Destroyers Fall In Season Opener
February 1, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(BUFFALO, NY)- The Buffalo Destroyers opened the 2003 season with a 54-36 defeat at the hands of the Grand Rapids Rampage Saturday night in front of 8,342 fans at the HSBC Arena.
Buffalo got on the board first as QB Jeff Loots hit OS Gunnard Twyner on a 25 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked. The score was set up by a DS JoJo Polk fumble recovery on Grand Rapids first possession. Grand Rapids fired back on the next possession with a touchdown as they led after the first quarter 7-6.
After a Buffalo missed a field goal, Rampage QB Clint Dolezel found OS Steve Smith in the end zone for the second time, Rampage led 14-6. Buffalo pulled within one, 14-13, as Loots threw a 20 yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Bret Cooper. After both teams traded touchdowns, Grand Rapids hit two field goals in the last minute and a half to Buffalo's one as the Rampage led at halftime, 27-22.
Buffalo failed to convert on a fourth down to start the third quarter and the Rampage made them pay with a Dolezel to Ricky Ross 11 yard touchdown. Buffalo shot right back as Loots found Twyner for the third time in the game as Buffalo again closed the gap to five, 34-29. Grand Rapids began to pull away after that scoring two unanswered touchdowns to go up 47-29 early in the fourth.
Buffalo brought the deficit to 11 when Loots found Cooper wide open in the end zone for a 29 yard score as Grand Rapids led, 47-36. On the ensuing drive for Grand Rapids, OL/DL Silas Demary sacked Dolezel as he fumbled and Buffalo had a chance to recover but couldn't. After the recovery, Grand Rapids was faced with a third and long but Cooper was flagged for a personal foul and Grand Rapids was awarded a first down and Buffalo could not catch up after that play.
Loots finished 17 of 32 for 246 yards and five touchdowns. Twyner had a game high 134 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns. Twyner also had a game high 204 all-purpose yards. Cooper added 62 receiving yards and two scores.
DS Dwaine Carpenter had a game high nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense. DS JoJo Polk added eight tackles and one pass defense.
Buffalo hosts the Carolina Cobras next Sunday, February 9 at 3 p.m. at the HSBC Arena. Season and group tickets are on sale. Call 716-881-4444 today!
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 1, 2003
- Rampage Sink Destroyers - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Destroyers Fall In Season Opener - Buffalo Destroyers
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