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Destroyers fall in home opener

March 24, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers presented by Germain opened the home portion of their 2007 schedule on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena Saturday night and fell 55-47 to the defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush. A crowd of 16,390 was on hand.

Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio was named Offensive Player of the Game after accounting for all but one of Chicago's touchdowns. He completed 23-of-36 passes for 215 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for two scores as well. Chicago defense back DeJuan Alfonzo was named Defensive Player of the game as recorded 6.5 tackles (6UT-1AT) and recovered a fumble in the endzone. E.J. Burt was a force for the Rush as well, adding two sacks and forced two fumbles.

Leading 48-40, Burt forced his second fumble of the night with the Destroyers deep in their own territory. Alfonzo recovered the ball in the end zone to give Chicago a 55-40 lead, one that would not be relinquished.

Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy completed 16-of-28 passes for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores. David Saunders led the receiving corps with six receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Harold Wells and Brad Greetis also had rushing touchdowns for the Destroyers.

The Destroyers were the first to get on the board when Nagy hooked up with Saunders from 11 yards out. It was the 14th straight game in which Saunders has caught a touchdown pass and the third straight game he scored on the Destroyers' opening drive.

The Rush answered back with a pair of 6-yard touchdown passes from D'Orazio to Bobby Sippio. After his first touchdown grab, the Rush recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Two plays later Sippio snagged his second. Sippio finished the night, leading all receivers with 10 receptions for 118 yards and three touchdowns.

With the score knotted at 14-14, Sippio struck again, this time from 17 yards to put the visitors up 21-14. After the Rush defense forced a three-and-out, Chicago added to the lead when D'Orazio punched it in from 1-yard out. Nagy cut the lead to 28-21 when he pump faked defensive back Jeremy Unertl and rushed in from six yards out. Rush kicker Dan Frantz gave Chicago a 10-point lead with a 43-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

Trailing 38-21, Nagy again cut the lead to 10 with a 3-yard run. Chicago pushed the lead to 45-28 when D'Orazio hit Ahmad Merritt for a 33-yard score, only to be answered seconds later when Josh Bush returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards for a touchdown, the first Destroyer to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Destroyers took over at the Rush 10-yard line and four plays later Saunders added his second score of the night, this time a 5-yard hookup with Nagy, to cut the lead to 45-40. Frantz made it 48-40 with a 28-yard field goal.

The Destroyers return to action next week when they host the Georgia Force. Kickoff on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. with live coverage on Columbus Sports Network beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game will also broadcast live on the Destroyers Radio Network and flagship station WINK 107.1 FM.

The Huntington $10 Ticket Blitz continues for every home game during the 2007 Destroyers season. A minimum of 225 lower bowl seats will be available for $10 at the Nationwide Arena Box Office two hours prior to every home game. The regular price on lower bowl seats is $26.

The Destroyers and Giant Eagle are teaming up with the Mid-Ohio FoodBank to TACKLE HUNGER in Central Ohio. Last year, with the help fans, the Destroyers raised enough resources to provide over 27,000 meals to those in need. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to all Destroyers home games to receive a raffle ticket. In addition to the food drive, if fans bring a non-perishable food item from Giant Eagle they will receive a voucher for $3 off a regularly priced ticket.

WE BELIEVE that you can never get enough football. Season tickets for the 2007 season are available starting at $99 by calling (877) COLS-AFL or by visiting www.ColumbusDestroyers.com. Also for a limited time, fans may purchase a special season ticket package that includes two season tickets, two replica AFL footballs and two Destroyers hats for $198. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group rates by calling (614) 246-HITS.

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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.

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