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Destroyers Stop Rampage 59-56

May 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers presented by Germain used a solid offensive performance and held off a late Grand Rapids charge to win their fifth-straight home game in a 59-56 win over the Rampage in front of 12,014 fans on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena Friday night.

Destroyers' wide receiver/defensive back B.J. Barre earned Ironman of the Game honors after he caught a 9-yard touchdown pass, rushed for a score and added eight tackles (7UT-2AT) and one pass breakup on defense. Destroyers' defensive back Brandon Hefflin was named Defensive Player of the game as he led all tacklers with 10 tackles (9UT-2AT) and two pass breakups. Rampage wide receiver Timon Marshall was named Offensive Player of the game after he caught a game-high13 passes for 114 yards and six touchdowns.

Columbus quarterback Matt Nagy had a stellar night. He completed his first 12 pass attempts of the game before throwing an incompletion midway through the second quarter. He finished the night completing 16-of-23 passes for 173 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions.

The teams traded scores to start the fourth quarter prior to Grand Rapids scoring with 3:25 left in the game to cut the lead to 59-48. Chad Salisbury hit Marshall for his sixth touchdown of the game, this time from three yards out. The Rampage recovered the ensuing onside kick and pulled within three after Salisbury found wide receiver Jermaine Lewis in the end zone for a 4-yard score. Destroyers' backup quarterback Scott Dreisbach recovered the ensuing onside kick and Columbus ran out the clock to notch the win.

Rampage fullback Chris Ryan opened the second half the way he closed the first half with a 1-yard touchdown run. The latter cut the Destroyers lead to 34-29 less than five minutes into the second quarter. After Brandon Hefflin recovered an onside kick, Columbus pushed the lead back to 41-29 when Barre scored from two yards out. The ensuing kickoff clanged off the upright and bounced right into the hands of Columbus' Jason Shelley. Two plays later Nagy was in the end zone and Columbus led 48-29.

After Marshall caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Chad Salisbury to bring the Rampage within 48-35, Wells scored his third touchdown of the game, this time an 8-yard touchdown reception from Nagy. After a two-point conversion, Columbus led 56-35, which they took into the fourth quarter.

Barre picked up right where he left off a week ago, scoring on a 4-yard reception on the Destroyers first drive of the game. Up 7-6, Columbus added to their lead with a Nagy 20-yard touchdown pass to fullback Harold Wells. Salisbury and Marshall connected for the second time of the quarter, this time from 11 yards out to bring the visitors within one.

Columbus opened the second quarter when Nagy hit wide receiver Marcus Knight for a 19-yard score to make it 20-13. After a missed field goal attempt by Grand Rapids, Wells capped a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The Destroyers answered a Rampage field goal with a 56-yard kickoff return by Groce to push the lead to 34-16. Ryan's first 1-yard touchdown made it 34-22 at the half.

The Destroyers return to action next week when they visit the Colorado Crush. Kickoff at Pepsi Center is set for 9 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on the Destroyers Radio Network and flagship station WINK 107.1 FM.

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.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 11, 2007


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