Destroyers outshoot Gladiators 53-51
April 20, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(BUFFALO, NY)- The Buffalo Destroyers and New Jersey Gladiators put on quite a show to kickoff the 2002 Arena Football League season as the Destroyers defeated the Gladiators 53-51 Friday night as the HSBC Arena.
The Destroyers jumped out to a 21-3 lead after the first quarter, but the Gladiators battled back outscoring Buffalo 28-13 in the second quarter as Buffalo held on to the lead at halftime 34-31. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third and gave the 7,093 fans in attendance a great performance in the fourth. Destroyers WR/DB Eddie Brown picked off a Jay McDonagh pass and returned it 23 yards to the five yard line midway through the fourth and QB Fred McNair ran in a two yard touchdown as the Destroyers took the lead for good at 53-45.
"We got off to a great start, but they took our best punch and came back," said Destroyers head coach and general manager Ray Bentley. "We finished strong, which was huge."
McNair was 16 of 21 for 191 yards and five touchdowns. In the process, McNair passed Mike Pawlawski for seventh place on the AFL's all-time career passing yards list now standing at 16,782 yards (Pawlaswski, now eighth, has 16,673 career yards).
Buffalo wins their season opener for the second straight year as they go to 1-0, New Jersey falls 0-1.
The Destroyers hit the road for a two game road trip starting next Sunday, April 28 at New York. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM. The Destroyers return home Saturday, May 11 as they host the Detroit Fury at 7:30 PM in the HSBC Arena. Season and single game tickets are on sale now, call 881-4444 today!
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 20, 2002
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- Friday Night Recaps - AFL I
- Destroyers outshoot Gladiators 53-51 - Buffalo Destroyers
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