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Destroyers force five turnovers in 65-54 win over New York

March 3, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The name is Bond. Carl Bond.

The Columbus Destroyers offensive specialist caught nine passes for 190 yards and three scores to take home Offensive Player of the Game honors as he helped the Destroyers take home a 65-54 victory in front of 10,173 fans at Nassau Coliseum Friday night.

The defense stepped up big again, forcing five turnovers to help the team overcome an early 14-3 deficit to win for the second consecutive week and earn their first road and Eastern Division win of the season.

With the score tied at 45-45, Destroyers defensive specialist Jerald Brown picked off a Juston Wood pass at the Destroyers 16-yard line. It was the third straight game that Brown had intercepted a pass and fifth of the season.

Three plays later, quarterback John Kaleo scooted in from 1-yard out to give the Destroyers their first lead of the game. The extra point was blocked and returned by wide receiver/defensive back DeShane Dennis to put the score at 51-47 in favor of the Destroyers.

Wood gave the Dragons a 54-51 lead after a 2-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes, 11 seconds remaining. But the lead was short lived as the Destroyers scored on the ensuing play when Kaleo found Bond from 30-yards out to regain the lead at 58-54.

Defensive Player of the Game and Destroyers wide receiver/defensive back B.J. Barre snagged his second interception of the game to set up a fullback/linebacker Harold Wells 3-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 65-54. Defensive specialist Brandon Hefflin sealed the deal with the Destroyers fourth interception of the night to seal the victory.

The Dragons got on the board first when the rookie Wood, who was making his first career Arena Football League start, rushed over center from 1-yard out. Wood was starting in place of Aaron Garcia, who broke his right fibia in last weekend's game against Orlando. The Destroyers answered back when kicker Danny Kight drilled a 19-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

The running game kept going for the Dragons when fullback/linebacker Jeremiah Pharms scooted in from three yards out to push the Dragons lead to 14-3. After a Dragons field goal, the Destroyers wasted no time in cutting into the lead when Kaleo found wide receiver/defensive back B.J. Barre from 16 yards out to bring the Destroyers within 17-10.

The Dragons led 24-10 as the offensive battle continued. Kaleo hooked up with wide receiver/linebacker David Saunders, who made a nice over the shoulder catch, from 22 yards out to cut into the lead again, but the Dragons answered right back when Wood connected with wide receiver/linebacker Maurice Brown, despite a booming hit from Destroyers defensive specialist Jerald Brown, from 8 yards out to push the lead back to 31-17.

The Destroyers received some bad news at halftime, as the team would be without the services of fullback/linebacker Leroy Thompson (shoulder sprain) and defensive specialist Cecil Doggette (concussion), for the second half. They wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, scoring 29 seconds into the second half when Kaleo hooked up with Bond from 31 yards out to bring the Dragons lead to 31-24.

The Destroyers tied things up after Barre intercepted a Wood pass at the Destroyers 5-yard line. Kaleo found Bond again, this time from 18 yards out. Kight added the extra point to knot the score up at 31-31.

The Dragons would again answer, but then Destroyers wide receiver/linebacker Thabiti Davis took over. Davis caught a 2-yard touchdown to knot things up at 38-38. On the ensuing kickoff, Davis forced a fumble, which he recovered to set up the Destroyers at midfield.

However, on the ensuing Destroyers drive, a pass that went off the hands of Bond, then off the wall, fell right into the stomach of Dragons defensive specialist Dahnel Singfield, who returned the interception 38 yards to give the Dragons a 45-38 edge heading into the final frame.

Rookie fullback/linebacker Harold Wells, who played the majority of the second half in place of Thompson (offensive/defensive lineman Dan Rumishek played fullback/linebacker in the second half as well), scored on a run from 7 yards out to tie it at 45-45.

The Destroyers and Pepsi present "Dynamite Night," a nod to the cult comedy classic Napoleon Dynamite, when the Destroyers take on the Georgia Force on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena on Friday, Mar. 10 at 7 p.m.

The movie-themed evening includes a pre-game autograph session beginning at 6 p.m. with actor Jon Gries who played Napoleon's meddling Uncle Rico, the failed football star who refuses to give up his dream of getting back in the game. Gries will also be on hand to judge the halftime contest in which three previously selected finalists will do their best to recreate Napoleon's memorable dance sequence from the movie. The evening concludes with a post-game screening of Napoleon Dynamite at the Arena Grand Theatre open to all fans who present their game tickets.

The specially priced "Dynamite Night" ticket package starts at $19 and includes one game ticket, early entry at 5:30 p.m. for the pre-game autograph session with "Uncle Rico" and a "Vote 4 Pedro" t-shirt (while supplies last). To order, visit www.ColumbusDestroyers.com or call (614) 246-HITS. Please note that the previously advertised appearance of actor Efren Ramirez who played Pedro in Napoleon Dynamite has been cancelled due to scheduling conflict as Ramirez is currently shooting a new movie with Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Simpson.

Single game tickets starting as low as $10 are on sale now and pro-rated season tickets also available by calling (614) 246-HITS or by visiting www.ColumbusDestroyers.com. In addition, high school and college students (23 years and under) with a valid student ID may purchase a specially priced $7 ticket beginning two hours before each home game at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office only.

Individual tickets may also be purchased at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, or by phone at (614) 431-3600. Tickets are also available at the Blue Jackets Zones located at Chiller Dublin, Chiller Easton and Chiller North. All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.

Entering its fourth season, NBC will continue its coverage of the AFL on Sunday's throughout the season. Be sure to watch the AFL on NBC. Check your local listings for the game in your area.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2006


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