Destroyers defense shuts down Dragons in second half
May 24, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
The Columbus Destroyers allowed only six points in the second half, holding off the New York Dragons for a 43-41 victory on Saturday night. The Dragons rallied in the fourth quarter to pull within two with 41 seconds to play, but a failed two-point conversion preserved the win for the Destroyers.
"It wasn't from a lack of effort," said head coach Weylan Harding. "Our guys played their tails off. Columbus is not a bad team. They played hard. In my mind, the playoffs started early now. We have to take the last four."
QB Aaron Garcia led a deadly offensive attack in the first half, putting the Dragons (6-6) up 35-30 at the half with five touchdown passes. But in the second half, the Dragons failed to convert on their first two possessions.
Garcia was 19-of-20 for 200 yards and five touchdowns in the first half. He finished the game 30-of-40 for 295 yards and six touchdowns.
Receivers Jason Willis, Chris Anthony and Kevin Swayne each caught two touchdowns, but the team fell just short, losing for the second consecutive week.
Countering for the Destroyers was QB Matt Nagy, who 19-of-32 for 269 yards and four touchdowns. Destroyers receivers C.J. Johnson and Calvin Russell each hauled in two touchdown receptions. Nagy also had a rushing touchdown after fumbling the ball. FB Nate Ilaoa ran in a touchdown, while K Mark Lewiss kicked a 32-yard field goal to close out the first half.
After trailing 35-30 at the half, the Destroyers took control of the ball to begin the third quarter. They took nearly 11 minutes to complete their 56-yard drive that ended with Nagy scrambling into the end zone for a 36-35 Columbus lead.
The Dragons failed to convert on their next two possessions, turning the ball over on downs. In between the Dragons' drives, Nagy led Columbus to a 43-35 lead before LB Idris Price blocked a Lewis field goal.
"We had a couple of big fourth down situations that they stopped," said Harding. "We had an opportunity to stop them and we didn't."
The Dragons cut the lead to 43-41 on a four-yard passing touchdown between Garcia and Swayne, but couldn't complete the final passing play on the two-point conversion.
"We drove the ball down the field and got the score we needed," said Garcia. "But at the goal line play they just kept us out."
The Dragons are on the road again in Week 14, when they take on the Colorado Crush on Monday, June 2nd at 10:30pm EST. That game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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