Lions 61, phantoms 12

[ronniern]

Not really sure what has happened with the phantoms, but they appear very demoralized, there were two injuries and while the second player was still on the turf being attended to one of his team mates started pretending to be injured as well then jumped up and started dancing, if things are that far gone just don't get on the bus. 42 and 44 thought the game was a joke with their antics, really took away from a good effort from the lions.

[lionsroar]

www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/754621.html

Offense, defense blast Florence
By Chris White - [e-mail]

Columbus quarterback Todd Spitzer connected for five touchdowns in the less than three quarters, two players returned interceptions for touchdowns and the Lions defense shut out the Florence Phantoms in the second half for a 61-12 victory on Friday at the Civic Center.

The Lions (10-3) scored on their second offensive play of the game on a 3-yard pass from Spitzer to Joel Babb. Florence scored on its next drive, but fumbled the extra-point attempt, allowing the Lions to keep a 7-6 lead. The Phantoms (6-7) never got any closer.

Babb and Spitzer connected again on the Lions’ next possession for a 7-yard scoring play. Carlos Martinez added another of his eight extra points and then tacked on an uno that gave Columbus a 15-6 lead after one quarter.

Columbus’ Tirone Morris caught touchdown passes from 25 and 31 yards out in the second quarter, Chris Goffer ran back a blocked point-after attempt for two points and Spitzer dove in for a 3-yard score to bolster the Lions’ lead to 38-12 at halftime. The Phantoms’ second-quarter score came on a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Torrey Pettigrew to Waleed Rushad.

Anthony Merritt hauled in a 33-yard pass from Spitzer midway through the third period, Martinez added two unos in the second half and defensive back Damian Daniels and defensive lineman Franklin Lloyd ran in an interception apiece in the fourth quarter to build on Columbus’ lead.

Daniels finished with two picks, and Merritt and Ramone Nickerson each had one.

Spitzer finished 11-for-16 with 162 yards and a single interception. The Lions had not scored more than 37 points against the Phantoms in their first two meetings, but Spitzer eclipsed that mark before halftime. Even with a playoff spot guaranteed, the offenses wanted to avoid getting stagnant.

“It was good we came out and played like we did,” Spitzer said. “(Florence) was a good team; we knew that. Our goal is to focus on games like this, one game at a time. One slip up can cost us in the playoffs, so we don’t want to get complacent.”

Kevin Huff played most of the second half for Columbus, going 4-for-5 with 29 yards.

An injury to Florence’s Dusten Dubose early in the third quarter delayed the game for about 15 minutes. He was taken off the field on a stretcher with concussion-like symptoms.

The Lions defense held Phantoms fullback Jonathan Wedlock to 23 yards on nine carries, and allowed a total of 166 yards on offense.

“Last time we took (Wedlock) lightly; we didn’t take him seriously,” Franklin said. “The D-line, the linebackers, we prepared for him this time.”

Next week the Lions travel to play the Fayetteville Guard in the regular-season closer and will get a preview of their first-round opponent.

“We’re not thinking (to the playoffs) yet,” Lions linebacker Justin Rivers said.

“We’ll look at this next game and try to win it just because it’ll be good to go into the playoffs on a win.”

If the Lions win the right to host the playoffs, which could depend on how Fayetteville does today, Columbus will host the Guard on July 17 at the Civic Center.

Friday at the Civic Center

Florence 6 6 0 0 - 12

Columbus 15 23 8 15 - 61

First Quarter

C – Joel Babb 3 pass from Todd Spitzer (Carlos Martinez kick), 13:40

F – Torrey Pettigrew 18 run (kick failed), 10:03

C – Babb 7 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 6:58

C – Martinez uno, 6:58

Second Quarter

C – Tirone Morris 25 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 13:55

F – Waleed Rushad 22 from Pettigrew (kick blocked), 12:48

C – Chris Goffer safety, 12:00

C – Morris 31 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 2:52

C – Spitzer 3 run (Martinez kick), :14

Third Quarter

C – Tirone Morris 25 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 13:55

F – Waleed Rushad 22 from Pettigrew (kick blocked), 12:48

C – Chris Goffer safety, 12:00

C – Morris 31 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 2:52

C – Spitzer 3 run (Martinez kick), :14

Fourth Quarter

C – Tirone Morris 25 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 13:55

F – Waleed Rushad 22 from Pettigrew (kick blocked), 12:48

C – Chris Goffer safety, 12:00

C – Morris 31 pass from Spitzer (Martinez kick), 2:52

C – Spitzer 3 run (Martinez kick), :14

[lionsroar]

Florence is disgracing the league/game by taking the field.

Their players now are way below average and they are getting people seriously injured. If they're not professional then don't bring them to the table. Florence should be fined by the league for bringing such garbage to play with.

They were of the 'AIFL' before and they really played the part last night. I haven't seen such a bad team come through Columbus since the 'Ghost chasers' in 2006. They are worse than the Miami silverbacks or the Pasm Fla Kings. Just bad for the sport to see them able to run an organization the way it's being ran and then calling it professional ball.

(turn that smile upside down)

[lionsfan]

I could not agree more. It would be better for the sport and for the league if they just did not show up.

