Columbus Wild Dogs (IFL)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Game Wrapup

Saturday, May 31, 2008 3:14 AM

GAME WRAPUP

VooDoo 83, Destroyers 61

New Orleans Arena; Attendance: n/a
? Rough go in Big Easy: The Destroyers were once again, well, destroyed as the VooDoo scored 69 points in the final three quarters. New Orleans (8-5) was led by quarterback Danny Wimprine, who completed 18 of 28 passes for 265 yards and eight touchdowns. Javarus Dudley and James Jordan each had three touchdown receptions. The Destroyers (3-10)have lost six of their past seven games.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena football: Destroyers' Thomas switches to defense

Saturday, June 7, 2008 3:15 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

For his entire football career, Matt Thomas resisted the move.
Coaches saw him as a defensive back. He saw himself as a receiver.
It's funny how sitting on the bench can make a player more receptive to change. Thomas will start at defensive back for the Destroyers when they play the Georgia Force tonight in Nationwide Arena.
Little has gone right for the Destroyers (3-10). If Thomas builds on the promise he has shown, he could be one of the few redeeming elements of the season.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena football
Gladiators' rise shows Destroyers there's hope

Saturday, June 21, 2008 3:10 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

In their opponent, the Destroyers can see tonight that all is not hopeless.
Yes, the Destroyers' season imploded long ago, and tonight's game against the Cleveland Gladiators marks the merciful end. Columbus (3-12) has lost eight of its past nine games, which likely will cost coach Doug Kay his job.
But the Gladiators are proof of how quickly teams can resurrect themselves in the Arena Football League. Playing in Las Vegas last year, the Gladiators were 2-14. A victory tonight will put Cleveland (8-7) in the playoffs.
"You can turn it around quick any time," receiver Derek Lee said. "This season will go down as whatever record we end up with, and then it's over. We're zero and zero."

Continued......

 

[Jake]

Does anybody watch arena football? I don't watch it much except for the playoffs.

The Destroyers snuck into the playoffs last year then made an improbable run to the Arena Bowl, where they lost to San Jose. This year, they've struggled to a 3-12 record, so far.

The Gladiators are playing their first year in Cleveland after moving from Las Vegas. They're in contention for a playoff spot at this point with an 8-7 record.

The battle of Ohio is taking place in Quicken Loans arena tonight and Cleveland is clinging to a 34-28 lead in the 4th on FSN.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Game wrap-up: Gladiators 47, Destroyers 35

Sunday, June 22, 2008 3:38 AM

Cleveland: Attendance: n/a ? Destroyed: Columbus finished 3-13, the worst record in the National Conference, after falling in Cleveland. The Destroyers racked up 15 penalties for 94 yards. The win gave the Gladiators (9-7) a spot in the playoffs.
? C.J. shines: C.J. Johnson again was a bright spot for Columbus with 11 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. Last week, he had nine receptions for 162 yards and four TDs.
? Quick on the draw: Columbus jumped out to an early lead when Harold Wells rumbled in from 5 yards to make it 7-0 less than three minutes in. It was the only lead of the game for Columbus. Wells also caught two touchdown passes.
? Passing efficiency: Cleveland quarterback Raymond Philyaw had another impressive game, completing 20 of 27 passes for 269 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He finished the regular season with 87 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions.

 

[Jake]

Looks like I have my answer.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Looks like I have my answer.

I used to be a pretty big fan of it, till I got stationed out west. Now, I onyl watch it if Cleveland, Columbus or Utah is playing. Utah just because of Jermaine. Matter of fact, I just told my wife when i get back from Iraq and Qatar in February, Im buying Germaine's Blaze jersey.

But, anything Columbus, im all about it, even the Destroyers!

You know your from Columbus when....You want get out of Ahia, but never leave the C-Bus.

 

[BB73]

Which team wins the Arena Football League Playoffs?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena football
Kay won't be back as coach of Destroyers

Monday, June 23, 2008 10:15 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

FRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCH
Doug Kay's record as head coach of the Destroyers finished at 21-31.


Less than one year after taking the Columbus Destroyers to the ArenaBowl, Doug Kay is no longer the team's head coach.
In what the team characterized as a mutual decision, Kay's contract will not be extended beyond this season, which ended Saturday.
The Destroyers finished 3-13, tied for the worst record in the Arena Football League.
"Coach Kay helped our team become a better organization," Destroyers partner, general manager and president Jim Renacci said in a statement. "He brought a lot of character to the team and this franchise and took us to the ArenaBowl in 2007. For that, the Destroyers family will always be grateful. He will always be respected as a coach and considered a friend."

Continued....

 

[Jake]

Their improbable playoff berth, and subsequent run, last year may have been the worst thing that could've happened to them. I think it raised expectations this year to unrealistic levels, and the team wilted under the pressure.

 

[Jake]

Looks like I'm pulling for Utah today, too. Danny White is coaching, Joe Germaine is playing QB.

The Blaze started 0-9 and are hosting a playoff game. That's what happens when you win 6 of 7 down the stretch and three teams make the playoffs in the West with 10 losses. The AFL is very heavily weighted to the East.

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Gladiators beat Predators 69-66 By George Thomas Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 10:04 p.m. EDT, Jun 30, 2008
CLEVELAND: A piece of trivial history was on the line Monday night as the Gladiators took on the Orlando Predators at Quicken Loans Arena in a bid to become the first Cleveland pro football team to win a playoff game since 1994.
The Gladiators (10-7) beat the Predators (9-8) 69-66 to advance to the second round in a National Conference Wild Card Game. While the Gladiators can be credited with some gutsy play, they can thank Predators kicker Dan Frantz for missing three extra points that turned out to be the difference in the game.
For much of the first half, the Gladiators tortured fans with a sputtering offense, something that reared its head rarely during the regular season. Call it nerves. Call it overall mediocre play, but until midway into the second quarter, the Raymond Philyaw-led offense couldn't seem to get out of its own way.
Before the Gladiators could establish any type of rhythm, they had to overcome a series of foul-ups, bleeps and blunders. Philyaw, normally one of the better protected quarterbacks in the league, found himself pressured and hurried on more than one occasion. One of those plays led directly to a fumble when Philyaw lost the ball as he tried to pull it in to his body.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

GLADIATORS GRAB WILD-CARD WIN
Cleveland Gladiators edge Orlando Predators in Arena Football League playoffs


Tuesday, July 01, 200ennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Arena Football League's feel-good story for 2008 will fea ture at least one more chapter.
The upstart Gladiators, one season removed from misery in Las Vegas, defeated the Orlando Predators, 69-66, Monday night in a National Conference wild-card game.
The Gladiators advance to play the Georgia Force in Duluth, Ga., next Monday night.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Cleveland Gladiators defensive back Brandon Hefflin helps save AFL playoff victory



Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Dennis Manoloff

Plain Dealer Reporter
Gladiators quarterback Raymond Philyaw and receiver Robert Redd were virtually unstoppable Monday night in an Arena Football League National Conference wild-card game against Orlando.
Their tremendous performances might have gone for naught, though, if Gladiators defensive back Brandon Hefflin had not delivered one of the best games of his career.
Hefflin intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and otherwise did his job in coverage as the Gladiators defeated the Predators, 69-66, in front of 13,896 at The Q.

Cont...

 

[BB73]

Arena Football