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Destroyers hand Georgia first loss of season

March 30, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers presented by Germain jumped out to an early lead, fell behind late and rallied for a 62-61 win to hand the Georgia Force their first loss of the season in front of 12,103 fans on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena Friday night.

Destroyers' quarterback Matt Nagy, playing against his former team, was named Offensive Player of the Game after completing 20-of-30 passes for four touchdowns, while rushing for two more. Destroyers' defensive lineman Ken Jones was named Defensive Player of the game as he recorded 1.5 sacks for a combined loss of 10 yards and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Also earning notice was Destroyers' defensive back Jerald Brown, who had two interceptions and three pass breakups to go along with 4.5 tackles (3UT-3AT).

With the Destroyers (2-2) trailing 54-48 in the fourth quarter, they went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Nagy snuck in the corner of the end zone to knot the game 54-54 with 1:26 remaining. After a failed onside kick attempt by Columbus, Force quarterback Chris Greisen scored from a yard out to give the Force a 61-54 lead with 0:46 left.

Columbus marched right back when Nagy hit wide receiver Marcus Knight on a crossing pattern. Instead of going for the tie, the Destroyers went for two and connected when Nagy hit Knight again to make it 62-61 with 14 seconds left. The Force attempted a comeback, but was stopped by the Destroyers defense.

The second half started with the Force getting a defensive stop on the Destroyers opening drive. Georgia (4-1) marched down the field and scored when Greisen hit wide receiver Derek Lee in the back of the end zone from four yards out to pull within 41-34. On the ensuing Destroyers' drive, Nagy was picked off by defensive back Hamin Milligan at the Georgia 5-yard line. Two plays later, the game was knotted at 41-41 when wide receiver Chris Jackson caught a 9-yard pass in the end zone.

For the second time of the game the Destroyers returned the kickoff for a touchdown, this time Damien Groce had a 56-yard return, to push the lead to 48-41. Georgia knotted it up again when Greisen rushed in from two yards out. The ensuing kick clanged off the rebound net and into the hands of Georgia's Matt Huebner. The next play Greisen hit Bergeron for a 7-yard score and a 54-48 lead. Then Nagy took over.

Greisen finished the night completing 29-of-43 passes for 334 yards and seven scores and had two passes intercepted. Chris Jackson led the Force receiving corps with 13 receptions for 173 yards and three scores. Troy Bergeron had two touchdown grabs, as well.

The game opened with the Destroyers halting Georgia's first drive when linebacker Leroy Thompson and defensive lineman Ken Jones drilled Greisen in the backfield. As the trio fell to the ground, Jones stripped the ball from Greisen and gave Columbus the ball at the Georgia 17-yard line. Kicker Peter Martinez drilled a 26-yard field goal to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

With the Force leading 6-3, Groce followed the Force touchdown with a kickoff return to the Georgia 4-yard line. The next play, Nagy hit Groce for the score and a 10-6 lead. Defensive back Jerald Brown thwarted the next Force drive as he picked off Greisen at the Columbus 2-yard line. Two plays later, Nagy hit wide receiver Josh Bush on a short route. Bush then dodged his way around numerous Force defenders and scored a 22-yard touchdown to push the lead to 17-6. Up 17-13, Columbus answered with their second kickoff return for a touchdown in as many weeks, when Bush went 56 yards for the score and a 24-13 lead.

Wide receiver David Saunders improved his streak to 15 straight games with a 5-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter to push the Columbus lead to 31-20. Brown then picked of his second pass of the game with 4:07 left in the first half. Columbus capitalized and pushed the lead to 38-20 when Nagy rushed in from four yards out. Georgia cut the lead to 38-27 with 11 seconds left in the first half when Greisen hit Jackson for the second time in the half for a 7-yard score. Martinez punched through a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for a 41-27 halftime lead.

The Destroyers return to action next week when they visit the Dallas Desperados. Kickoff at American Airlines Center is set for 8:30 p.m. ET with live coverage on the Destroyers Radio Network and flagship station WINK 107.1 FM beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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.

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