Lions Look to Go 3-0 this Weekend
April 9, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (April 8, 2015) - Fresh off their first 2-0 start in four years, the Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) look to keep that winning streak alive this week with a another road trip to Richmond to meet up with the Raiders (1-2).
2015 marks the clubs ninth year in existence, in that whole time the club has never started out the season 3-0. Saturday the club can make some personal team history by being the first. In order to do so, they will have to erase the past nightmares of games past in Richmond.
In the PIFL's inaugural game back on March 10th of 2012, going into the 4th quarter and up by eight, Richmond scores 21 unanswered points en route to 64-58 win. One year later, up by seven with 35 seconds remaining on the clock, the Lions crumbled down the stretch letting Richmond force overtime by scoring on just two plays and eventually taking the game 48-42 in overtime.
"Richmond is always tough at home, they are a solid team with good coaching and that's a hard combination to beat," says Head Coach Jason Gibson. "We will have to improve in order to have a chance this week."
Winning 70-60 over Trenton, Columbus may have a heated QB competition this week between incumbent Antwon Young and back-up Casey Kacz. Young, who missed last week's game with a leg injury, was replaced by Kacz who completed 25 of 40 passes setting the club's all-time single-game mark with 350 passing yards. His play also earned him the Week 3 PIFL Offensive Player of the Week award.
If healthy, Saturday will mark the first time Young returns to Richmond since he last suited up for the Raiders in 2013. Still the Raiders record holder for most passing touchdowns in a single season (55), Antwon earned the 2012 PIFL League MVP passing for 2,636 yards while finishing second overall in the PIFL in total offense.
Over the weekend, Richmond picked up their first win by dismantling Alabama 60-45. The score doesn't indicate it, but at one point in the 4th quarter the Raiders held a lead as large as 31. DB Brian Smith intercepted a PIFL single-game high four interceptions including returning one back for a touchdown helping him lockdown the Week 3 PIFL Defensive Player of the week nod.
Since becoming the starter in their Week 2 loss to Columbus, QB Jonathan Bane has settled in completing just fewer than 60% of his passes for 554 yards and 12 touchdowns. In their meeting two weeks ago, Bane and company let a 13-point lead slip through their hands failing to score on their final two drives letting Columbus escaped with the 52-50 come from behind win.
Key matchup to follow will be that of the Lions secondary. After setting a league-high 23 interceptions a season ago, the secondary has struggled out of the gate only picking off one pass. Over the past four seasons when DB Damian Daniels gets an INT his clubs are a combined 17-2. In games in which he doesn't, his squads have gone 11-11. The all-time PIFL leader in INT's only has one this season.
To hear all of Saturday's action against Richmond, log on to www.columbuslions.net and click on the Listen Live icon and for more ticket information about the April 18th home game against Nashville contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336.
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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from April 9, 2015
- Venom Re-Sign Huge Duo - Nashville Venom
- Raiders To Battle Lions In Week 2 Rematch - Richmond Raiders
- Lions Look to Go 3-0 this Weekend - Columbus Lions
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