Lions Visit Hammers In First In-Conference Road Game
Published on May 16, 2014 under Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) hit the road tomorrow for Propst Arena in Huntsville, Ala., to face the defending league champion Alabama Hammers. It marks the first intraconference road game for the Lions after long trips up north earlier in the season to face the Harrisburg Stampede in the season opener and the Trenton Freedom last month.
Kickoff in Huntsville is slated for 8:00 PM EDT on Saturday night.
After capturing the PIFL championship last season, the Hammers struggled out of the gate in 2014, dropping their first four games before picking up a narrow 51-48 victory at Lehigh Valley on Sunday. The Hammers' offense comes into tomorrow's game ranked next to last in the PIFL in scoring and offensive yardage, averaging just 31 points and 193 yards a game; in contrast, the Lions boast the league's most potent offense in both points and yards, scoring just under 59 points per contest and accumulating an average of 298 yards of offense per game. Despite those stats, the Hammers do have some weapons on offense, including the "McDuo" of wide receivers Charlie McClain and Mico McSwain, two members of last season's championship team for the Hammers.
The Lions take their offensive show on the road for the third time this season, looking for their first win away from the friendly confines of the Columbus Civic Center after two narrow losses at Harrisburg and Trenton. They will also look to break the three-team logjam atop the American Conference standings as Columbus, the Georgia Fire, and the Nashville Venom all enter this week's action with identical 3-2 records. While they have the most potent offense, their defense is last in the league in points allowed at 46.6 points per game. However, the stars that are playing their first season in Columbus have been as good as advertised. Quarterback Antwon Young leads all PIFL players with an average of 265 yards of offense per game and a total of 33 touchdowns (three rushing, 30 passing). Running back Kendrick Perry retains his spot as the PIFL career leader in rushing yards, currently leading the league with 217 yards on the ground so far this season. Defensive back Roshawn Marshall is tied for seventh in the PIFL with three interceptions so far this season, with one returned for a touchdown. Of course, the return of Damian "The Nighthawk" Daniels to Columbus this season after two years with the Albany Panthers has been nothing short of spectacular. Daniels is currently in a four-way tie for the league lead with five interceptions and has 101 career interceptions, the most of any player in indoor football history.
Plenty of great seats are still available for the Lions' remaining home schedule. After the Lions face the Hammers on the road tomorrow, then face the expansion Nashville Venom in the Music City on May 25, they will return home to face the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks on May 31, the first of three consecutive Saturday home games inside "The Jungle." For more information and for tickets for upcoming games, contact the Lions at 706.322.3336.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 16, 2014
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- Lions Visit Hammers In First In-Conference Road Game - Columbus Lions
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