Destroyers 51, Storm 49

COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, defeated the Tampa Bay Storm 51-49 Saturday night on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena in front of 14,256 fans. With the score 37-35 in favor of the Destroyers, linebacker Tremaine Neal came up with an interception in the end zone stopping a Storm fourth quarter drive with 1:56 left. On the ensuing Destroyers drive, Matt Nagy found Calvin Russell for a 33-yard touchdown to extend the Destroyers lead by nine points 44-35, with :45 remaining in the game.

Nagy took home the Offensive Player of the Game honors as he completed 22-of-32 passes for 223 yards and six touchdowns. Tampa Bay quarterback Brett Dietz threw for 290 yards and six touchdowns, completing 26 of 40 passes, along with the game changing interception.

Neal earned the Defensive Player of the Game honors as he tallied 5.0 tackles (3UT-4AT) and one interception. Destroyers’ fullback, Harold Wells, came away with the Ironman Award as he recorded 1.0 tackle on the defensive side of the ball for a 1-yard-loss. On the offensive side of the ball, Wells recorded a career high in receptions with five for 43 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball five times for a gain of one-yard.

Derek Lee led the Destroyers receiving corps for the sixth straight week, with 76 yards, tying season-highs in both catches (11) and touchdowns (4). Russell added four catches for 62 yards and his first-career touchdown catch.

After trading scores throughout the first quarter, the Destroyers (2-4) found themselves down 21-14 with 10:00 left in the first half. On the fifth play of the drive, coming from their own 17-yard line, Nagy dumped a pass off to Cody Douglas. The 6-foot-4, 330 lb. lineman rumbled down to the Tampa Bay 4-yard line, which set up a touchdown pass from Nagy to Harold Wells.

With the score 21-21, the Storm began the last drive of the half with 4:09 left. Tampa Bay marched down the field to the Columbus six-yard line. As time expired on the first half, Tampa Bay kicker Seth Marler missed a 22-yard field goal that bounced out of bounds before anyone could recover.

To open the second half, Mark Lewis converted a 21-yard field goal, after linebacker Leroy Thompson recovered a Storm onside kick, putting Columbus ahead 24-21.

After trading scores on the next couple possessions, the Storm reached into their bag of tricks, coming up with a successful “Statue of Liberty” play. Tampa Bay quarterback Brett Dietz faked a pass to the left side, and handed the ball off behind his back to fullback Marvin Brown for a 7-yard touchdown run.

With the score 37-35 in favor of the Destroyers, the Storm were threatening to regain the lead as they got down to the Columbus six yard line. Neal delivered the game-changing play that eventually led to the Destroyers’ victory. After the interception, the teams added two touchdowns a piece, one coming in the form of an 8-yard onside kick return by Columbus’ Nate Coggins, ending the game at 51-49.

Columbus returns to action next week when they travel to face the New York Dragons on Sunday, April 13. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET).