Destroyers win National Conference championship, reach first ArenaBowl
The Columbus Destroyers made a miraculous run through the Arena Football League playoffs before falling to the San Jose SabreCats 55-33 in ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans on July 29. A record crowd of 15,147 attended the game.
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.
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.
The Destroyers were welcomed back to Columbus at the Official "Welcome Home" Party on July 30 at the Dispatch Ice Haus.
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- Destroyers win National Conference championship, reach first ArenaBowl