Post by lionsroar on Jun 16, 2008 15:36:52 GMT -5
Lions Halt Heroic Comeback with 57-54 win Date: 6/16/2008 4:01:56 PM
COLUMBUS, GA (June 16, 2008) – Already knowing they had clinched a playoff spot, the Columbus Lions (9-4) of the American Indoor Football Association wanted to give their home fans one last win as they hosted the Huntington Heroes (6-7) in their home finale.
Columbus would start the game off with some fireworks as Anthony Merritt returned the opening kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown. Huntington answered back on the ensuing drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Darnel Kennedy to Octavious Day giving them their one and only lead for the game at 7-6.
Wide-out Tirone Morris recaptured the lead for the Lions grabbing his first of three total touchdowns midway through the 1st Quarter. Huntington kept it close with Kicker Jason Cherry chipping in with two field goals (20,26).
Midway through the 2nd Quarter, Morris returned a 53-yard kickoff return for the Lions second kickoff return of the game. Before the end of the 1st half the Lions would add another score with Lions QB Joey Conrad hooking up with Silas Daniels taking a 37-13-halftime lead. Conrad finished the game completing 17 of 27 passes for 143 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Heroes began their comeback on their first drive in the 2nd half with Kennedy finding Fullback Charlie Rollins for a 19-yard pass setting the tone for 41 point second half. Kennedy finished the night throwing seven touchdowns, completing 21 of 37 passes with two interceptions. Columbus would answer Huntington with back-to-back scores stretching their lead to 50-34 going into the 4th Quarter.
The Lions defense thought they had staged off the comeback with an interception from Damian Daniels only for it to be nullified by an illegal defense penalty. On the following play, Kennedy hit wide-out Octavious Day for an 11-yard touchdown pass, getting within three of the Lions at 50-47.
The Columbus offense countered with a 2:40 drive that ended with a halfback pass from Anthony Merritt to Silas Daniels getting the lead for the Lions back to 10. Still vying for the heroic comeback, Refusing to fade away, Kennedy responded right back on the ensuing drive that only took: 13 finding wide-out Troy Perry for a 35-yard touchdown getting back within three at 57-54.
The Lions finished off the Heroes forcing them to use all three of their timeouts and achieving one first down. “We knew Huntington’s offense would score, were just glad we could hold them off,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson. “I’m really glad that we were able to give these fans one last win for the season,” continues Gibson.
Fans can catch the recap of the Huntington game as well as gain some incite into the Lions season finale as they take on the Fayetteville Guard next Saturday at the Coaches Show, live from the Sports Page this Tuesday night on AM 1270 at 6:00 PM.
COLUMBUS, GA (June 16, 2008) – Already knowing they had clinched a playoff spot, the Columbus Lions (9-4) of the American Indoor Football Association wanted to give their home fans one last win as they hosted the Huntington Heroes (6-7) in their home finale.
Columbus would start the game off with some fireworks as Anthony Merritt returned the opening kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown. Huntington answered back on the ensuing drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Darnel Kennedy to Octavious Day giving them their one and only lead for the game at 7-6.
Wide-out Tirone Morris recaptured the lead for the Lions grabbing his first of three total touchdowns midway through the 1st Quarter. Huntington kept it close with Kicker Jason Cherry chipping in with two field goals (20,26).
Midway through the 2nd Quarter, Morris returned a 53-yard kickoff return for the Lions second kickoff return of the game. Before the end of the 1st half the Lions would add another score with Lions QB Joey Conrad hooking up with Silas Daniels taking a 37-13-halftime lead. Conrad finished the game completing 17 of 27 passes for 143 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Heroes began their comeback on their first drive in the 2nd half with Kennedy finding Fullback Charlie Rollins for a 19-yard pass setting the tone for 41 point second half. Kennedy finished the night throwing seven touchdowns, completing 21 of 37 passes with two interceptions. Columbus would answer Huntington with back-to-back scores stretching their lead to 50-34 going into the 4th Quarter.
The Lions defense thought they had staged off the comeback with an interception from Damian Daniels only for it to be nullified by an illegal defense penalty. On the following play, Kennedy hit wide-out Octavious Day for an 11-yard touchdown pass, getting within three of the Lions at 50-47.
The Columbus offense countered with a 2:40 drive that ended with a halfback pass from Anthony Merritt to Silas Daniels getting the lead for the Lions back to 10. Still vying for the heroic comeback, Refusing to fade away, Kennedy responded right back on the ensuing drive that only took: 13 finding wide-out Troy Perry for a 35-yard touchdown getting back within three at 57-54.
The Lions finished off the Heroes forcing them to use all three of their timeouts and achieving one first down. “We knew Huntington’s offense would score, were just glad we could hold them off,” says Head Coach Jason Gibson. “I’m really glad that we were able to give these fans one last win for the season,” continues Gibson.
Fans can catch the recap of the Huntington game as well as gain some incite into the Lions season finale as they take on the Fayetteville Guard next Saturday at the Coaches Show, live from the Sports Page this Tuesday night on AM 1270 at 6:00 PM.