PIFL Semi-Finals Set

June 22, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) News Release

PIFL Playoff Preview
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Lehigh Valley at Columbus Saturday June 27th at 7:00PM

Losers of three straight, the idle Steelhawks were forced to play spectator this past weekend in need of a Freedom loss. Wish granted as Trenton was unable to overcome a heavy 1st quarter barrage from the Venom falling 57-37.

For the second consecutive year Lehigh Valley enters the playoffs in the season's final week. Last season the Hawks reached the PIFL Championship game becoming the first team to pull off a road playoff win.

The contest against the Hawks will mark the first home playoff game for the Lions since 2011, a place they're 4-3 all-time but come Saturday the club will still be in search of their first PIFL playoff victory. Finishing the regular season with an 8-3 record, Columbus wrapped up home field advantage two weeks ago and will look to become the fourth different number one seed to capture the PIFL Championship.

The clubs split their two games this season with the home team taking both victories. In face the previous six games in the series the home team has been the deciding factor winning all six contests. In their last meeting back on May 9th , with starting Steelhawks QB Shane McSweeny out with an injury, the Lions came up with the 45-35

victory intercepting back-up QB Zach Zulli two times while also picking up a safety. Columbus will also try and become the first team since 2012 to lose their final regular season game but go on to capture the PIFL Championship.

Nashville at Richmond Monday June 29th at 7:00PM

Arguably the two hottest teams entering the playoffs, the Venom winners of two straight and the Raiders winners of six in a row including last weekend's 77-8 demolishing of Erie, face off in Richmond for the second time in less than a month. In Week 11, in what was the lone meeting during the regular season Nashville headed north but ran into a buzz saw that was the Raiders defense losing 53-30 in what turned out to be the worst loss, in terms of points, in Venom franchise history.

The following week, Nashville quickly re-gathered locking up a playoff spot with a home win against Erie and even played spoiler this past weekend defeating Trenton 57-37 dashing the Freedom's playoff hopes. Led behind their stellar defensive secondary, the Venom have been getting it done by shutting down opposing quarterbacks holding them to a league-low 48.6 completion percentage while creating 33 turnovers.

Like their counterparts, Richmond's 2015 success can be attributed to their defense but also the rise of starting quarterback Jonathan Bane. Inserted as the starter in Week 2, Bane finished the year second overall in passing touchdowns (55) and twice was named the Offensive Player of the Week during the regular season. Overall the Raiders scored a league-high 86 touchdowns and back on May 2nd scored a PIFL single-game record 87 points against Alabama, same Hammers squad in which four of their five wins this season came against teams who made the playoffs.

To follow all the playoff action, log on to www.proifl.com and to relive some of your favorite moments from the 2015 season visit the PIFL Facebook photo gallery.

PIFL Playoff Preview

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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 22, 2015

• Steelhawks Head to Lions Den for Playoff Tilt - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
• Raiders Steamroll Erie - Richmond Raiders
• PIFL Semi-Finals Set - PIFL

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