Lions Suffer Narrow Defeat at Trenton
April 21, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) suffered a narrow 66-63 loss on Saturday night at the hands of the expansion Trenton Freedom. The defeat brings the Lions back to the .500 mark on the season at 2-2.
The loss especially stings as the Lions held two separate two-touchdown leads of 28-14 and 35-21 midway through the second quarter. Special Teams Player of the Game Craig Camay twice blasted kickoffs off of unsuspecting Trenton upmen on the return team and into the hands of Lions players to turn the tide in favor of Columbus.
The first quarter ended with the teams tied at 14 as both the Freedom and Lions traded scores. Both Columbus touchdowns in the first quarter came from Offensive Player of the Game Kendrick Perry off a two-yard run and a 15-yard pass from quarterback Antwon Young.
The Lions took control of the game in the second quarter. Defensive Player of the Game Justen Rivers blocked a Trenton field goal attempt, setting up a Lions possession at the Freedom's 6-yard line. Young wasted no time going to work, rushing for five yards on a keeper then handing off to Perry for a one- yard scramble around right end for his third touchdown on the night and the first lead of the game for Columbus. After the ensuing kickoff from Camay was muffed by a Trenton receiver and recovered by Ryan Babb, Young found newcomer Charles Gilbert on a 43-yard strike to open a 14-point lead over the Freedom. Camay's kickoff after the touchdown was again muffed by a Trenton lineman and recovered by Columbus, but this time, the Lions offense stalled and the Freedom took over with prime field position on the Lions' 8-yard line. Trenton would score a touchdown to bring the game back within a touchdown at 28-21. Jarmon Fortson's 19-yard touchdown reception from Young on the Lions' next drive re-established the 14-point lead for Columbus. Trenton scored the next 16 points of the game, however, and the Lions could never recover, swapping scores back and forth in the second half but never re-establishing a lead larger than five points.
Fortson led all receivers with 117 yards and a pair of scores, while Gilbert's three receiving TDs were tops among the WR corps. Perry's 47 yards on the ground led all rushers. Young finished 19 of 34 passing on the night for 297 yards, 7 touchdowns, and one interception.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jamontay Pilson led all players with 3.5 tackles (3 solo, 1 ast) while Pilson and Rivers combined on the Lions' only sack of the game.
The Lions return home to once again face the Georgia Fire on Saturday, April 26 at 7 PM EDT. Plenty of great seats are still available for the game. For more information, contact the Lions at 706.322.3336.
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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from April 21, 2014
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- Lions Suffer Narrow Defeat at Trenton - Columbus Lions
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