Before Arena Bowl XXI I think it is necessary to look back on what has easily been the greatest year in Destroyer's history, and the best way to reminisce is to rank the best games of the season and figure out what to this point has been the greatest game in Destroyer history. Granted, the top game of this list falls to #2 if the Destroyers win the Arena Bowl, but most of the fun of sports is speculation and discussion. Also by clicking on the game total it will link you to a site with highlights of the game.To evaluate these games I'm using four different criteria are going to be used and given a ranking of 1-10 (besides the Destroyers winning):
- The competitiveness of the game
- The quality of the opponent
- Importance of game to the season
- Importance of game to the history of the franchise
Let's start the countdown.....
6. Philadelphia Soul 21 @ Columbus Destroyers 44
This game makes the list for two reasons. One it was the first national coverage for the Destroyers on ESPN, and it is what I consider the game that put the AFL on notice of the Destroyers. Before this game the Soul had just started their fall and Columbus seemed like a game that could help get them back on the right track. The Destroyers not only shocked and dominated the Soul, but their fans had one of the better showings of any team on national TV this year. The game does lose points because it wasn't competitive and in hindsight, as well as the Soul rebounded at the end of the year, Philly wasn't fielding their best team.Competitiveness: 5
Quality of Opponent: 6
Yearly Importance: 7
Historical Importance 5
Game: 5.75
5. Columbus Destroyers 74 @ New York Dragons 43
This game was not competitive and did not happen against one of the AFL's best. The reason this game makes the list is that the Destroyers came in knowing that this win was needed to make the playoffs and because it was the first game in a great run that has taken this team all the way to the Arena Bowl. For all intents and purposes this was a playoff game for this team and they showed their mettle.
Competitiveness: 3
Quality of Opponent: 4
Yearly Importance: 10
Historical Importance: 8
Game: 6.25
4. Georgia Force 61 @ Columbus Destroyers 62
Columbus entered this game at 1-2 playing an undefeated 4-0 Force team that had looked as good as any team in the early part of the season. The next week the Destroyers were going to play the also undefeated Desperados. Losing this game would send the Destroyers spiraling downward on a losing streak that could have ended their season before it started.
The Destroyers pulled together in this game holding their own playing with guts. The attitude of this team was determined in this game as the Destroyers converted a two point converstion to take a one point lead. This game ranks high for two reasons, it was highly competitive and it was against a great opponent who only lost three games all year including the playoffs.
Competitiveness: 10
Quality of Opponent: 9
Yearly Importance: 8
Historical Importance: 6
Game: 8.25
3. Columbus Destroyers 56 @ Tampa Bay Storm 55 (playoffs)
The first playoff game since the Destroyers relocated from Buffalo this one was a classic. Tampa Bay was a team on a hot streak, after starting 0-5 they rallied to finish the season 8-8 and earned the #3 seed in the playoffs. The Destroyers made it by the skin of their teeth at 7-9 (only 2-6 on the road). It was a back and forth game that was like two boxers trading punches until the last round. The play of the game had to be B.J. Barre's interception return for a touchdown. As close as this game was played it was no shock that it came down to a last second field goal attempt by Storm kicker Seth Marler which wasn't converted. This game will remain a Destroyer classic because it was such an exciting game that kicked off a spectacular playoff run and because it was the first playoff win in franchise history.
Competitiveness: 10
Quality of Opponent: 7
Quality of Opponent: 7
Yearly Importance: 10
Historical Importance: 9
2. Columbus Destroyers 66 @ Georgia Force 56
The first conference championship game in franchise history is a big deal. The Destroyers entered the game as a large underdog and both teams played well and with class. This game was very competitive as Georgia did surge back from a twenty-point deficient to take a 49-48 lead in the forth. But the Destroyers played strong D and the offense raged behind the leadership of Matt Nagy to take the conference championship from the team he helped reach the Arena Bowl two years before.1. Columbus Destroyers 66 @ Dallas Desperados 59
Columbus was 0-2 against division rival Dallas in the regular season. This was the David and Goliath match-up where nobody outside of central Ohio thought David would survive. Clint Dolezel (one of the great quarterbacks in Arena Football history) was leading the most dominant team in regular season history (15-1) against the lowly Destroyers who had only won their 3rd road game of the season the previous week. Against these odds Columbus held their own for most of the first half until thing started to fall apart in the third quarter and Columbus entered the half behind 38-28 and had to start the second half kicking to Dallas. What happened next will live in AFL lore for years to come. On back-to-back Peter Martinez kickoffs the ball struck the bars and bounced into Destroyer hands. The first time recovered by Josh Bush in the endzone and the second time by Brandon Hefflin which led to another Destroyer touchdown. Columbus stretched that into a 14 point lead and for the rest of the game Dallas couldn't get closer then seven points.
This game was competitive and against the team with the greatest regular season in AFL history. Why this game takes the title of Best Destroyer Game of the Year over the Conference title game is regardless of whether the Destroyers win or lose the Arena Bowl the upset of Dallas will be remembered by many as the greatest upset in AFL history for a long time.
Competitiveness: 9
Quality of Opponent: 10
Yearly Importance: 10
Historical Importance: 10
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