Columbus Destroyers Fall 55-33 to San Jose SaberCats in ArenaBowl XXI
Sunday July 29, 2007
Turnovers prove costly in club's first championship game appearance
NEW ORLEANS - The Columbus Destroyers presented by Germain committed two costly turnovers and were unable to recover in a 55-33 loss to the San Jose SaberCats in ArenaBowl XXI New Orleans on Sunday. A record neutral site crowd of 15,147 was on hand at New Orleans Arena.
San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb was named the game's Offensive Player of the Game and Mitsubishi Motors MVP of the Game after he completed 24-of-29 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. San Jose defensive back Omarr Smith earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors after he recorded a game-high nine tackles (9UT-0AT) with one tackle for a loss and interception and two pass breakups. Ironman of the Game honors went to San Jose's Phil Glover, who had one rushing touchdown and three tackles (2UT-2AT).
After the Destroyers tied the score 14-14 early in the second quarter, San Jose's Trestin George returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown when he went 56 yards - the third longest in ArenaBowl history - for the score and a 20-14 lead. On the next Destroyers drive, quarterback Matt Nagy had a pass attempt tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Clevan Thomas. Grieb then shoveled a pass to lineman George Williams to push the lead to 27-14.
Columbus closed to within one score on two occasions and trailed 34-27 after three quarters of play. San Jose took a 41-27 lead after fullback Phil Glover rushed in from 1-yard out. The next Destroyers drive Nagy was picked off for the second time of the game when Omarr Smith intercepted a pass with 8:17 remaining in the game. The SaberCats took advantage of the turnover and went up 48-27 when Grieb hit wide receiver James Roe for a 20-yard score.
Nagy, who was under pressure all afternoon, finished the game 24-of-43 for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Cole Magner had the game of his rookie Arena Football League career as he caught seven passes for 68 yards and one score, including two highlight grabs.
Columbus opened the second half when Magner made his second great catch of the drive with a 3-yard touchdown grab from Nagy to cut the lead to 27-21. San Jose pushed the lead back to 13 when Grieb hit Ben Nelson on a 4-yard score. Columbus answered when Nagy hit wide receiver Damien Groce from 39 yards on a fourth-and-two play to make it 34-27 after three quarters of play.
After jumping out to a 6-4 record, the Destroyers dropped five-straight games to fall to 6-9. The club went on the road to New York and won its final game of the season to clinch a playoff berth. After knocking off third-seeded Tampa Bay at St. Pete Times Forum in the Wild Card Round, Columbus did the unthinkable the next two weeks beating the League's top two teams (based on record) on the road.
The Destroyers dispatched the top ranked Dallas Desperados, who went an AFL best 15-1 during the regular season, by a count of 66-59 at American Airlines Center. The next week at Philips Arena, Columbus defeated the second ranked Georgia Force 66-56 to win their first National Conference title.
The Destroyers Official "Welcome Home" Party will take place Monday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dispatch Ice Haus. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Join The Bombshells, Bruiser and members of Destroyers Spirit to welcome the team back to Columbus. Players and Head Coach Doug Kay will address the crowd during the party.
Deposits are being accepted now for 2008 Destroyers season tickets. Call 1-877-COLS-AFL for further details on season ticket offers. For other Destroyers information, visit www.ColumbusDestroyers.com.
