Sharks Fall Short in Columbus 48-43

July 7, 2018 - National Arena League (NAL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release

COLUMBUS - The Jacksonville Sharks (8-5) fell just short to the #1 ranked Columbus Lions (8-3) in Columbus, GA with a score of 43-48. In the series between these two teams, the Sharks trail the Lions with an overall record of 1-2 in the 2018 season. The first game, the Sharks lost to the Lions by 10 points with a 41-51 score. In the second game between the two, the Lions lost to the Sharks 65-67. This time, the Sharks can't break the home-field streak and fall short 43-48.

Sharks Quarterback Patrick McCain, who spent his college career at Jacksonville University got the start tonight against the Columbus Lions defense. McCain was 24-of-38 for 288 yards and six touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also rushed four times for 11 yards. Fullback Derrick Ross rushed five times for 17 yards; caught one pass for seven yards in his return to the jungle. The leading receiver in yards tonight for the Sharks was Tom Gilson with 11 receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns but the highest scoring was Trevor Kennedy who had another great game for the Sharks recording five receptions for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Wide Receiver Cody Saul had a slow start but showed he has a true connection with the new starting QB as he saw a lot of fourth quarter action, finishing the night with four receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown. After missing last week, Chris Gilchrist returned to the Sharks and finished the night with three receptions for 29 yards. Kicker Brandon Behr successfully made one deuce and made a 19-yard field goal. Linebacker Charlie Hunt played his first game in almost half the season and recovered a botched snap. Defensive Back Brandon Roe and Defensive Lineman Jermiah Price and Keith Bowers each finished the night with a sack.

The game went off with a quick start for the Sharks, who drove down the field to open up the game. They looked to give the Lions a scare but were held to a 19-yard field goal by Sharks Kicker Brandon Behr to put the score at 3-0 for the Sharks. The Lions were quick to score a touchdown, followed by a successful drop-kick, and a deuce to give the Lions 10 points in one drive. To tie things up at 10, McCain threw a long bomb to Kennedy for a 29-yard touchdown. The Columbus Civic Center had a power surge due to the weather outside shortly after a Columbus touchdown. Once the power came back and the lights turned on, Lions Kicker Tyler Rausa's Drop-Kick attempt was no good to end the first quarter. The Sharks scored a touchdown and took advantage of a missed Lions field goal in the second quarter. The Sharks scored another touchdown to put an end to the first half with a score of 22-16 with the Sharks on top.

The Lions got the ball to start the second half, which ended up benefiting them. They scored a quick touchdown in one minute and 58 seconds. To tie things up, the Lions tried another drop-kick. That ended up to be no good, so the Sharks still remained on top 24-22. The Sharks and Lions both exchanged touchdowns, but the Lions defense stopped Jacksonville later in the third quarter to help the Lions go up 36-31. On the first play of the next drive for the Sharks, McCain threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Gilson. A blocked PAT would put the Sharks up by one point to end the third quarter. The fourth quarter was where Columbus took control and found where they succeed the most against the Sharks. The Lions scored 10 points before the Sharks could score anything in the fourth quarter. Penalties hurt the Sharks and so did turnovers. Finally, the Sharks scored a touchdown to give them hope and close the Lions lead with a 43-48 score with the Sharks trailing. From there, the Sharks failed to recover an onside kick, then forced the Lions to give the Sharks two sacks. Unfortunately for the Sharks, those sacks didn't change the game, as time ran out and the Sharks would fall to the Lions 43-48.

The Jacksonville Sharks are on a Bye Week next week, then host the Columbus Lions for their fourth head-to-head game between the two teams this season. That game will be on July 21, 2018, at 7:00 pm (ET) for Star Wars Night.

Jacksonville Sharks vs. the Columbus Lions

National Arena League Stories from July 7, 2018

• Sharks Fall Short in Columbus 48-43 - Jacksonville Sharks

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