Sports stats



Destroyers outlast Desperados in Texas shootout

May 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


DALLAS – On the strength of 26 fourth quarter points and a late interception by wide receiver/linebacker Titcus Pettigrew, the Columbus Destroyers captured their second consecutive victory and sixth overall with a 68-56 decision over the host Dallas Desperados at the American Airlines Center Saturday night. The win gave Columbus back-to-back victories for the second time this season and improved their overall mark to 6-9 with one regular season contest remaining. With the loss, Dallas fell to 6-9 on the season.

The 68 points scored by the Destroyers were the most this season and marked the highest offensive output as a team since the Buffalo Destroyers posted 79 points in a win over New Jersey on June 25, 2000.

Trailing 62-56 with less than a minute remaining, Dallas had the ball at the Columbus three yard-line and was on the verge of capturing the go-ahead score. However, in an attempt to throw the ball away on a busted play, Dallas quarterback Scott Dreisbach threw the ball off the rebound which ricocheted into the hands of Pettigrew to seal the win for the Destroyers.

Quarterback Ryan Vena led Columbus to victory, completing 15-of-22 pass attempts for 245 yards and a season-high eight touchdowns. He also led the team with 21 rushing yards and added his team-best eleventh rushing touchdown of the season. Vena now has 218 yards rushing this season, leaving him only six yards short of becoming the Destroyers' all-time leading rusher. Offensive specialist Sedrick Robinson was nothing short of spectacular once again, leading all receivers with seven catches for 125 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned five kicks for 153 yards and registered his fifth return for a touchdown, giving him a total of five touchdowns and 280 all-purpose yards in the game. Robinson's 30 points scored tied a franchise record and his fifth return for touchdown set a franchise record for a single season.

Dreisbach finished 27-of-38 passing for 316 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in a losing effort. Bobby Sippio led Dallas with eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Will Pettis who caught eight balls for 73 yards and a score.

Robinson provided the scoring early on, finding the endzone only ninety seconds into the contest for the first of his five touchdowns in the game. Robinson hauled in a Vena pass near the boards, stopped on a dime and left Dallas defensive specialist Derek Stingley on the turf completing the 20-yard touchdown play. Dallas would follow suit, scoring on their opening possession of the game on an acrobatic one-handed eight-yard touchdown reception courtesy of receiver Will Pettis. The ensuing extra point was unsuccessful however, giving Columbus a 7-6 advantage midway through the first quarter.

Robinson added his second score of the game on a six-yard reception in the back of the endzone to extend Columbus' lead to eight with 5:36 left in the opening quarter. Dallas would keep pace with Columbus on the strength of a one-play, 45-yard touchdown strike from Dreisbach to offensive specialist Jason Shelly. The score pulled Dallas to within one point of Columbus at 14-13 with 4:00 remaining in the first quarter.

Columbus and Dallas would trade scores during the ensuing fourteen minutes of play. Dallas made up for the earlier missed extra point, successfully completing a two-point conversion following a two-yard run from fullback Ja'Mar Toombs. Backup quarterback Glen Gauntt took the ball in himself to tie the score at 28 with 4:30 left in the first half.

The Destroyers responded with their fifth touchdown of the game on five possessions, this time in spectacular fashion. Following the Toombs score, Robinson returned kicker Carlos Martinez' kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown to give Columbus a 35-28 lead with 3:18 left in the opening half of play. The return for a score was Robinson's fifth of the season, which set a Destroyers' franchise record for a single season.

After giving up touchdowns on four consecutive Dallas possessions, Columbus found what they were looking for; a defensive stop on a Desperado turnover. Dallas Tight end Chad Pegues fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Destroyers at the Columbus 21 yard-line with just over one minute remaining in the half. Columbus would give the ball right back however as Vena was intercepted by Pettis who returned the ball all the way to the house. However, Dallas was penalized for a holding, giving them possession at midfield.

With the aid of three consecutive Columbus defensive penalties, Dallas moved the ball 25 yards down field prior to a one-yard touchdown on a keeper from Dreisbach to re-tie the score at 35 apiece at the break.

Dallas claimed possession of the ball to open up the second half and made the most of the opportunity to take the lead. Four plays later, Dallas found themselves with the lead for the first time in the contest following a 20-yard scamper from fullback Duke Pettijohn. With the score, Dallas took a 41-35 advantage with 12:24 left in the third quarter.

The two teams continued to trade touchdowns throughout the remainder of the third quarter and on into the fourth. Gunnard Twyner, who finished with 15 yards receiving and two scores, notched his second score of the game late in the third quarter and lineman LaKendrick Jones registered his third receiving touchdown of the season early in the fourth for the Destroyers.

With the game tied midway through the final quarter, Dallas re-gained the advantage on Sippio's second touchdown of the game with 5:46 left on the clock. The Desperados' seven-point lead would be short-lived however, as Destroyers receiver Cornelius White got into the scoring action, hauling in a Vena pass for a 31-yard pas play. White finished with four catches for 64 yards and a score. The touchdown tied the game once again at 56.

A late interception from defensive specialist Del Lee proved to be the pivotal play. Lee picked off a deep Dreisbach pass attempt and returned the ball 30 yards to the Dallas 18 yard-line. Robinson then gave the Destroyers the lead for good following his fourth score of the game on an 18-yard touchdown play to make the score 62-56 with 1:37 remaining prior to Pettigrew's game-sealing interception.

The Destroyers conclude the 2004 season next Sunday, May 30 when the travel to Las Vegas to face the Gladiators at the Thomas & Mack Center.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 23, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Columbus Destroyers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central