2007 Columbus Destroyers season explained

Team:Columbus Destroyers
Year:2007
Record:7–9
Division Place:3rd
Coach:Doug Kay
Stadium:Nationwide Arena
Playoffs:L ArenaBowl XXI 33-55 vs. San Jose
Shortnavlink:Destroyers seasons

The 2007 Columbus Destroyers season is the 9th season for the franchise and the 4th in Columbus, Ohio. They finished with a 7–9 record and qualified for the playoffs. The Destroyers defeated the Tampa Bay Storm 56–55 in the first round. The Destroyers advanced to the National Conference Championship by beating Dallas 66–59 in Dallas the following week. Columbus swept the table with the top three National Conference teams by defeating the Georgia Force 66–56 to win the National Conference Championship Game, their first in team history their history and advance to ArenaBowl XXI, their first ArenaBowl. In ArenaBowl XXI, the Destroyers lost to the San Jose SaberCats 33-55.

Coaching

Doug Kay started his second season as head coach of the Destroyers.

Season schedule

WeekDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
1March 1Nashville KatsAwayW 58–56
2March 9New Orleans VooDooAwayL 52–45
3Bye Week
4March 24Chicago RushHomeL 55–47
5March 30Georgia ForceHomeW 62–61
6April 5Dallas DesperadosAwayL 53–51
7April 14Austin WranglersHomeW 72–49
8April 23Philadelphia SoulHomeW 44–21
9April 29Tampa Bay StormAwayL 34–32
10May 4New York DragonsHomeW 51–42
11May 11Grand Rapids RampageHomeW 59–56
12May 18Colorado CrushAwayL 58–40
13May 26Dallas DesperadosHomeL 56–47
14June 2Georgia ForceAwayL 54–33
15June 8Kansas City BrigadeHomeL 47–34
16June 16Philadelphia SoulAwayL 56–53
17June 23New York DragonsAwayW 74–43

Playoff schedule

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
1stJune 30(3) Tampa Bay StormAwayW 56–55
2ndJuly 7(1) Dallas DesperadosAwayW 66–59
3rdJuly 14(2) Georgia ForceAwayW 66–56
ArenaBowl XXIJuly 29(1) San Jose SabercatsNeutralL 33–55

2007 roster

Stats

Offense

Quarterback

PlayerComp.Att.Comp%YardsTD'sINT'sLongRating
Matt Nagy34154562.63557751544104.4
Scott Dreisbach304566.7269523791.8

Running backs

PlayerCar.YardsAvg.TD'sLong
Harold Wells731972.71313
Damien Groce16805314
B. J. Barre8344.3216
Matt Nagy16221.466
Josh Bush4194.829
Brad Greetis64.824
Darcy Levy15505
Freddie Solomon15505

Wide receivers

PlayerRec.YardsAvg.TD'sLong
Damien Groce118134211.42644
David Saunders685508.11825
Marcus Knight4449611.3924
Josh Bush484619.6633
B. J. Barre2229113.2745
Jason Shelley2526410.6123
Freddie Solomon242269.4321
Darcy Levy710515228
Harold Wells11908.2420
Matthew Thomas7689.7216
Cole Magner44411229
Howard Duncan6386.3112
Jason Hilliard214709
Brad Greetis11010010
Peter Martinez15505

Touchdowns

PlayerTD'sRushRecRetPts
Damien Groce313262188
David Saunders180180112
Harold Wells171340102
Marcus Knight909062
Josh Bush1026260
B. J. Barre927056
Matt Nagy660036
Freddie Solomon303018
Brad Greetis220012
Darcy Levy202012
Cole Magner202012
Matthew Thomas202012
Howard Duncan10106
Jason Shelley10106

Defense

PlayerTacklesSoloAssistedSackSoloAssistedINTYardsTD'sLong
105 88 34 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
65.5 57 17 0 0 0 5 38 0 22
58 52 12 0 0 0 2 6 0 6
51 44 14 0 0 0 1 9 0 9
28.5 21 15 9.5 9 1 0 0 0 0
22.5 18 9 0 0 0 2 8 0 8
20 17 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 15 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
19.5 17 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17.5 15 5 3 3 0 0 0 0 0
17.5 14 7 .5 0 1 0 0 0 0
11 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6.5 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3.5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
3 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2.5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1.5 0 3 .5 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Special teams

