Columbus weathers the Storm
By Giles Kennedy, Columbus Wired Contributor
Photos by Tom Theodore and Revonda Gentry

It helped with Columbus hiring former Tampa Bay coach Lary Kuharich as new offensive coordinator last weekend. With a new coordinator and a new attitude, they finally won at home by defeating the Tampa Bay Storm 51-49 Saturday night on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena in front of 14,256 fans.  

“It was definitely a great change of pace,” Columbus Head Coach Doug Kay commented on the turn around win. “That’s something we have lacked all year. We took advantage of some of the things (Tampa Bay) did defensively. That’s Arena Football. (The offense) is the way it should be.”

Prime-time performers included Columbus wide receiver Derek Lee (4 touchdowns, 76 yards receiving) and fullback Harold Wells (1 touchdown, 43 yards receiving). Kay was pleased with the play of both, especially Wells who he brought into the League.

“I picked him as a nose man (originally as a nose guard). He's got great play skills. He just kind of just fit (with his current position). I trust Harold Wells.”

Columbus highlights included an impressive run by Columbus offensive lineman Cody Douglas which led to a TD, tying the game 21-21. At 6:31 in the second quarter , QB Matt Nagy was in a pressure situation, he tossed a pass to Douglas for a 29-yard completion to the Storm 4-yard line. On the next play Nagy found Harold Wells for the TD.

“Nagy hit me; I caught it and secured the ball. I wanted to make as many yards as I could,”  the 330-pound Destroyer turf warrior(Douglas) remarked on his rumbling, stumbling play.

Kuharich simplified things during the week of offensive transition.

“Coach came in and broke a lot of stuff down,” Douglas replied about the new coach joining the staff, “He brought in the ABC’s of football. We really showed it tonight and just wanted to come out here as an offensive unit. We wanted to get the win.”

Nagy was 22-of-32 for 223 yards and six touchdowns. Tampa Bay quarterback Brett Dietz threw for 290 yards and six touchdowns, completing 26 of 40 passes.

“We needed this win,” Nagy said. “We were struggling a little bit. Going 1-5 wasn’t going to be good, so we were able to come back. We were able to the get the win and get the momentum going.”

Sealing the fate of the Tampa Bay Storm was an interception by Columbus linebacker Tremaine Neal, who came up with the ball in the end zone stopping a Storm fourth quarter drive with 1:56 left.

On the ensuing Destroyers drive, Nagy found Calvin Russell for a 33-yard touchdown to extend the Destroyers lead to 44-35.

Tampa Bay would rally and score a TD, but Nate Coggins was there on the ensuing onside kick and ran it in for a TD to finish the scoring at 51-42.

Columbus is now 2-4 and looking east to face the New York Dragons next Sunday, April 13th. The contest will take place at 3 p.m. This will be the earliest start for the team.

The Destroyers will return home against the Philadelphia Soul on Monday April 22nd in an ESPN nationally-broadcasted game at Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena.