Lions vs. Spartans game notes
Published on March 22, 2007 under World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2) News Release
COLUMBUS LIONS (2-0)
VS. AUGUSTA SPARTANS (1-1)
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007 7:30 P.M.
JAMES BROWN ARENA
MEDIA INFORMATION
CREDENTIALS REQUEST -- MORE INFORMATION: WIFL Communications Director Dan Ryan is in Augusta -- e-mail dryan@wifl.us or contact the Spartans' office at (706) 828-6888
AUDIOCAST: Available on www.columbuslions.net , www.augustaspartansfootball.com and www.wifl.ezstream.com. TALENT: Dan Ryan (play-by-play) and Dan Burham (color)
LIVE SCORING UPDATES: On all team web sites and www.wifl.us
TICKET INFORMATION:
COST: $8-$18. Available at James Brown Box Office or www.ticketmaster.com
HEAD COACHES
Columbus: Jason Gibson (1st with team, 3rd overall 13-14). An All-American receiver at Fairmont State University, Gibson went on to play in the CFL with the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts then had a stint in Europe before coming to indoor ranks with Albany (AFL) and two af2 teams. He began his coaching career with the Greensboro Prowlers (af2) before taking the reigns of the Raleigh Rebels (AIFL) in 2005
Augusta: Bubba Diggs (2nd year, 6-10). Diggs was a member of Clemson's 1981 national championship team and spent time in the USFL (Washington Federals) and NFL (San Diego Chargers.) The Augusta native coached for his hometown's af2 team, the Stallions as well as the Columbus WarDogs
KEY PLAYERS
COLUMBUS: QB Andrew McKay (25-50-4, 285, 7TD), RB/KR Eugene Goodman (rush 15-50-3 rec 5-76-0 kr 10-217-1 WR Jarwaski Pollock 7-59-3 K Gene Davis 2-5 FG 4-4 PAT DB Roshard Gilyard 7.5t, LB Justin Rivers 6.4t 1 int 2 fr)
AUGUSTA: QB Brandon Hatcher (16-25-2 243 5 TD QB Neal Sharma (6-19-3 98 3 TD), WRKR Marvin Stone (rec: 12-169-5, kr 6-170-1) WR Anthony Young (6-111-2), DL Ralph Scott (11.5 t 3 tfl 2 s), db Kijana Thomas (11t) DB Richard Dykes (9t 2 INT)
Comparing The Teams LIONS SPARTANS
Scoring Offense 39.5 (4) 43.0 (2)
Scoring Defense 36.5 (2) 49.5 (3)
Rushing Offense 26.5 (2) 19.0 (3)
Rushing Defense 29.5 (2) 72.0 (4)
Passing Offense 146.0 (4) 158.0 (2)
Passing Defense 190.0 (3) 158.0 (2)
Total Offense 172.5 (3) 177.5 (3)
Total Defense 219.5 (2) 230.9 (3)
Turnover Margin -1 (3) -2 (4)
Penalty Yards 47.5 (2) 30.5 (1)
Kicking 3-7 FG 8-9 PAT 1-5 FG 4-10 PAT
LAST TIME OUT
LIONS 34, GHOSTRIDERS 31: Gene Davis kicked a 34-yard field goal with 5.3 seconds remaining as the Columbus Lions defeated the Osceola Ghostriders 34-31 in a World Indoor Football League game Saturday, March 10 before 2,467 at AFLAC Field in the Columbus Civic Center. Osceola (1-1) rallied from a 17-3 third quarter deficit to take a 23-17 lead. on Brandon Sumner's 2-yard keeper with 5:06 left. Columbus regained the lead at 24-23 on Andrew McKay's 14-yarder to Jawarski Pollock five minutes later, then increased its lead to 31-23 on linebacker Justin Rivers' second fumble recovery and return for a touchdown with 1:15 left. The Ghostriders tied it again at 31-31 on Sumner's 23-yarder to Luther Huggins and a Sumner two-pointer with 25 seconds to play.
GHOSTRIDERS 52, SPARTANS 37: Paul Sharpe rushed for 97 yards and four first-half touchdowns as the Osceola Ghostriders beat the Augusta Spartans, 52-37, in a World Indoor Football League game before 2,146 at IOA Field at Silver Spurs Arena Saturday, February 24, 2007. Sharpe, a former Florida A&M standout, tied the Ghostriders' single-game touchdown mark as Osceola opened up an early two-touchdown lead. Augusta (1-1) closed to 32-27 at halftime, but the Osceola defense held the Spartans without a touchdown until 2:58 remaining. Marvin Stone caught 4 passes for 59 yards and 3 TDs while returning five kickoffs for 126 yards and one score.
NOTES: In addition to being the Spartans' first game in nearly a month, this is Augusta's home opener ... Pre-game ceremonies will honor the late, great James Brown and entertainment includes the University of Georgia's competitive cheer team ... This is the first All-Georgia game in the WIFL; Georgia teams have won three of the four meetings with the Florida teams ... Augusta's Marvin Stone needs two TDs to regain the scoring lead from Daytona Beach's Cory McKinney ... With the exception of Gene Davis' field goal kicking, the Lions do not lead the league in any team or individual category, yet are the league's only undefeated team ... Columbus is in the heart of Southeastern Conference territory and Augusta has Clemson-Atlantic Coast Conference ties, but the Lions have three ACC alumni (Jawarski Pollock and Mahlon Carey of North Carolina and Georgia Tech's Billy Omar) to the Spartans' two ACC alumni (Wake Forest's Anthony Young and Clemson's TJ Watkins) ... Augusta's Voncellis Allen and John Cractic are perhaps the most seasoned players in ALL of indoor football with a combined 11 years of playing experience .. Augusta owner Jimmy Young plans to take his team to see the movie "300" on Friday night as a means of motivation.
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from March 22, 2007
- Augusta owner predicts Columbus crushing - Augusta Colts
- Lions vs. Spartans game notes - WIFL 2
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