Lions Look to Secure Home Field for Playoffs this Saturday
Published on June 11, 2015 under Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (June 10, 2015) - With a playoff spot already clinched, this Saturday night home- field advantage for the entirety of the 2015 playoffs is on the line when the Columbus Lions (7-2) host the Trenton Freedom (6-4) inside the Columbus Civic Center.
For the first time since 2011, the Lions can lock up home-field advantage making the road to the PIFL Championship Cup run through Columbus. But first things first, Saturday's regular season finale against Trenton will be no easy task as the Freedom are in the mist of four-way battle with Lehigh Valley, Nashville, and Richmond for the final three playoff spots.
With Richmond off an owning the tie-breaker against the Freedom, in order for Trenton to get that second seed they will need to win out and hope the Raiders fall next week against Erie. Winners of four out of their last five games, winning three of those contests on the road, Trenton's primarily gotten it done by having the PIFL's top defense (236 yards allowed/game) with opponents passing for a league- low 36 total touchdowns.
Under a two quarterback system led by Stephen Panasuk and Hunter Wanket, the Freedom are completing a league-high 61 percent of their throws with Panasuk completing a league-high 63 percent of his passes. Last week, behind six Panasuk touchdowns, Trenton picked up a huge 48-31 road win in Lehigh currently placing them as the third seed in the PIFL standings.
Columbus enters full rested having had two bye's in the past three weeks. Last seen in action two weeks ago against Erie, ignited by a season-high eight sacks the Lions demolished the Explosion 81-26. It was the first time Columbus scored over 80 points since, you guessed it 2011.
QB Casey Kacz faces off against the club he made his debut against back in Week 3 when he passed for what stands as a personal season-high 350 yards. In that game, it was a couple of key defensive stops late in the 3rd and early in the 4th that helped the Lions pull away with the 70-60 win.
"Two weeks ago we proved the week off was used wisely," says Head Coach Jason Gibson. "Best thing about winning is we have to go out there and prove it to ourselves that we can do it again."
Of the three previous teams who clinched home field advantage they all have one thing in common, they eventually when on to hoist the PIFL Champions Cup going a combined 6-0. Since 2012, road teams in the PIFL have gone a combined 1-8 with two of those games featuring the Lions.
Saturday June 13th will serve as All-Pro Dad Night/Miss Georgia Night. Legendary former University of
Georgia Head Football Coach Vince Dooley will be on-hand for "Dinner for Dooley" with all the proceeds from the dinner going to support Right From the Start, a division of the Pastoral Institute, and it's All Pro Dad program. Tickets are $50 for this fundraiser and that includes a program, meal, and tickets to the Lions season finale game against Trenton.
To reserve your tickets today, contact the Lions Front Office at 706-322-3336.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from June 11, 2015
- Lions Look to Secure Home Field for Playoffs this Saturday - Columbus Lions
- Venom Look to Finish Season on a Good Note - Nashville Venom
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