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Destroyers Fall To Colorado Crush 50-47 In Season Opener

March 2, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


DENVER - The Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, dropped their 2008 season opener to the Colorado Crush 50-47 in front of 9,265 fans at Pepsi Center Sunday afternoon.

Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy completed 26-of-42 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Derek Lee, playing in his first game with the Destroyers (0-1), led all Columbus receivers with 10 receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

Crush quarterback John Dutton earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after completing 25-of-38 passes for 259 yards and six touchdowns. The Crush receiving corps was led by Ben Nelson who caught nine passes for 98 yards and three touchdowns and Willie Quinnie who also had nine receptions for 85 yards and three touchdowns.

Rookie wide receiver and return specialist Calvin Russell was named Ironman of the Game after he returned eight kickoffs for 232 yards (29 yard avg.), caught five passes for 30 yards and ran the ball once for a four-yard touchdown.

With the score 17-14 in favor of the Crush (1-0) and :51 remaining before half, the Destroyers took their first lead of the game, 21-17, as fullback Harold Wells scored on a two-yard run. The Crush responded with a seven-play drive culminating in a two-yard touchdown pass from Dutton to Nelson. The Crush took a 24-21 lead at the half.

The two teams traded touchdowns to open the third quarter. Nagy found rookie wide receivers Rasheed Marshall and Calvin Russell for a 32-yard and 5-yard touchdown, respectfully. After kicker Mark Lewis missed his second point after attempt the Destroyers took a 33-30 lead with 5:26 remaining in the third stanza.

With 1:50 remaining in the third Dutton found Nelson for a 7-yard touchdown that gave the Crush a 37-33 advantage. Russell returned the following kickoff 52 yards to the Colorado 4-yard line. Wells rushed in from the 1-yard line for his second touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Destroyers a 40-37 lead after three quarters.

After Dutton found Quinnie for a three-yard touchdown pass, Lewis missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. The Destroyers kicker had one field goal attempt blocked and also missed from 25 yards earlier in the contest. Fullback Jason Harmon sealed the game for the Crush with a three-yard touchdown run to push the Colorado lead to 50-40.

Nagy found Lee for a four-yard touchdown pass with: 34 remaining in the game and cut the Destroyers deficit to three points, 50-47. On the ensuing kickoff the Destroyers were ruled offside on an on-side kick attempt and the Crush ran the remaining time off the clock for the victory.

The Destroyers return to action on Friday, March 7 when they travel to take on the Dallas Desperados. Kickoff from American Airlines Center is set for 8:30 p.m. (ET). Coverage of the game on the Destroyers Radio Network will begin at 8 p.m. (ET) with Todd Walker and Rob Blackman.

The Destroyers will kick off their 2008 home schedule against division rival Cleveland Gladiators in the "Battle of the Buckeye State" presented by Columbus Worthington Air on Saturday, March 15. Kickoff at Nationwide Arena is slated for 7 p.m. The teams will be playing for the "Battle of the Buckeye State" Trophy sponsored by Columbus Worthington Air. Before kickoff, the team will raise the 2007 National Conference Championship Banner. The first 10,000 fans will receive a 2008 Destroyers magnet schedule. During the post game autograph session, presented by Nationwide, fans will be able to win a $10 gift certificate in the Giant Eagle Ham Toss.

WE BELIEVE that Saturdays are meant for football. The Destroyers 2008 home schedule features seven Saturday night games and one Monday night contest. For a limited time, fans can purchase two season tickets, two AFL replica footballs and two Destroyers hats for ONLY $222. The package can be purchased by calling (877) COLS-AFL. 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. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group rates by calling (614) 246-HITS.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 2, 2008


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