Steel Season Ends With Tough Loss To Columbus
Published on June 18, 2011 under Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Trenton Steel News Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. - What is the difference between winning and losing in the Southern Indoor Football League, let alone a playoff game.
A lack of stops. A few interceptions. A few Unos by the opposing kicker. Those factors added up to a 62-60 Columbus Lions (12-1) victory over the Steel Saturday night in an SIFL Eastern Conference semifinal in the Columbus Civic Center.
Steel quarterback E.J. Nemeth completed 32-of-49 for 401 yards and six touchdowns. He also scored two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Oderick Turner pulled in 12 receptions for 183 yards and five touchdowns, while Dan Huff caught 14 for 158 yards.
For Columbus, Chris McCoy, a precision quarterback over a decade ago at Navy, completed 27-of-39 for 263 yards and six touchdowns, with top receiver Gerald Gales grabbing 10 for 123.
After falling behind, 62-46, with 5:34 remaining, the Steel rallied for 14 points, and had a chance to tie the game with 30 seconds left. A 2-yard run by Nemeth, and a two-point conversion run closed the Steel deficit to 62-54.
Them, after an unsuccessful onside kick, the Steel held the Lions, throwing three plays for losses that stopped the clock, forcing a 22-yard field-goal attempt by Trey Crum, who already had booted a 45-yarder and five Unos.
But Tyrell Zimmerman broke through to block Crum's kick, giving the Steel the ball at their 15-yard line with 30 seconds remaining. Nemeth quickly hit Turner with a 35-yard pass to pull the Steel within 62-60.
This time, however, the two-point conversion failed, and the Lions recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
That closed a superb first season for the Steel franchise which, under head coach Rod Miller, recovered from an 0-3 start to win eight of its last nine games and qualify for the playoffs before losing a nail-biter to the defending SIFL champions in their building.
Columbus will host rival Albany, which defeated Erie, 68-43, next Saturday. Louisiana defeated Corpus Christi, 59-20, in the Western semifinal played Saturday night.
Southern Indoor Football League Stories from June 18, 2011
- Swashbucklers Prevail Against Hammerheads - Louisiana Swashbucklers
- Steel Season Ends With Tough Loss To Columbus - Trenton Steel
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