Fire, Lions Fuel-Up For Start Of Rivalry
April 10, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Georgia Fire News Release
ROME, GA (April 10, 2014) - This Friday night, the Georgia Fire (1-0) of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) will travel south for the first of three regular-season matchups against conference and in-state foe the Columbus Lions (1-1).
Last Saturday, Georgia exceeded all expectations when they pulled off the 67-65 upset over the defending champion Alabama Hammers. QB Cecil Lester ignited the Fire completing 23 of 37 passes for 317 yards and six total touchdowns and more importantly the offense only turned the ball over one time. The ladder stat was crucial considering Lester's counterpart, Hammers QB Kevin Huff, matched him throw for throw rallying Alabama to within a failed two point conversion of forcing overtime.
With one in-conference victory in the books, the Fire could look to take an early division lead with a possible victory in Columbus something starting QB Cecil Lester knows a thing or two about. Lester for his career is 4-2 in games played in Columbus including a win in every season since 2010 all of which took place in an Albany Panthers uniform.
If Georgia is going to grab an early season advantage in the standings over their in-state foe, they will have to improve a defense that allowed over 315 yards of total offense vs. the Hammers a week ago. Despite a losing effort, Alabama WR Charles McClain tied a PIFL single-game record grabbing 17 receptions while managing to reach the end-zone three separate times.
Columbus will come into Friday night's contest hoping to turnaround an offense that struggled in their home-opener a week ago. Despite winning the turnover margin by two, the Lions only found themselves up by a touchdown mid-way through last week's fourth quarter. Richmond scratched and crawled their way within reach of a victory, but struggling quarterback play under-center along with a stingy Lions secondary launched the Columbus to the 42-21 victory.
Through two games, Columbus is the only team in PIFL not to have a wide receiver cross the century mark in yards in a single-game. FB Kendrick Perry passed the mark in the club's opening game against Harrisburg, but starting QB Antwon Young has failed to connect with his receiving core completing just 50% of his passes.
To hear all of the play-by-play action between the PIFL American Conference foe's log on to www.georgiafire.us and click on the 99.5 The Jock icon. Kickoff from the Columbus Civic Center will be 7:00 PM.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from April 10, 2014
- "Nighthawk" Goes for Career INT Record Friday against Fire - Columbus Lions
- Fire, Lions Fuel-Up For Start Of Rivalry - Georgia Fire
- Stampede to Celebrate Literacy and Dauphin County Library System's 100th Birthday - Harrisburg Stampede
- Game Preview: Steelhawks Stampede into Hershey - Lehigh Valley Steelhawks
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