Columbus Destroyers fall to the Philadelphia Soul 51-43
Sunday May 18, 2008
Destroyers’ comeback falls short as Soul run the clock out in the fourth quarter
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, fell to the Philadelphia Soul 51-43 Saturday night at Wachovia Center in front of 18,741 fans.
Soul wide receiver Larry Brackins was named Offensive Player of the Game after hauling in eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Philadelphia defensive lineman Gabe Nyenhuis tallied 3.0 tackles (2UT-2AT), registered 1.5 sacks and a safety en route to being named Defensive Player of the Game.
The Destroyers were led by Matt Nagy who converted 23-of-35 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown. C.J. Johnson caught two touchdowns on five receptions for 61 yards. Rookie wide receiver Calvin Russell led the Destroyers with 125 yards hauling in five passes.
With the score tied 28-28, the Soul scored 16 unanswered points to end the third quarter. Soul quarterback Matt D’Orazio found Brackins for a seven-yard touchdown. On the ensuing Destroyers drive, Nagy was sacked by Nyenhuis in the end zone for a safety. Jackson capped off the Soul third quarter scoring as he caught his third touchdown of the game from 33 yards. Philadelphia led 44-28 at the end of three quarters.
The teams traded touchdowns to begin the fourth quarter, including a Nagy strike to Derek Lee for an 11-yard score. With 5:23 remaining in the game, Johnson made a leaping grab for a 12-yard touchdown, his second of the game. Nagy found Russell deep in the end zone for the two-point conversion and the Destroyers cut their deficit to eight points, 51-43.
The Soul was able to run the remaining time off the clock for their 10th win of the season. Philadelphia leads the all-time series between the two franchises 6-4.
The Destroyers return to action next Saturday May 24, when they host the New York Dragons on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET).
Saturday, May 24, is Motorsports 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 and a 22-ounce Pepsi product, for only $30.
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.
