Fire Withstand Second-Half Fury From Freedom, Win 52-49

Published on June 21, 2014 under Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) News Release


TRENTON, NJ - After nearly blowing a 19-point lead, the Georgia Fire (4-7) of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) defeated the first-place Trenton Freedom (8-3) as time expired with a the 33-yard game-winning field goal from Lindsey Wolfe.

The twelve hour road trip home will be more comfortable, unfortunately by virtue of the Columbus Lions 69-31 victory over the Hammers Georgia's hope of making the playoffs expired. Going into weekend the Fire needed a lot of help of which included winning their final two games as well as needing Columbus to lose tonight.

The Jekyll and Hyde team that is the 2014 Georgia Fire was certainly that on Saturday showing glimpses of how potentially great this team could be but also blowing leads of 14 and 19 points respectively letting the Freedom tie the contest at 49 with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

Gutsy fourth down call by Cosmo DeMatteo on their own five yard line was wiped away due to a pass interference call on Trenton's Jerome Hayes gave the Fire new life leading up to Wolfe's game winning 33- yard field goal. Wolfe, who got his second start of the season, finished the night scoring 22 points tying the PIFL record of points scored by a kicker in a single game, which was just set the previous weekend by the Raiders T.C. Stevens, by converting field goals of 30, 24, 39, 35, and 33 as well as knocking in two Uno's. QB Cecil Lester was decent under center completing 17 of 36 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns.

Without top touchdown leader Johnny Lester, the receiving core was once again led by John Harris who led all Fire receivers with seven receptions for 88 yards and three touchdowns.

Georgia defense came up big when it needed to recovering two fumbles including one on the very first series of the game helping launch the Fire to an early 14-0 first quarter lead.

Possibly looking ahead to their showdown with Nashville next weekend, Trenton showed the tough resiliency they have had all year nearly pulling off another 4th quarter comeback rallying to tie the game up by scoring 15 unanswered points in the game's final five minutes. WR Roger Jackson was the top star of the evening hauling in nine receptions for 177 yards and three scores.

Next weekend, in what could be a PIFL Championship preview, the Freedom will head to Nashville to take on the Venom (9-2) with the winner earning home-field advantage throughout the 2014 playoffs. On Saturday, Nashville skated to an easy 63-28 victory over Richmond propelling them to their six straight win the longest active winning streak in the PIFL.

For Georgia, they will spend the road trip reflecting back on missed opportunities knowing that they can hang with the league's best, after all three of the four wins have come against teams that currently sit in first place a top their respective conference.

Next Friday at The Rome Forum Civic Center, the Fire close out regular season against in-state rival Columbus at 7:30 PM. For ticket options, contact the Forum Civic Center box office at 706-291-5281 and stay tuned to www.georgiafire.us.

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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 21, 2014


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