Lions High Power Offense Returns Home To Face Force
May 6, 2011 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (May 6, 2011) - Since the last time the defending champs faced the Fayetteville Force (3-4) back in early April, the Columbus Lions (6-1) offense has averaged 72 points per game resulting in a four game winning streak with the second half setting up quite nicely for the champs.
For a three week stretch, the Columbus Lions has been on an unprecedented run in which the offense has increased their points per game by 30 points. Led by 2010 Offensive MVP Chris McCoy and his league leading passing percentage (65.9), the offense boasts a receiving trio of Gerald Gales, Anthony Merritt, and Josh Smith all with more than 10 receptions a piece.
Last weekend, McCoy passed for an SIFL record 483 passing yards along with nine total touchdowns (7 passing, 2 rushing) in a 74-61 victory over the Carolina Speed. The trio of Gales, Merritt, and Smith each hauled in at least 10 passes including all three going over the century mark in yards 159, 128, and 131 respectively. That was the first time in SIFL history in which three receivers from the same club went over 100 yards receiving in a single game.
As Columbus has risen, the Fayetteville Force have been in a downward spiral losing four straight including that April 9th game in the Lions won 29-28. In that game, Fayetteville led for majority of that contest including at one point being up as much as 15 early in the 4th quarter. But a late 4th quarter 16 point comeback capped off by a 27-yard Trey Crum last second field goal gave the Lions the victory.
Back when the Force was 3-0, their offense was averaging 215 yards passing and a league-leading 68 yards on the ground. For the past month, the club has only averaged 110 passing yards with just another 20 average yards rushing plummeting their scoring offense the bottom half of the SIFL (46.7 points per game).
Coming into Saturday, Charles Gunnings will be making his 2011 head coaching debut for the Force after previous head coach Marquette Smith was let go last weekend. Gunnings was previously the head coach for the Fayetteville Guard on two separate occasions was the Richmond Raiders head coach last season.
Gunnings main concern will be protecting the ball has to be a major concern for the Force offense as they currently rank second to last in turnover margin (-8). Last weekend, Fayetteville lost 69-41 to the Trenton Steel thanks in large part four turnovers including three fumbles as quarterback Lamar Little was held to just 8 of 27 passing for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
In order to keep pace with the division leading Albany Panthers (7-0), the Lions will need another win in hopes of making next week's meeting against the Panthers a game that could decide who wins the SIFL's Southern Division. The Lions finish the 2011 season with four of their last five games at home while Albany closes out the year with 3 of their last five on the road.
Saturday is "Cancer Awareness Night" sponsored by the John B. Amos Cancer Center. The Lions will be donning pink jerseys which will be auctioned off immediately following the game. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with first kickoff at 7:30 p.m., for more information contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336 or log on to www.columbuslions.net.
Southern Indoor Football League Stories from May 6, 2011
- Hammers take down Carolina 52-44 - Alabama Hammers
- Erie Explosion Look to Bounce Back this Weekend at Richmond - Erie Explosion
- Hammerhead face Rio Grande Valley in Monday Night Matchup - Corpus Christi Hammerheads
- Lions High Power Offense Returns Home To Face Force - Columbus Lions
- SIFL Preview Capsules - SIFL
- Stampede Seek to Bend Steel's Momentum Their Way - Harrisburg Stampede
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