Columbus not good enough for Soul
By Giles Kennedy, Columbus Wired Contributor
Photos by Tom Theodore and Revonda Gentry

It took Columbus Destroyers Head Coach Doug Kay nearly fifteen minutes or more to debrief the wounded warriors after a 76-55 loss to the Philadelphia Soul at Nationwide Arena and in front of a national audience on ESPN2.

It was far from a happy message. “Go home and come back with some heart,” Coach Kay commented on the sediment he left with his team.

The Destroyers fell to 2-6, basically out of any repeat playoff run while the Eastern Division leading Philadelphia Soul remained undefeated with a record of 8-0.

Connecting with wide receivers Calvin Russell (14:22, 42 yard pass), Derek Lee (11:54, 45 yard pass), and new Destroyer C.J. Johnson (8:25, 45 yard pass), Destroyer QB Matt Nagy was indeed giving a good effort.

“I have faith in Matt Nagy,” Coach Kay stated on his starting quarterback’s flow of play.

But once again, one of the AFL’s best defenses in 2007 has not shown up in 2008 for Columbus.

Between Philadelphia’s injured starter quarterback Tony Graziani (4 touchdowns, 125 yards) and second string Matt D’Orazio (5 touchdowns, 167 yards); Columbus got schooled. Recievers were wide open much of the time, while Graziani and D’Orazio seemed to have all day behind the offensive line.

The last part of the first half had the stitch of death for the Destroyers rise. Former Destoryer D’Orazio filled in for Graziani (who is coming back from injuries) and drove the Soul for a TD as time expired in the half. The TD came on a 4th and goal play and gave Philly a 42-35 halftime lead.

It got worse as Philadelphia received the kickoff to open the second half and scored on that drive as well, giving them a 14 point cushion that Columbus could not overcome.

“We walk on to the football field right now;” Coach Kay commented, “They need to have enough feeling. Do what is right in order to play.”

After a bye-week, Columbus returns to Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena May 3rd to face the Dallas Desperados.