It was appalling from the pregame and throughout the game. #42 stayed on our side of the field during the introductions of our players and actually ran through our Dance Team lineup. I was ready for his coach or at least the officials to yank him off the field but not a thing happened. Then he stood about 15 yards from the guy giving the invocation staring at him like some big bad guy. That's right, the guy giving the invocation! Can you believe it? I'm just glad we didn't have any elderly, terminally ill, homeless guy for him to pick on. He ended spending most of the game bantering - good naturedly - with our fans. But, hey, when your 6-6 and getting you butt beat, I guess that's your only option. Or maybe another option would be to play the game with dedication and dignity.

There was a serious injury to one of their players near the end of the game with the player being taken off on a stretcher. And while this is winding down, #6 starts rolling around writhing in pain. Then suddenly he jumps to his feet and starts dancing. Yeah, it was a joke. A big freakin' joke.

I know the team is the not the same team as it was previously but the it's the same coach and I can't believe he allows this type of behavior on the field. It was embarrassing to watch and it made a mockery of the entire league.

I guess there just not a market for self-respect for the Florence Phantoms these days. It is a shame - the defending champions and all.

[djh0722]

I can understand that things are going poorly from the management aspect of that team. I understand that players are mistreated, not paid, demoralized, or whatever. A lot of teams in this league are suffering financially. It is a tough economic climate and poor ownership certainly does not help the situation.

However, it sounds like the Phantoms have forgotten the definition of a team. They should either play tough through the problems and show the league why they are the defending champions, of they should all walk together. There is less shame in hanging it up, then going out there an not even trying. Walking away as a team has more dignity than simply shaming yourselves and the league.

[Daytonadan]

The question is now this -- who is accountable for the behavior? The coach? The GM? The owner? The league?

[lionsroar]

starts in the order you started all the way up the line in my opinion.

Needs to be addressed asap cos the league is a joke with them acting the way they have. They even put their K in at DE at one point.

Just can't belive it! atleast when then Daytona Beach Thunder was terrible in the 'WIFL' they upheld some professionalism about them. This is just not excusable in my opinion. Some penelty or actions need to happen to prevent this behavior in the future. I think once you've been penalized for excessive celebration and then you continue that you should be tossed. These guys started before the game singing as loud as they could to the music on the loud speaker. Wouldn't surprise me if some or not all were drunk with the way they were acting.

Not saying I have evidence of that but you just don't like that as a normal human being unless you've been altered in some way, usually!

[men lie women lie numbers dont]

you know I can understand the way the fans may feel at this point but in all
honesty we don't care our owner killed our team and the unit that we had in
place here its unthinkable to know that we were the number one team in the
league on the verge of repeating as champions and have went down the toilet like this
every time we go out we are proving a point to her dumb ass as to why she was so
stupid to break up our team.. I promise you when the season ends you will hear the true
story behind all of this on this board the players that we have now are the only guys who
will come to a situation like this ask yourself would you come play for us when the word
is out how were mistreated and unpaid as I said there are a lot of back stories that
will be revealed we will not allow her to get away with this without her being exposed
for the horrible owner she is and to think this was the owner of the year last year

[Gene]

Jun 21, 2009 12:50:29 GMT -5 men lie women lie numbers dont said:

you know I can understand the way the fans may feel at this point but in all
honesty we don't care our owner killed our team and the unit that we had in
place here its unthinkable to know that we were the number one team in the
league on the verge of repeating as champions and have went down the toilet like this
every time we go out we are proving a point to her dumb ass as to why she was so
stupid to break up our team.. I promise you when the season ends you will hear the true
story behind all of this on this board the players that we have now are the only guys who
will come to a situation like this ask yourself would you come play for us when the word
is out how were mistreated and unpaid as I said there are a lot of back stories that
will be revealed we will not allow her to get away with this without her being exposed
for the horrible owner she is and to think this was the owner of the year last year

Aint no one denying your situation and sympathetic i am. But if you aint getting paid dont play. What i would do is NOT show up for the last game. Let the half assed owner explain why her players chose not to play. Makes her look bad, not you. If she owes you money she still has to pay since its from previuos games. Lets face it $200 isnt gonna be a big loss for any of you for the last game. Stand as a team and show them you are done putting up with the shenanigans.

All kidding & smack talk aside Corey, i am serious. I dont like that situation anymore than you guys. It hurts the league overall as a whole. You've accomodated her all season when she was sh*tting on you guys. Now its your turn to sh*t on her....

[lionsfan]

Gene is right. All the kidding aside, why in the world would you put yourself in harms way if things are as bad as you say they are. No doubting you, just haven't heard the full story yet. Speaking of harms way, how is #81? Whatever his injury is, it certainly was not worth it.

I can imagine your frustration and anger but the fans don't know the whole story. All they have to go on is the players' behavior. You aren't making her look bad. You are making yourselves look bad.

[kingofthejungle]

I agree that most of the team was at best unprofessional but, I happen to know for a fact that several players were embarassed by the behavior of the ones you have mentioned. In fact, at least 3 of those that were embarrased (and a couple of the others) begged for the Lions to get thier contract. I am quite sure Coach Gibson would never sign any of the clowns but, a couple of the others? Well, it might be worth a try to get them in camp and see if they are "Lions" type of players.