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Destroyers visit new Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. to take on 1-8 Brigade

May 5, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers will make their first-road trip in nearly a month when they take on the Kansas City Brigade on Saturday, May 10. Kickoff at Sprint Center is set for 6 p.m. (ET). Below is a look ahead at this week's opponent, practice schedule, team news and notes and broadcast information.

DESTROYERS/BRIGADE PREVIEW: Saturday's contest marks the third all-time meeting between the two franchises, with the Brigade victorious in both games. In the first-ever meeting, on Feb. 19, 2006, Columbus was held to its lowest point total scored in a game, since the franchise moved from Buffalo in 2004, in a 45-24 loss.

Last season, Kansas City made their first trip to Columbus on June 8 and won 47-34 behind seven touchdown passes from quarterback Raymond Philyaw (now with the Cleveland Gladiators). The Brigade forced five sacks (most sacks allowed in a game by the Destroyers in 2007) and capitalized on 10 Destroyers penalties.

The Brigade is led by first-year quarterback D. Bryant. In five games the former Duke University basketball player has completed 123-of-194 for 1,344 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Kansas City offense features the second-rated running attack in the AFL, averaging over 30 yards per game. Former Michigan State fullback Dawan Moss leads the way with 35 carries for 115 yards (sixth in the AFL) and four touchdowns.

A few familiar faces will have landed in Kansas City by way of free agency. Former Destroyers defensive back and 2006 AFL Defensive Player of the Year Jerald Brown and kicker Peter Martinez have joined the Brigade in 2008. Brown is tied for sixth in the AFL with five interceptions, while Martinez has converted 53-of-58 point after attempts and 3-of-9 field goal attempts, including a League-high 58-yard attempt last week against the Utah Blaze.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The practice schedule for this week is below. Practice times and locations are subject to change. All practices at the Columbus FieldHouse (6124 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229) are open to the public. Practices/Walk-Thru's at Nationwide Arena are closed.

Day Event Time Place

Tuesday Practice/Conditioning 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Wednesday Practice/Conditioning 9:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Thursday Practice 9-11:40 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

Friday Walk-Thru 7-8 a.m. Columbus FieldHouse

REACHING MILESTONES: Fullback Harold Wells has played in 37-career AFL games, all with the Destroyers. Last Saturday night against the Dallas Desperados, he became just the 27th player in AFL history to rush for 500 yards and score 30 rushing touchdowns. In his fourth season out of Gardner Webb, Wells is the franchise's all-time leading rusher, carrying the ball 177 times for 501 yards and 30 touchdowns.

NO RETURN POLICY: The Columbus Destroyers and Kansas City Brigade are two-of-four teams in the AFL not to give up a kick return for touchdown this season - the others being the Philadelphia Soul and the Grand Rapids Rampage. This season the Destroyers are the only team in the league not to give up a miscellaneous touchdown, which includes kick returns for touchdowns, fumble recovery returns for touchdowns and interception returns for touchdowns. The last time the Destroyers gave up a miscellaneous touchdown in the regular season was June 2, 2007, at Georgia last season, when the Force recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score, a streak of 12 games.

ON THE AIRWAVES: This week's contest between the Destroyers and Brigade can be heard on your home for Destroyers football, WNNK 107.1 FM, with the broadcast tandem of Todd Walker (play-by-play) and Rob Blackman (color commentator) on the call. Tune in at 5:30 p.m. (ET) as the Destroyers pre-game show gets underway with a one-on-one interview with Destroyers Head Coach Doug Kay, player interviews and insider information.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Saturday, May 24, is Motor Sports Night presented by Marathon. Vehicles that are scheduled to appear are: the Marathon #45 Kyle Petty car, the Jeff Gordon simulator and the #30 Lumber Liquidators Toyota Tundra show truck from Germain Racing. For the remainder of the Destroyers home schedule, fans are invited to the "Budweiser Tailgate Zone" on the McConnell St. plaza from 5-7 p.m. for beer from Budweiser, Bud Select and Bud Light, food from Roosters and Donatos, prize giveaways and music from QFM 96, 95.5 The Hawk and WINK 107.1 FM. Fans can also purchase tickets for All You Can Eat Night presented by 99.7 The Rock. The all-you-can-eat package includes hot dogs, bratwurst, popcorn, peanuts (bagged) and a 22-ounce Pepsi product, for only $30.

TICKET INFORMATION: Single game tickets starting at just $15 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, ticketmaster Ticket Centers, ticketmaster.com, ColumbusDestroyers.com and FSN Ohio Blue Line team stores located at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, Chiller Easton, Chiller Dublin and Chiller North. Only on game nights, the Huntington $10 Ticket Blitz offers available lower bowl seats, regularly priced at $26, for just $10 at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office two hours prior to game time. Also two hours before kickoff at the arena ticket office, college and high school students with a valid full-time student ID can purchase Raising Cane's Student Tickets for just $7. Students receive a voucher for a FREE Raising Cane's box combo with each ticket purchased.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 5, 2008


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