Lions Playoff Hopes Rest On Thin Ice
May 30, 2013 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA - A playoff streak of six consecutive years will be on the line when the Columbus Lions (3-6) of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) host the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (6-4) this Sunday June 2nd at 4:00 PM.
Many names have changed off the back of those blue home jersey's, but no matter how many different faces are protected by the Lions shield the one constant this organization has maintained is it's pride in making the playoffs since the birth of their existence. "Many organizations go years without sniffing the playoffs," says Columbus Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson. "For some teams they view it as being lucky, we take pride in the fact of our consistency." That consistency will be put to the test for the next three weeks as the Lions officially enter do or die mode beginning this Sunday when they play host to arguably the PIFL's hottest team the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, winners of four straight.
In fact ever since these two teams last encountered each other they have gone in separate directions. For Lehigh it was the start of their current streak while Columbus has never been able to recover from the late 4th quarter collapse in which the Hawks snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 60-51 earlier this month. Two crucial calls including an apparent fumble recovery by the Lions when they were up by ten late in the 4th quarter as well as illegal forward pass on a botched snap on a field goal went against Columbus leading to their demise.
Since then it's been a house full of cards type ordeal as one piece continues to pull the house down each week. Two weeks after the Lehigh loss they lost to the first-place Hammers by turning over the ball four times and then just one week ago Columbus lost 48-42 in overtime to the Richmond Raiders after failing to come thru on a 16-yard game-winning field at the end of regulation.
Come Sunday the Lions will know what it will take to continue their streak of six consecutive playoff appearances having already known what in-state rival Albany and Louisiana did the following night. Victories by either team coupled with a fifth straight Columbus loss and they can kiss that dream of extending the streak goodbye. A potential victory on Sunday sets up a winner-take-all battle for the final spot of the impending playoffs between themselves and Albany with two matchups to settle it all (June 8th and June 22nd). But first things first, clip the hot the Hawks who boast the PIFL's top rated passer in Adam Bednarik. Last time out the Lions appeared to have Bednarik's number intercepting him three times, the first and only time that has happened this season.
Lehigh can hit you from a number of different ways, considering their signal-caller has a bevy of weapons on the outside. WR's Tyrone Collins, Toriel Gibson, and Tom Gilson have hauled in over 50 passes each, only trio in PIFL with that distinction, with Gilson being the high-man at 79.
Columbus comes into Sunday nicked up on both sides of the ball. QB Lee Chapple went down with a concussion late in last week's game vs. Richmond, his status for this week is doubtful, while FB Gerald Harris re-aggravated a rib injury that kept him out for almost an entire month. On defense DB Jeremy Gray may miss Sunday's contest with a groin pull while the already short defensive line may be without DL JamontayPilson who could be out with an ankle sprain. So literally the Lions playoff hopes rest on thin ice as many of their players have been soaking in tubs this week just to heal up and strap on the pads for this Sunday. One thing is for sure the mentality around the locker room is they aren't going down without a fight and anything goes once you enter "The Jungle."
Sunday is "Family Night." With tickets as low as $10 along with kids 12 and under in free with the purchase of an adult ticket the game promises to be a Family-Fun Affordable Night. There will also be $1 hotdogs, $1 Coke, and $1 popcorn concession specials and as always the first 150 military personnel get through the gates for free courtesy of the Drop Zone sponsors.
For ticket information and group rates, contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336 and for day-to-day updates from the team stay tuned to the Lions Facebook page.
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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 30, 2013
- Lions Playoff Hopes Rest On Thin Ice - Columbus Lions
- Swashbucklers Finish Out Season - PIFL
- Raiders Begin 2-Game Road Trip - Richmond Raiders
- Albany Panthers Announce Kid's Night - Albany Panthers
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