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D'Orazio sparks Destroyers to first win of the season

February 19, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, OHIO – Matt D'Orazio hit Cornelius White on a 16-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining in the first half and then connected with Damien Groce on 32-yard strike on the second play of the third quarter to break open a close game and propel the Columbus Destroyers to a 52-39 win over the Chicago Rush before a sellout crowd of 17,171 at Nationwide Arena. The win was Columbus' first of the season and the first for head coach Chris Spielman.

D'Orazio, making his first AFL start, finished the game with 308 total yards and five touchdowns, completing 26-of-33 passes for 281 yards, four touchdowns and one interception and adding 27 yards on eight rushes and one score. Receiver Cornelius White added a game-high 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns for the Destroyers. Sedrick Robinson added six catches for 40 yards and Damien Groce had 70 yards on five catches with one touchdown.

The Chicago attack was led by Jeremy McDaniel, who made seven catches for 73 yards and one touchdown. Raymond Philyaw finished 21-of-32 for 199 yards with one interception and three touchdowns.

Columbus never trailed in the game as it opened the scoring with a one-yard run by Chris Pope with 9:33 left in the first quarter. Both teams traded touchdowns before halftime, with White having two of the Destroyers' touchdowns.

Ahead 35-16 after the first half, the Destroyers' defense made its first interception of the season. DS JoJo Polk picked off Philyaw on Chicago's first series of the third quarter. Columbus then put up 14 unanswered points and led 49-26 at the end of the third.

Steve Videtich added a 32-yard field goal for Columbus with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter before Todd Hamel capped the scoring with a 2-yard run for Chicago.

Donvetis Franklin led Columbus with nine tackles, all solo, and added a pass breakup. DeJuan Alfonzo led Chicago with 8.5 tackles.

The Destroyers next play on Sunday, Feb. 27, when they travel to take on the Grand Rapids Rampage.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 19, 2005


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