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PIFL Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Steelhawks Fall in the Jungle

May 10, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks News Release


Allentown, PA: The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (5-2, 4-2 PIFL) fell to the Columbus Lions (5-2) on Saturday night after their comeback efforts came up short. Lehigh Valley and Columbus have split their consecutive week matchups, with the home team taking the victory each time. With the victory the Lions assume a half game lead in the PIFL standings.

In an arena the Steelhawks have struggled previously, the team kept things close throughout the first quarter. Columbus would kickoff to start the game, with K Lindsay Wolfe connecting on the uno to give the Lions' the early lead. Lehigh Valley would get points on their first possession though as QB Zach Zulli (18 yds, 3 tds rushing), who started for a banged up Shane McSweeny, ran it in from a yard out. The score was set up by a nice run by FB Paul Melicharek (21 yds). Columbus would answer right back on their subsequent possession, QB Casey Kacz (20 for 36, 227 yds, 4 tds) would find WR Terrence Ebagua (6 catches for 83 yds, 2 tds) from 10 yards out. Lehigh Valley would then turn the ball over on downs giving Columbus the ball back on their own 19. Kacz and Ebagua would hook up again, this time for wide open 31 yard pass to give the Lions' an eight point lead. The Steelhawks would tie things up as time expired in the first as Zulli got into the endzone from five yards out. He would then find WR Brandon Renford (6 catches for 55 yds, 2 pts) in the back of the endzone for two points. The score was tied 14 all to start the second quarter.

Columbus took over a little in the second quarter, outscoring the Hawks 16-6. After their offense failed to put points on the board (the drive ended with a missed 53 yd FG attempt), their defense would get a sack in the endzone for the safety to give them a two point lead. Getting the ball back right away, FB Kendrick Perry (39 yds, 1 td) would break out for a big gain down to the six yard line. Kacz would find WR Morrel Presley (8 catches for 86 yds, 1 td) to finish the drive. Wolfe would connect on the extra point and on the uno, extending the Lions' lead to 10. The Steelhawks would get their only points in the quarter off a 12 yard touchdown pass to WR Denzell Jones (2 catches for 17 yds, 1 td). Lehigh Valley would give up another rushing touchdown to Perry after Ebagua went over the wall to make a catch on the one yard line on 3rd and 10. Time would expire on Lehigh Valley's drive before they could score. At halftime they trailed by 10 (Columbus 30, LV 20).

Lehigh Valley hit the uno to start the 3rd quarter, cutting the lead to nine but that's as close as they would get. Columbus would drive 45 yards, Kacz finishing the drive on the ground. The Steelhawks would use up about six minutes of the clock on their next drive; a series of penalties kept pushing the ball back before Columbus would pick off the Hawks pass. Columbus' Ebagua would come up with two big catches to get the Lions down to the 13 but Hawks DB Stefaun Whitehead (8.5 tackles, 1 int) would end their drive with an interception of his own. With about two minutes left in third, the Steelhawks had the ball back. On the last play of the quarter, a forced pass looking for the endzone, was intercepted by DB Marvin Ross (8 tackles, 1 int).

The Lions would extend their lead to 24, their largest on the night, after Kacz connected with WR Dez Beverly (2 catches for 22 yds, 1 td) on a three yard catch into the wall. Wolfe would hit the point after, and the uno, his third on the night. Lehigh Valley would battle back, cutting the lead to 10 with 2:38 on the clock - Zulli would run it in for this third rushing touchdown of the night, then the defense would hold and force a turnover on downs, Zulli (22 of 35, 224 yds, 2 tds) would then find WR Jerell Jones (6 catches for 89 yds, 1 td) for a 27 yard touchdown pass. But that's as close as they would get. Columbus would use Perry to convert a big fourth down and then grind out yards to keep the clock running. The final buzzer sounded with the score: Columbus 45, Lehigh Valley 35.

The Hawks once again struggled on the road after a long bus ride, with the offense only putting up 35 points. This was the first game this year they lost the turnover battle, giving up one more than they forced. The defensive line struggled to put pressure on the Lions' quarterback consistently as well. Columbus had two receivers go for 80 or more yards, and Perry rushed for 39 yards.

The Steelhawks are back on Embassy Bank field inside the PPL Center this week for a Sunday afternoon game, May 17th at 3:00pm to take on the Alabama Hammers. The game is presented by Embassy Bank and is will be "Salute to Heroes Night." The first 1,500 fans in the door will get a free sport bottle.

Tickets to individual Steelhawks games are now available, and now you can pick your exact seat when purchasing online! And season tickets are still available. We hope to everyone inside the PPL Center this season for the Steelhawks 5th season! Keep checking for the latest news and events from the Steelhawks! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at www.lvsteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news! 2015 Season Ticket packages are now on sale! Reserve your seat now by calling the Steelhawks office at 610-282-3100.



Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 10, 2015


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