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Destroyers fall in season opener at Nationwide Arena

January 28, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OH – Nashville quarterback Leon Murray hit fullback Dan Alexander with a 24-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter that erased a 38-33 deficit and then scored on a six-yard run in the game's final minute to lift the Nashville Kats to 47-38 win over the Columbus Destroyers before a sold out crowd of 17,171 at Nationwide Arena. The win marked Nashville's first in the AFL since 2001 and spoiled the coaching debut of Columbus' Chris Spielman.

Murray finished the game with 268 total yards and five touchdowns, completing 25-of-35 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and adding 36 yards on seven rushes and two scores. Fred Coleman made a game-high nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown and Alexander carried the ball six times for 25 yards and a touchdown to pace the Kats offense.

The Columbus attack was led by Damien Groce, who made seven catches for a game-high 113 yards and two touchdowns in his Destroyers debut. Cornelius White added five catches for 85 yards and two scores for Columbus. Chad Salisbury, who completed 17-of-32 passes for 236 yards with four touchdowns, scored on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Steve Viditech's PAT gave the Destroyers a 38-33 lead. Alexander's touchdown reception on the ensuing Nashville possession marked the sixth and final lead change of the game.

After successfully recovering an onside kick to open the game, Columbus jumped out to a 7-0 lead as Salisbury hooked up with Groce from 35 yards out on the first play of the game. Nashville scored the game's next 14 points before Salisbury and Groce hooked up again, this time from 45 yards at the 7:24 mark of the second quarter to tie the game at 14.

Trailing 20-14, Salisbury hit White from 13 yards out to give the Destroyers a 21-20 lead with one minute left in the first half. The Kats responded, however, covering 40 yards on five plays, culminating with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Murray to Coleman with just one second left in the half. Gary Kral's PAT gave Nashville a 26-21 lead at halftime.

The second half began with another long Destroyers score as Salisbury hit White on a 30-yard strike at the 14:04 mark and Steve Viditech added a 20-yard field goal to give Columbus a 31-26 lead midway through the third quarter. Murray put the Kats back on top when he found paydirt from one-yard out as Nashville took a 33-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Donvetis Franklin paced the Destroyers defense with 10.5 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in his first game with the club. Sedrick Robinson and Lenzie Jackson each added 5.5 tackles. The Kats defense was paced by Jarrick Hillery, who made 5.5 tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up another.

The Destroyers have a bye week in week two and return to action on Sunday, February 13, when they travel to Dallas to take on the Desperados.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 28, 2005


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