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Destroyers Win National Conference Championship Game, 66-56

July 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


ATLANTA - The sixth seeded Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, won their fourth straight road game in a 66-56 win over the Georgia Force in front of 12,714 fans at Philips Arena Saturday afternoon. The Destroyers advance to the Arena Bowl for the first time in franchise history, Arena Bowl XXI will be played in New Orleans.

Quarterback Josh Harris played one offensive snap all game, but pitched the ball to wide receiver B.J. Barre, who passed to fellow wide out David Saunders for a 5-yard touchdown. Columbus recaptured the lead on that play and fullback Harold Wells ran in a two-point conversion to increase the lead to 56-49.

After the Destroyers defense made its sixth stop of the game, the two teams exchanged touchdowns to make the score 63-56. Kicker Peter Martinez sealed the victory for Columbus with a 31-yard field goal. He was 1-for-2 for the game.

The specials teams played well, with wide receiver Josh Bush returning five kicks for 113 yards, including a 40-yard return at the end of the first quarter. Wide receiver Cole Manger recovered numerous on-side kick attempts by Georgia throughout the fourth quarter.

Columbus played well on defense early, intercepting Greisen on Georgia's first possession and forcing a turnover on downs on the home team's second possession. After the second drive was halted, Nagy found Manger for an 8-yard touchdown catch and the first score of the game.

The Destroyers defense came up with one more stop in the opening 15-minutes, when defensive back Brandon Hefflin hit Force wide receiver Brent Holmes and caused him to fumble at the one-yard line. Defensive back B. J. Barre recovered the ball and ran it back to the Columbus 20-yard line. Columbus could not capitalize on the turnover and the Force were able to tie the game on a 25-yard pass catch from Greisen to Jackson.

The Destroyers scored four times in the second quarter to open up a 14-point lead. Within the first minute of the quarter, quarterback Matt Nagy found Saunders for an 8-yard touchdown. Nagy finished the game 23-for-34 for 209 yards with five touchdowns and one interception passing, and two rushed for two yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

On Georgia's ensuing possession Brown intercepted a Greisen pass in the end zone and ran 54-yards for a touchdown. The interception was his second of the game and gave Columbus a 21-7 lead.

The Force did score twice in the second and both were passing touchdowns by Greisen to wide receiver Chris Jackson. However, the Destroyers answered Georgia both times with scores of their own, a one-yard Nagy run and four-yard pass from Nagy to fullback Harold Wells. The later came with only five seconds remaining in the first half, staking Columbus to a 35-21 halftime lead.

Nagy opened the third quarter with a one-yard touchdown run, his second rushing score of the game, extending the lead to 41-21. Kicker Peter Martinez missed the extra-point, ending his streak of 33-straight made extra-points.

Georgia got back into the game in the third, scoring three times and pulling to within six points. Nagy did have a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Damien Groce for the Destroyers' second score of the quarter. For the game, Groce led all Columbus receivers with eight catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

The Destroyers advance to ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans and will face the American Conference Champion on Sunday, July 29 at 3 p.m. (ET). The American Conference Champion will be decided later today in the Conference title game between the Chicago Rush and the San Jose SaberCats. ArenaBowl XXI will be broadcast on ESPN with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic calling the action. The Destroyers Radio Network and flagship station WINK 107.1 FM will air ArenaBowl XXI with the pre-game show beginning at 2:30 p.m. (ET).

WE BELIEVE that you can never get enough football. Stay tuned to www.ColumbusDestroyers.com for updates on ticketing and lodging in New Orleans for ArenaBowl XXI. For information on 2008 Destroyers season tickets call (877) COLS-AFL. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group rates by calling (614) 246-HITS.

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