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Destroyers Look to Rebound Against Desperados

February 6, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


RECAP: The Columbus Destroyers suffered their first loss of the season this past Friday against the Nashville Kats on the road at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. A crowd of 10,941 saw the Kats win their home opener 53-27 over the Destroyers. Destroyers' offensive specialist Thabiti Davis caught six passes for 77 yards and a score, while wide receiver/linebacker David Saunders had six receptions for 52 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kats quarterback Clint Stoerner took home Offensive Player of the Game honors after he completed 18-of-28 passes for 237 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

THIS WEEK: The Destroyers return home to take on National Conference Eastern Division rival Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 11. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders dance squad will meet fans for a special pre-game autograph session and then perform at halftime. The Destroyers and Desperados have met four times with the Desperados holding a 3-1 edge.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The practice schedule for this week is below. Practices times and locations are subject to change. All practices at the Columbus FieldHouse are open to the public. Practices/Walk-Thru's at Nationwide Arena are closed to the public.

Day Event Time Place

Monday Off

Tuesday Practice 10:15 a.m.-12:35 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Wednesday Practice 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Thursday Practice 9:15-11:30 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Friday Walk-Thru 9:30-10:20 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Saturday Game vs. Dallas 7 p.m. Nationwide Arena

Sunday Film Review TBA Columbus Field House

FORWARD MOTION: Following Saturday's contest against Dallas, the Destroyers will hit the road to take on the expansion Kansas City Brigade on Sunday, Feb. 19, at Kemper Arena. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (ET). It will be the first meeting between the teams. The Brigade joined the Arena Football League this season and feature numerous members of the 2005 New Orleans VooDoo. With the VooDoo not playing the 2006 season due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the VooDoo players who were under contract were assigned to the Brigade. The VooDoo is expected to return to the AFL for the 2007 season.

BIG MEN UP FRONT: For the second time this season, the Destroyers offensive line did not allow a sack of quarterbacks John Kaleo or Billy Dicken. The zero sacks allowed ranks first in the Arena Football League. The stat stands out, especially with the Destroyers holding the Nashville Kats without a sack this past weekend. The Kats entered this past weekend's game with a League leading seven sacks, including four coming from fullback/linebacker Frank Carter. Nashville still leads the AFL in sacks by, but did not add to its total. The Dallas Desperados enter the game with two sacks to their name, both coming in this past weekend's game against the Utah Blaze.

NICE DEBUT: Destroyers wide receiver/defensive back Ira Gooch made his Destroyers debut this past Friday against Nashville and it was a good one. Gooch caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown, while just missing returning a kickoff for a touchdown. He returned that kickoff 47 yards to the Kats 9-yard line. Gooch joined the Destroyers this past off-season after two seasons in the Arena Football League, one each with Austin and New Orleans. He was signed to the Practice Squad to start the 2006 season and was signed to the Active Roster last Wednesday. In two seasons, Gooch has caught 82 passes for 1,141 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding 9.5 tackles (8UT-3AT), an interception and two pass breakups on defense.

SAUNDERS-KALEO CONNECTION: Destroyers wide receiver/linebacker David Saunders and quarterback John Kaleo have a history together. Prior to joining the Destroyers, the pair played together for two seasons in 2002 and 2003 and had connected five times or more in a game twice and did so last weekend against Grand Rapids. In those three games, the Storm/Destroyers won each time. Saturday the two connected six times for 52 yards and two touchdowns, but marked the first time that the duo has connected for five or more passes and lost.

ON THE AIR: As the Destroyers prepare for Dallas, fans can listen to the insiders' preview on "Destroyers Weekly" Monday, Feb. 6, from 7-8 p.m. on 107.1 The Big Wazoo in Columbus. The live hour-long show will be hosted by WLVQ/WAZU Sports Director "Archie" and a rotation of co-hosts from the Destroyers radio broadcast tandem of play-by-play announcers Marty Bannister and Steve Sefner. This week's show will feature offensive coordinator Ken Matous a special player appearance.

GAME PROMOTIONS: The Destroyers home game this Saturday, Feb. 11 against the Dallas Desperados, it will be Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Night presented By Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper. Back By Popular Demand, members of the world-renowned Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Dance Squad will meet fans for a special pre-game autograph session and then perform at halftime. This season the Destroyers will again team with the Mid-Ohio FoodBank to "Tackle Hunger" in Central Ohio. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food items to each home game for donation to the Mid-Ohio FoodBank. In turn, fans will receive one raffle ticket per donated food item for a chance to win a team-autographed, authentic AFL football. One winner will be announced during the fourth quarter of each game. Last season, the Destroyers raised enough resources to provide over 27,000 meals to those in need right here in our community.

TICKET INFORMATION: Single game tickets are now available starting as low as $10 and are 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.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 6, 2006


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