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Three turnovers hands Destroyers fifth straight loss on the road

June 2, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


ATLANTA - The Columbus Destroyers (6-7), presented by Germain, lost to the Georgia Force 54-33 in front of 10,681 fans at Philips Arena Saturday night. The win gives the Force (11-2) the 2007 Southern Division crown. By virtue of a Tampa Bay Storm (6-7) victory over the New Orleans VooDoo, the Destroyers now sit in fifth position in the Mitusbishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXI National Conference standings.

Destroyers quarterback Matt Nagy, facing his former team for the second time this season, finished 29-of-48 for 270 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Key turnovers by Damien Groce on a kickoff resulted in a recovery for touchdown by the Force. Groce who came into the game with two fumbles on the season, fumbled the football on two straight kickoff return attempts spanning :41 seconds in the third quarter.

Force quarterback Chris Greisen was named Offensive Player of the Game after completing 20-of-27 passes for 207 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Force defensive back Hamin Milligan was named Defensive Player of the game as he stripped a kickoff out of Groce's hands and fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the touchdown. On the night Milligan finished with five tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

With the score 6-0 in favor of the Force, Nagy capped off a 12-play drive spanning 8:24 as he found David Saunders for a 2-yard touchdown pass. The score extends Saunders' consecutive touchdown reception streak to 19 games. The Destroyers led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Wide receiver Marcus Knight caught his fifth touchdown reception of his 2007 campaign as Nagy threaded a ball threw the defense from 4-yards. During the last minute of play in the half, possession changed hands twice as the Destroyers lost the ball on downs on the Force 17-yard line with :57 seconds left. On the ensuing Force drive Greisen fumbled the snap on the Destroyers 5-yard line with :06 seconds remaining in the half. The Force led 19-13 at the half.

Following the Force's second defensive stop of the night, Greisen found Chris Jackson for a 14-yard one-handed grab for the touchdown. On the following kickoff, Groce was stripped of the ball on the 1-yard line and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Milligan. The Force took a 19 point lead with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter. Following a second fumble by Groce on a kickoff return, linebacker Jason Shelley intercepted a Greisen pass in the end zone.

Groce opened the scoring on the final quarter as he scampered in from 1-yard out, his third rushing touchdown of the season. Force wide receiver Troy Bergeron caught his second touchdown of the game as he slipped by the Destroyers secondary catching a 19-yard pass. Following a successful 2-point conversion the Force took a commanding 21-point lead with 8:49 remaining in regulation.

The teams traded touchdowns before Nagy threw his only interception of the game to defensive back Jarric Hillery, who was named Ironman of the Game after scoring a rushing touchdown and accumulating three tackles. On the very next play Greisen found Jackson for his second score of the game from eight yards. With :52 seconds remaining Groce scored his 24th touchdown of the season on a 44-yard strike from Nagy. With that catch Groce is now the franchise leader for touchdown receptions in a season.

The Destroyers return to action next week when they host the Kansas City Brigade in the home finale of the 2007 regular season on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena. The game will broadcast live on the Destroyers Radio Network and flagship station WINK 107.1 FM with the pre-game show beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET). The game will also be broadcast on the Columbus Sports Network with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

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 June 2, 2007


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