Seven Lions Make All-SIFL Squads
July 7, 2011 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (July 7, 2011) - The Southern Indoor Football League announced its 2011 All-SIFL squads on Thursday with the Columbus Lions landing seven members combined, the most of any team.
This the time of the season when the individual awards get handed out and as despite falling short of championship glory, it was a season in which the Lions followed up their 2010 championship season with their best regular season finish at 11-1.
Columbus grabbed five first team nominations including three repeaters in kicker Trey Crum, defensive back Damian Daniels, and offensive lineman Dion Small. After coming over from Mobile, Crum picked up right where he left off from last season scoring 121 points along with a league high 20 Uno's in addition to nailing another eight in the Lions 2011 playoff run. Back in early April, Crum's 27-yard game winning field goal against Fayetteville was the spark that led to the Lions closing out the regular season on a nine-game winning streak.
After closing out the regular season with a league-high 18 interceptions, defensive back Damian Daniels grabbed his fifth consecutive first team nomination. The three-time Defensive MVP has been a staple for the Lions defense over a five-year span in which has led to 76 career interceptions.
Despite being an offensive league, it's hard to find any love for the big hog mollies up front, but offensive lineman Dion Small has been smothering opponents for two years and now has his second consecutive 1st Team award. Small led an offensive squad that finished second overall in rushing touchdowns (24) as well as third in red-zone efficiency (84.1 %).
Also grabbing 1st Team honors was linebacker Justen Rivers and play-making specialist Anthony Merritt. Rivers finished with a team-high 12 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss both good enough for second overall in the SIFL. Merritt ended the season with the most all-purpose yards (1833) as well as fourth overall in receptions (76) scoring a team-high 26 touchdowns.
Grabbing 2nd Team All-SIFL honors were wide receiver Gerald Gales and defensive lineman Chris Bradwell. Gales hauled in a team-high 77 receptions and 23 touchdowns both ranking him third overall in the SIFL. Gerald also finished on the 2010 All-SIFL 2nd Team. Before moving on to the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, Bradwell notched five sacks and twelve tackles.
In spite of out-performing his 2010 season, quarterback Chris McCoy was one of the major notable snubs off. McCoy threw for 58 touchdowns, 2,847 yards, completed 62.5 % of his passes, and rushed for another 15 touchdowns.
"It was an impressive season, definitely the best regular season I have experienced as a head coach," says Columbus Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson. "All the hard work our players put in this season isn't vindictive as we didn't reach our ultimate goal, but some personal goals were achieved."
The Columbus Lions have already announced ticket prices for the upcoming 2012 season. Log on to www.columbuslions.net or call the front office at 706-322-3336 for more details.
Southern Indoor Football League Stories from July 7, 2011
- Seven Lions Make All-SIFL Squads - Columbus Lions
- Erie Explosion Players Advance to the Arena Football League - Erie Explosion
- Nemeth Signs with Utah - Trenton Steel
- Four Steel Players Earn SIFL All-Star Honors - Trenton Steel
- SIFL Announces All-League Teams - SIFL
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