Post by lionsroar on May 25, 2008 20:05:12 GMT -5
LIONS ESCAPE FLORIDA WITH 52-45 WIN Date: 5/25/2008 8:31:37 AM
COLUMBUS, GA (May 25, 2008) – Ravaged by injuries and some key missing players, the Columbus Lions (8-3) of the American Indoor Football Association got all they could handle from the winless Florida Stingrays (0-10) on Saturday night escaping Ft. Myers with a 52-45 win.
With eight regular starters sitting out for the Lions, Head Coach Jason Gibson knew beating Florida would be extremely difficult.
“I knew with all the coaching changes Florida installed this club was going to be hungry and I’m just glad to walk out of there no matter the score with a W,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson.
Some key regulars were missing from the Lions line-up, including Starting Quarterback Joey Conrad who dressed for the game but was a late scratch right before game time. Back-up Quarterback Maurice Mullins filled in throwing 5 touchdowns and adding another
on the ground.
Other notable missing Lions players due to injuries included Wide-out Gerald Gales who missed his second straight game with a knee injury, which he suffered in Week 10 when he landed on the turf wrong after trying to make a catch against Mississippi.
Lion’s Kicker Hunter Smith, Linebacker Justen Rivers, and Defensive Lineman Thaddeus Bullard also did not make the trip to Ft. Myers due to previous business engagements.
Columbus had their chance to put some distance between them and Florida towards the end of the 1st half. Leading 32-14 the Lions Defensive Back Keon Newson intercepted an A.J. Rogue in the red-zone with 1 second left on the clock.
Lions Kicker Gene Davis trotted out for a 56-yard attempt only to have it hit one of his Lions players in the back. Stingrays Linebacker Joe Ross recovered it in the end zone to finish off the first half.
Florida received the opening 2nd half kick and scored with an Allen Lee 20 yard reception from A.J. Rogue concluding a 14-point swing that left the Lions lead to 4.
Columbus answered back as Lions Wide Receiver Anthony Merritt concluded a big night with two receiving touchdowns in the 2nd half both going over 40-yards. Merritt would finish the night with 3 receiving touchdowns also adding one on the ground and one with his arm connecting with Wide Receiver Silas Daniels for a 23-yard TD pass.
Florida stayed in the game throughout much of the second due to short completions from Quarterback A.J. Rogue and some key turnovers made by the Rays defense.
“I really thought one of the huge differences was our DB’s not letting their Wide Receivers not get any yards after the catch and how our receivers were able to break some key tackles for some extra yards,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson.
Columbus will rest up this next week as they enter their second bye week of the season. The Lions will resume play on Friday June 6th as they take on the Eastern Division first place Florence Phantoms at the Columbus Civic Center at 7:30 PM.
Fans can catch a recap of the Florida game and get caught up on all the Lions news this Tuesday night with the Coaches Show with Head Coach Jason Gibson live from the Sports Page on AM 1270 at 6:00 PM.
COLUMBUS, GA (May 25, 2008) – Ravaged by injuries and some key missing players, the Columbus Lions (8-3) of the American Indoor Football Association got all they could handle from the winless Florida Stingrays (0-10) on Saturday night escaping Ft. Myers with a 52-45 win.
With eight regular starters sitting out for the Lions, Head Coach Jason Gibson knew beating Florida would be extremely difficult.
“I knew with all the coaching changes Florida installed this club was going to be hungry and I’m just glad to walk out of there no matter the score with a W,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson.
Some key regulars were missing from the Lions line-up, including Starting Quarterback Joey Conrad who dressed for the game but was a late scratch right before game time. Back-up Quarterback Maurice Mullins filled in throwing 5 touchdowns and adding another
on the ground.
Other notable missing Lions players due to injuries included Wide-out Gerald Gales who missed his second straight game with a knee injury, which he suffered in Week 10 when he landed on the turf wrong after trying to make a catch against Mississippi.
Lion’s Kicker Hunter Smith, Linebacker Justen Rivers, and Defensive Lineman Thaddeus Bullard also did not make the trip to Ft. Myers due to previous business engagements.
Columbus had their chance to put some distance between them and Florida towards the end of the 1st half. Leading 32-14 the Lions Defensive Back Keon Newson intercepted an A.J. Rogue in the red-zone with 1 second left on the clock.
Lions Kicker Gene Davis trotted out for a 56-yard attempt only to have it hit one of his Lions players in the back. Stingrays Linebacker Joe Ross recovered it in the end zone to finish off the first half.
Florida received the opening 2nd half kick and scored with an Allen Lee 20 yard reception from A.J. Rogue concluding a 14-point swing that left the Lions lead to 4.
Columbus answered back as Lions Wide Receiver Anthony Merritt concluded a big night with two receiving touchdowns in the 2nd half both going over 40-yards. Merritt would finish the night with 3 receiving touchdowns also adding one on the ground and one with his arm connecting with Wide Receiver Silas Daniels for a 23-yard TD pass.
Florida stayed in the game throughout much of the second due to short completions from Quarterback A.J. Rogue and some key turnovers made by the Rays defense.
“I really thought one of the huge differences was our DB’s not letting their Wide Receivers not get any yards after the catch and how our receivers were able to break some key tackles for some extra yards,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson.
Columbus will rest up this next week as they enter their second bye week of the season. The Lions will resume play on Friday June 6th as they take on the Eastern Division first place Florence Phantoms at the Columbus Civic Center at 7:30 PM.
Fans can catch a recap of the Florida game and get caught up on all the Lions news this Tuesday night with the Coaches Show with Head Coach Jason Gibson live from the Sports Page on AM 1270 at 6:00 PM.