Kats Fall to Destroyers 58-56 in Opener
March 1, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The Nashville Kats started the 2007 season with a bang, but eventually fell to the Columbus Destroyers 58-47 in the season opener for both teams at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Kats started the season right by scoring on the third offensive play of the game on a 33-yard pass completion from Kats quarterback Clint Stoerner to wide receiver Cornelius Bonner. The Destroyers answered quickly with a 53-yard kickoff return and then a five-yard touchdown pass. After a failed Nashville drive, Kats defensive back Keon Raymond got the ball back to the offense by intercepting a Columbus pass. Nashville fullback Dan Alexander made Columbus pay scoring on a six-yard rush. The Kats missed the extra point, but held a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rampage didn't stay down long though on a points-filled second quarter. Columbus scored seven points on the third play of the second quarter to take a one point lead. The Rampage advantage didn't last long as Nashville drove down the field. Bonner and Stoerner hooked up for the second time to make the score 20-14. Only one offensive play later, Columbus scored another touchdown and went back ahead 21-20. Two plays later, Alexander scored again to give the Kats another lead. The Kats missed their second extra point to make the score 26-21. The Rampage answered on a long drive taking the lead 28-26. With 36 seconds left in the half, Kats kicker Jay Witczak made a 53-yard field goal, but Columbus kicker Peter Martinez hit a field goal with no time remaining to make the score 31-29 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Kats offense struggled to get started while the Columbus offense scored two touchdowns. Columbus quarterback Matt Nagy found wide receiver Darcey Levy twice for touchdown passes making the score 44-29 at the end of the third quarter. Nashville blocked the extra point after the second touchdown.
The Nashville offense found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring on their first two possessions. Alexander rushed for his third TD on the first possession and then Stoerner found wide receiver Alonzo Nix for the second score. The Kats failed to convert on a two-point conversion after the second touchdown, making the score 44-42. Columbus extended their lead with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but Nashville answered with a TD of their own. Bonner and Stoerner combined for their third TD of the game, this time a 25-yard pass completion, to close the gap to 51-49. With one minute remaining, the Destroyers scored on a rushing touchdown but the Kats would not quit. Stoerner completed his fifth TD pass of the game when he connected with Jason Shelley for an 11-yard score with 18 seconds remaining. After a Kats failed onside kick, the Destroyers ran out the clock with a 58-56 victory.
Before a crowd of 8,843, Stoerner completed 23-of-39 for 325 yards and five touchdowns while Nagy threw for seven TD's on 23-of-35. Both quarterbacks threw one interception. For the Kats, Bonner caught eight passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Damien Groce of the Destroyers caught 11 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Alexander also tallied three touchdowns on seven carries and 23 yards.
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