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Destroyers Defeat Blaze 52-49 On Game-Winning Field Goal To Earn First Victory Of 2008

March 22, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - "March Madness" has hit Salt Lake City as the Columbus Destroyers earn their first victory of the season defeating the Utah Blaze 52-49 at EnergySolutions Arena in front of 13,717 fans on Friday night.

With the score tied 49-49 and 5.3 seconds remaining in the game, Destroyers kicker Mark Lewis made good on a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give Columbus the win. Lewis, the reigning AFL Kicker of the Year, entered the game converting only two of seven field goal attempts in 2008. The kick was the first game-winning "three-pointer" of his career.

Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy completed 17-of-29 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Derek Lee led Columbus (1-3, 0-2) in receiving for the fourth consecutive game hauling in seven passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.

Three turnovers led to all points scored in the first quarter. Destroyers defensive back Rober' Freeman intercepted former Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine to begin the game. On the very next play, Nagy threw his second interception of the season to Blaze linebacker Kelvin Morris. Germaine opened the scoring as he found J.J. McKelvey for a 31-yard touchdown pass and the Blaze took a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing Destroyers drive, Rasheed Marshall caught a pass streaking down the sideline and fumbled the ball back to the Blaze.

Germaine found McKelvey for a 27-yard touchdown reception and the Blaze (0-4, 0-1) led 14-0 with 11:01 remaining in the first quarter. The Destroyers answered as Nagy found Jason Shelley for a one-yard touchdown pass. On the following Blaze drive, Germaine threw his second interception of the game into the hands of linebacker Tremaine Neal. The Destroyers trailed 14-13 after Neal, the Defensive Player of the Game, returned the interception 30 yards for the touchdown.

Blaze wide receiver Huey Whittaker scored a pair of touchdowns as Germaine found him from 10 and 15 yards respectively. The Blaze jumped out to a 28-13 lead with 1:54 remaining before halftime. Whittaker was named Offensive Player of the Game after he led all receivers with 12 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown.

Rasheed Marshall scored the first kickoff return for touchdown in his career with a 54-yard effort with :54 seconds remaining before the half. Germaine threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game as he found Aaron Boone for a 7-yard score to extend the Blaze lead to 35-20 at halftime.

Destroyers' all-time leading rusher Harold Wells scored on touchdown runs of three and four yards to give cut the Utah lead 35-34 at the end of the third quarter.

With the score 42-34 in favor of the Blaze, Derek Lee caught his 10th touchdown pass of the season from 11 yards. The Destroyers converted the two-point conversion as Nagy found Wells wide open the teams were tied 42-42 with 11:50 remaining in the game.

After the teams traded touchdowns, the Blaze were faced with a fourth down situation from midfield Germaine found McKelvey in the back of the endzone only to have the football stripped out by Freeman. The Destroyers took over with 48.3 seconds remaining in the game. After two Wells rush attempts for a gain of five yards, Lewis stepped in to tally the game-winning 35-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock.

The Destroyers return to Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena to take on the Orlando Predators on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. The first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a Rally Towel courtesy of ADT. In addition, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2008 Bombshells poster presented by A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson. Fans can also purchase tickets for All You Can Eat Night presented by 97.9 The Blitz. The all-you-can-eat package includes hot dogs, bratwurst, popcorn, peanuts (bagged) and a 22-ounce Pepsi product, for only $30. Single game tickets start at just $15 and are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, ticketmaster Ticket Centers, ticketmaster.com and all FSN Ohio Blue Line team stores located at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Chiller Easton, Chiller Dublin and Chiller North or by calling (877) COLS-AFL. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group rates by calling (614) 246-HITS.

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