Lions Defeat Fire in Regular Season Finale
June 27, 2014 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
ROME, Ga. - The Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) defeated the Georgia Fire 69-55 at The Forum in Rome on Friday night in their regular-season finale. The win gives the Lions their first winning season (7-5) in the PIFL and puts them on a two-game road winning streak after dropping their first four contests of the season away from Columbus. It also gives the team momentum going into their PIFL semifinal matchup with the Nashville Venom on Saturday, July 5th .
The game started on a high note for the Fire, however. Kicker Lindsey Wolfe, the reigning PIFL Special Teams Player of the Week, kicked an uno before a second even ticked off the clock to give Georgia the first point of the game. However, Lions quarterback Luke Halpin went to work on the ensuing possession, finding Jarmon Fortson for a 16-yard touchdown reception, the first of three Halpin-to-Fortson TD connections on the night.
Halpin finished as the Lions' Offensive Player of the Game as he was 18 of 25 passing for 204 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, although he did lose a fumble early in the second quarter. Former Ole Miss quarterback Barry Brunetti, playing in his second game for the Lions after being traded to Columbus from the Fire, spelled Halpin in the fourth quarter and saw his first on-field live game action for the Lions. He finished 3 for 5 passing for 46 yards and a touchdown.
The receiving corps came up with six touchdowns on the night, with Fortson picking up half of those on 72 yards and six catches. Leroy Vann was the Lions' leading receiver in terms of yardage, picking up seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Chris Davis had 67 yards receiving on six catches, one for a touchdown, while Kendrick Perry had a pair of receptions for 23 yards, one of which he turned into a 20-yard touchdown. Perry also led all Columbus players in rushing with 38 yards on the ground on five attempts.
Marvin Ross was the Lions' Defensive Player of the Game as he forced a key fumble from Georgia fullback Xavier Stinson in the fourth quarter that linebacker Ryan Babb scooped and ran 26 yards for the score.
Roshawn Marshall had the only interception of the game for either team, his league-leading 10th of the season. The Lions' defense also scored their second safety in as many games.
Kicker Craig Camay again came up big as the Lions' Special Teams Player of the Game, following up his six-uno performance last week in Huntsville against the Alabama Hammers with five unos in the game. Camay was also 8 for 9 on extra point attempts.
The Lions head to the Music City next Saturday, July 5th, for an 8 PM EDT playoff matchup against the American Conference champion Nashville Venom. The winner of that game will face the National Conference champion the weekend of July 11th -13th for the PIFL championship. For more details, contact the Lions at 706.322.3336 or visit them online at www.columbuslions.net.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 27, 2014
- Alabama Hammers End Season with Win - Alabama Hammers
- Fire Drop Season Finale To Lions - Georgia Fire
- Lions Defeat Fire in Regular Season Finale - Columbus Lions
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