Lions Host Bucs On Cancer Awareness Night
April 11, 2012 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (April 11, 2012) - In a rematch from the 2010 SIFL Championship Game, the Columbus Lions (2-2) of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) host the reeling Louisiana Swashbucklers (1-2) for "Cancer Awareness Night."
The Louisiana Swashbucklers make their first trip back to Columbus since July 2010 when the Lions defeated the Bucs 68-13 in the SIFL Championship Game. Reeling from two consecutive losses, both at the hands of the Albany Panthers (3-0), the Bucs only hope to come out of Saturday's game with no injuries considering as many as seven starters have missed time over the past two weeks.
In consecutive weeks, the Bucs lost starting quarterbacks Alvin Bartie and Freddie Harrison to a head injury and a bruised sternum respectively. Through their first three games, Louisiana has the lowest rated passing offense (172 yards/game) in the PIFL, but do maintain one of the best rushing attacks averaging 45 yards per game. In May of 2010, in their lone win over the Lions, the Swashbucklers rushed for 146 yards an oddity for the indoor game.
"Louisiana has shown that they are going to bear down and try to maintain the clock by running a lot," says Columbus Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson. "With a big back like Kendrick Perry along with elusive players like Sammy Knight, there is a huge reason why they have made it to five consecutive championship games."
Continuing with the injury bug, defensively the Black and Purple Gang could be without one of their sack specialists in Demario Dixon along with linebacker and LaGrange native Tray Blackmon. Dixon sat out the March 31st game against Albany with a broken finger but may give it a go with a protective boot on his hand while former Auburn Tiger Tray Blackmon has already missed one game to injury this season.
After losing their first regular season home game in almost two years, the Columbus Lions will try and rebound after losing 63-60 to the Alabama Hammers (1-2) two weeks ago. Offensively, through the first four weeks Columbus has come out on fire passing the ball for a league-high 262 yards per game. It's been the other two facets, defense and special teams, in which the Lions have struggled.
On Tuesday, the Lions hope to have cleared up the special teams struggles as the club re-signed kicker Trey Crum (5'7 180, Delta State). Over the past two seasons, Crum earned 1st Team nods scoring 278 points and 53 Uno's in that span.
Defensively, Columbus has the given up a league-high 281 yards per game. "It's kind of hard to explain," continues Gibson. "We have had some assignment issues and a difficult time stopping the big play."
Saturday is also "Cancer Awareness Night", the Lions will be donning pink jersey's and playing with pink footballs which will be auctioned off immediately following the game with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the John B. Amos Cancer Center and the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta.
For group rates and ticket information, contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336 and for a look at what the Lions will be wearing in this Saturday's game, visit the official Columbus Lions Facebook page.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from April 11, 2012
- Nighthawks Ready for Panthers - Knoxville NightHawks
- Lions Host Bucs On Cancer Awareness Night - Columbus Lions
- Hammers Looking to Stay Hot at Richmond - Alabama Hammers
- Swashbucklers and Columbus Lions Meet on April 14th - Louisiana Swashbucklers
- High-Scoring Shootout Expected Saturday Night When Richmond Hosts Alabama - Richmond Raiders
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