Kick return

PlayerRetYardsTD'sLongAvgRetYardsTD'sLongAvg
40 825 2 56 20.6 1 6 0 6 6
39 758 2 58 19.4 0 0 0 0 0
5 59 0 31 11.8 2 20 0 17 20
3 47 0 24 15.7 0 0 0 0 0
3 24 0 21 8 0 0 0 0 0
1 4 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0
1 4 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0
1 4 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Kicking

PlayerExtra pt.Extra pt. Att.FGFGALongPct.Pts
80 97 10 20 45 0.500 110
0 1 0 0 0 0.000 0

Playoff Stats

Offense

Running backs

PlayerCar.YardsAvg.TD'sLong
Harold Wells6152.506
Damien Groce16606
B. J. Barre12212
Matt Nagy4−1-.311

Wide receivers

PlayerRec.YardsAvg.TD'sLong
Damien Groce79814230
Marcus Knight68213.7123
David Saunders33712.3125
Josh Bush23417024
Harold Wells11111111

Special teams

Kick return

PlayerRetYardsAvgLong
5 103 20.6 29
1 6 6 6

Kicking

Regular season

Week 1: at Nashville Kats

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Week 2: at New Orleans VooDoo

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Week 4: vs Chicago Rush

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Week 5: vs Georgia Force

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Week 6: at Dallas Desperados

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Week 7: vs Austin Wranglers

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Week 8: vs Philadelphia Soul

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Week 9: at Tampa Bay Storm

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Week 10: vs New York Dragons

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Week 11: vs Grand Rapids Rampage

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Week 12: at Colorado Crush

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Week 13: vs Dallas Desperados

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Week 14: at Georgia Force

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Week 15: vs Kansas City Brigade

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Week 16: at Philadelphia Soul

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Week 17: at New York Dragons

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Playoffs

Week 1: at Tampa Bay Storm

at the St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida

The Destroyers entered the playoffs for the first time since their move to Columbus. In a game that was back-and-forth scoring, the key play was a missed extra point by Storm kicker Seth Marler with 1:06 left in the game. Following a delay-of-game penalty, Marler missed an extra point attempt that, had he made it, would have given the Storm a 56–49 lead. After Columbus got the ball on the ensuing kickoff, they drove down to the Storm 1-yard line with 10 seconds left. Columbus QB Matt Nagy called his own number and sneaked into the Storm endzone with 7.9 left in the game, and, after the extra point attempt, the Destroyers had a 56–55 lead and looked to pull off the upset. With 3 seconds left and at their own 10-yard line, Marler tried to make amends by attempting a field goal that, if good, would give the Storm a 58–56 win and a game against division rival Georgia. Marler's kick looked good to begin with, but curved off to the left and missed, giving Columbus the upset win and a matchup against the 15–1 Dallas Desperados.

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Attendance: 10,221

Team1st Down.Rush. YdsPass. YdsFumbles/lostFumble ydsPenal./ydsTOP3rd Down.4th Down.
CLB20222600/0012/6319:274/61/2
TB29143150/0011/6340:333/51/1

Week 2: at Dallas Desperados

at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas

The Destroyers blew a 30-point lead and lost to the Desperados earlier this season 53–51 and they lost the 2nd game in Columbus 56–47. This time, it looked as if Dallas, after a shaky start, would continue their dominance over the Destroyers. Leading 38–28 at the half, the tide turned on back-to-back kickoffs by Columbus kicker Peter Martinez. Dallas, who had deferred, got the opening kickoff. However, the ball bounced off the goalpost and into the hands of Columbus' Josh Bush, who rolled into the endzone to make it 38–35. On the very next kickoff, a nearly identical play occurred when the ball again bounced off the goalpost and Columbus recovered at the 4-yard line. On the next play, Damien Groce ran the ball in to give Columbus a sudden 42–38 lead 58 seconds into the second half. After a Clint Dolezel interception set up a field goal for Columbus, Jason Shelley put the game away with a 28-yard reception with 12:55 left in the game to give Columbus a 2-touchdown lead that they held onto to pull off the upset against the Desperados.

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Team1st Down.Rush. YdsPass. YdsFumbles/lostFumble ydsPenal./ydsTOP3rd Down.4th Down.
CLB0000/000/000:000/00/0
DAL0000/000/000:000/00/0

Week 3 (Conference Championship): at Georgia Force

at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia

1234Total
(6) CLB728131866
(2) GA714211456
The Destroyers Pull off the Upset and they are going to ArenaBowl XXI In New Orleans to play the San Jose SaberCats.

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ArenaBowl XXI vs. San Jose SaberCats

at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana