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Destroyers pick off Wranglers, 40-33

April 29, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - Call 'em the comeback kids.

Columbus Destroyers' wide receiver/defensive back and ADT Defensive Player of the Game B.J. Barre intercepted a John Fitzgerald pass in the end zone as time expired, as the Destroyers again rallied and held off an opponent to defeat the Austin Wranglers 40-33 in front of 10,340 fans at the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday night. The Destroyers (7-7) set a franchise record for wins in a season and road victories with the win.

Again, it was the Destroyers defense that forced four Austin, second half turnovers, coupled with a solid ground game and kicking that helped them overcome a 26-16 halftime deficit. All four turnovers came either at the goal line or in the end zone. The first stop came on the first play of the second half.

The second half appeared to start our perfectly for the Wranglers when wide receiver/defensive back Sedrick Robinson returned the second half kickoff all the way back to the Destroyers 1-yard line only to have the ball poked away by wide receiver/defensive back B.J. Barre. The ball was recovered in the end zone by defensive specialist Brandon Hefflin, his fourth of the season, which ties him for the League lead. Kicker Mark Lewis drilled a 26-yard field goal to cut the Wranglers lead to 26-19.

The Destroyers then got a huge defensive stop inside the red zone. After Austin was stopped once in the red zone, a penalty on third down gave the Wranglers a second chance, but an attempt on third down from the 1-yard line, fullback/linebacker Torrance Marshall fumbled before he got to the end zone. Destroyers' fullback/linebacker Brad Greetis recovered the ball at the Destroyers 1-yard line.

Quarterback John Kaleo hit wide receiver/linebacker Carl Bond on a 46-yard pass to set the Destroyers up at the Austin 3-yard line. A few plays later, fullback/linebacker Leroy Thompson plunged in from 1-yard out to tie the game 26-26.

Destroyers' defensive specialist Jerald Brown just missed snagging his 11th interception of the season at the goal line, but the ball popped loose. On the next play, the Wranglers regained the lead on the following possession when Fitzgerald hit wide receiver/defensive back Kevin Nickerson in the right corner of the end zone from 21 yards out to give Austin a 33-26 lead with 9:59 left.

Austin attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but an alert wide receiver/defensive back Marcus Knight punched the ball into the stands. The Destroyers tied the game up when the rookie, Greetis, scored from 1-yard out to knot it up at 33-33 with 7:24 left.

The Wranglers marched deep into Destroyers territory, but were stopped when Brown intercepted his League-leading 11th pass of the season in the end zone. Kaleo then hit Saunders from four yards out to give the Destroyers a 40-33 lead with 1:27 remaining.

The Wranglers then utilized the clock to march deep into Destroyers territory. Fullback/linebacker Dan Krager tried to rush in from three yards out on third down, but was stopped at the Columbus 1-yard line. Fitzgerald scrambed from pressure and floated a pass that Barre picked off.

Destroyers' kicker Mark Lewis made all four of his field goal attempts, from 21, 17, 37 and 26 yards, as well as hitting all four extra point attempts to take home Offensive Player of the Game honors. Lewis has now made 36 consecutive extra points.

Saunders was named Ironman of the Game after he caught 10 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns and added 1.5 tackles (1UT-1AT) on defense.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Destroyers marched down the field and scored when Kaleo hit David Saunders on a 9-yard touchdown pass. It was the 10th straight game in which Saunders caught a touchdown pass.

The Wranglers answer right back when Fitzgerald fired a pass to offensive specialist Derrick Lewis, who scored from four yards out to tie the game 7-7. The Destroyers marched down the field once again and got to the Wranglers' 4-yard line, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Lewis to take a 10-7 lead.

The Wranglers took their first lead of the game on the ensuing possession. Fitzgerald and Lewis hooked up again on a 26-yard score. Kicker Todd Sievers missed the extra point to make it 13-10 in favor of Austin. After a defensive stop, the Wranglers added to the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Krager to push the lead to 20-10 with 7 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the first half.

After Austin scored with 0:11 left in the first half, the Destroyers came right back and brought the score to 26-16 at the break after Lewis drilled his second field goal of the night, this time a 37-yard field goal. This started the second half action.

The Destroyers will return home for their final home game of the regular season when they host the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday, May 6. Kickoff on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. It's Rooster's Wing Bash & Dispatch/Mix 97.1 Family Night. Rooster's presents a pre-game party featuring live entertainment, Rooster's wings and Bud Light on the McConnell Street Plaza for the final regular-season game.

Single game tickets starting as low as $10 are on sale now 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 Saturday's 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 Sundays throughout the season. Be sure to watch the AFL on NBC. Check local listings for complete details.

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