fontaine from 23 yards out with :09 remaining in the first half. Columbus responded with a 36-yard strike from Vena to Groce on the game's next play to cut the lead to 27-20 at the half.

The Destroyers took the ensuing kickoff, drove down the field and tied the game at 27-27 on an eight-yard run by Wilmont Perry. The teams traded touchdowns on the second half's first six possessions before Columbus turned the ball over on downs trailing 48-41, which set up Krager's second touchdown of the night.

Columbus was led by Damien Groce, who made seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns and returned three kickoffs for 92 yards and a touchdown. Cornelius White added six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Vena, making his first start since missing four games due to injury, completed 20-of-35 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. On defense, Brandon Hefflin made a game-high 11 tackles and broke up a pair of passes, while Sedrick Robinson made three tackles, intercepted a pass and returned four kickoffs for 110 yards.

The Wrangler attack was led by Fitzgerald, who completed 28-of-37 passes for 288 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Darren Chiaverini made a game-high 11 catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns, while Kevin Nickerson added eight catches for 75 yards and a pair scores. Krager carried the ball seven times for 19 yards and two touchdowns.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 30, 2005


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.

Other Recent Columbus Destroyers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central