Final score, Columbus 66, Dallas 59. Who in their right mind would have seen that coming?
The biggest stat line: Dallas committed four turnovers to Columbus's one. That includes the two Pete Martinez kickoffs off the iron that resulted in a 14-point Destroyers swing.
Columbus will travel to either Philadelphia or Georgia next Saturday, with the winner of that game heading to New Orleans.
Who would have thought? Columbus hit a huge slide to end the regular season, so the Destroyers are bucking the "best momentum wins" trend.
And the Desperados? Come on now! Second straight year they get the number-one seed and bow out in its first playoff game.
Does Will McClay keep his job? I'm sure Jerry Jones isn't standing in the arena with an axe...
Saturday, July 7, 2007
DOWN GOES DALLAS!
40 Seconds Left...
...and it's getting interesting. Dolezel to Dialleo Burks makes it Columbus 66, Dallas 59. Merrill Hoge, that's a "pick" that Willis Marshall delivered to spring Nash. And it's not only an AFL term!
But the ensuing onside kick went right to Columbus, which did a great job managing the ball in the final minute last week against Tampa Bay.
Nagy Scores...
...but is there enough time for the Desperados to come back?
Nagy's 1-yard plunge makes it a 59-45 Columbus lead.
Looks Like Doom For the Desperados
If you're a Dallas Desperados fan, this is something you don't want to see. Not only is Columbus pulling the upset and shutting Dallas out in the second half, but Will Pettis looks like he seriously injured his knee.
Matt Nagy to Jason Shelley puts the Destroyers up 52-38.
Here's a few articles about Nagy:
7/7/2007...
An unlucky day for every Dallas Desperado but Devin Wyman.
Will Pettis stopped at the 1-yard line, then Destroyer DS Jerald Brown forced Willis Marshall to fumble in the end zone, where B.J. Barre recovered for Columbus.
Talk about the momentum turning...
Wow! Peter Martinez's Big Day
The kicker's dream - get the ball off the pipes and back down to the field, with hopes your team recovers. Peter Martinez does it twice in a row, and Columbus scores two touchdowns in the first minute of the third quarter.
First Josh Bush recovers in the end zone, then Brandon Hefflin does it to set up a Damien Groce touchdown.
And suddenly, the Destroyers have a 42-38 lead over Dallas.
Will Martinez make it three in a row? Stay tuned...
Toughest Part of Live Blogging...
... is dealing with two bassets that are sensitive to fireworks. I got the poor things drugged up, but they still want to climb on me - not for protection, just seems like they go for higher ground.
Think I'm crazy? Here's what pet owners have to deal with when it's fireworks time.
When it's city/town fireworks, I understand. When it's the legal ones here in Connecticut, fine (if you're a neighbor though, please be considerate), when someone gets M-80s and blows stuff up, I don't get it.
What a Night (So Far) for Clint Dolezel...
12-for-12 passing, 158 yards, and 5 touchdowns to give the Desperados a 35-21 lead.
No big deal for Dolezel, I'm sure. He has more than 800 in his career.
Meanwhile, counterpart Matt Nagy started the game 7-for-9, and is 2-for-9 since. Which Nagy will show up for the second half?
Will Pettis Coming to Life
But he's giving credit to Jesus Christ.
Maybe the Good Lord did help Pettis grab a touchdown, then intercept Matt Nagy in the end zone on the ensuing drive.
If the Desperados score on this drive, it's over... I don't care how much time is left in the game.
I Now Pronounce You Man And Wife...
Talk about crashing a wedding...
Devin Wyman, a starting Desperados offensive lineman, was married 6 HOURS BEFORE THE GAME!
ESPN with a great spot there. Bride Shelby Wyman was a bit nervous talking with Merrill Hoge and Mark Jones, but Devin is doing well with his live spot.
I can't imaging getting married on gameday. For that matter, choose a date when there's a possible playoff date.
But today is July 7, 2007, allegedly the luckiest day of the century. And the biggest one for weddings - ever.
Sick First Quarter Stat...
Damien Groce, Columbus Destroyers receiver. Two catches, 87 yards, one touchdown.
Yes, Willis Marshall has two scores, but Groce's line converts into a 348-yard receiving performance. It won't happen though...
Willis Marshall Takes a Seat
Hey, after that effort by Dallas Desperados receiver Willis Marshall, he has every right to jump in the stands and take a seat.
Marshall grabbed a pass from Dolezel and broke a few tackles inside the 10 yard line. With a defender on his legs, Marshall dove toward the end zone and barely broke the plane with the ball.
Dallas and Columbis are tied at 21, and that ends the first quarter...
Will Rabatin With the Play of the Game
What set up David Saunders' 3-yard touchdown grab from Matt Nagy to put Columbus up 21-14? Easily, it had to be Will Rabatin's fumble recovery.
Will Pettis forces a Marcus Knight fumble, and the All-Rookie center gets to the outside and flops on the ball. The kid wasn't standing around - give him a lot of credit for finishing up the play.
Here's a quick piece about Rabatin, the first-year player from Louisville, announcing his selection to the All-Rookie team.
Quick Story About Marcus Nash
Marcus Nash (who just hauled in a Clint Dolezel pass to tie things up at 7) was on his way to becoming one of the biggest wastes of talent in he history of pro football.
He had two Super Bowl rings as a backup in two NFL seasons, from teams that no longer wanted him.
I was at a New Jersey Gladiators back in tryout camp back in February 2002. An agent there told me Nash had tried out at a multi-team scouting combine a few weeks earlier, and that he was sent home. Apparently he thought he was too good for the Arena Football League and just went through the motions, was out of shape, and was just flat-out horrible.
He got into the league the next season with the Detroit Fury, and he's been a star in the league ever sense.
And needless to say the Desperados are lucky he's been activated from the injured list for today's game.
Two things I don't get...
- The whole linebacker-in-the-box thing. Come on! That's not football! Let the players play, for Pete's sake. That's a rule I've always hated.
- ESPN having to explain the Rules of the Game. Okay, I understand some people may be watching their first AFL games. But most of us already know there's no punting, and the field in 50-yards long. Don't dummy it down for the rest of us. Are you planning on explaining the Home Run Derby rules on Monday night? (If the ball is hit over the wall, it's a home run! duh!)
Is There A Joey Galloway Factor?
Oh, Joey Galloway! You're a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. You're a former Dallas Cowboy. And your a part owner of the Columbus Destroyers!
Is this why your team is getting the best of the Tampa Bay AFL franchise, and is up 7-0 on Dallas's?
Good job by ESPN getting a clip of Galloway's pre-game pep-talk to the Destroyers.
Too bad for Galloway his next AFL won't be Seattle!
Live Blog: Cloumbus vs. Dallas
Welcome LIVE to 50 Yards' Columbus Destroyers-Dallas Desperados blog.
The game is starting in less than 20 minutes, so here's some quick previews:
- Here is Calvin Watkins' preview for the Dallas Morning News, including key matchups.
- And Watkins' Desperados' notebook.
- And the game notes from the Destroyers.
Look at the Destroyers - the team played its first playoff game last week and upset the Tampa Bay Storm on its own turf.
So if Matt Nagy has his game on again, we could see Columbus playing in Arena Bowl XXI.
More to come...
Colorado-San Jose Previews
Just showing you all where to find links to today's Colorado-San Jose preview:
Video: AFL Today's Wild Card Review
As an Arena Football fan, I should have known about this guy Evan Money sooner, and I'm looking forward to checking our the afltoday.com Web site.
But let's start slow - here's his Wild Card wrap-up:
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