By: Matthew Hester
Southern Indoor Football League
Media Relations Director

LAFAYETTE, LA (JUNE 20, 2010) – On Saturday night, with the second seed in the impending playoffs on the line, the Columbus Lions (7-3) of the Southern Indoor Football League escaped the Cajun Dome with a 58-55 victory over the Lafayette Wildcatters (5-5).

After falling behind quickly 4-0, the Lions went on a drive at the end of the 1st quarter; the final result was a Chris McCoy 22-yard touchdown pass to Lonnell Dewalt giving them a lead they would never relinquish.  Following the Dewalt touchdown, the Columbus came up with the first big turnover of the night on a Anthony Merritt interception resulting in another Lions touchdown when McCoy hit Tirone Morris for a 16-yard strike.

Throughout the first half, Wildcatters quarterback Juan Joseph was under extreme pressure and following the Morris touchdown the newest Lion John Macado grabbed a safety putting Columbus up 16-4.  After a Sean Comiskey uno and 48-yard Trey Crum field goal, Lafayette got within seven when they snatched their first touchdown on Tim Richmond on a 45-yard pass from Joseph.

Carrying his momentum from a five-touchdown performance last weekend in which he garnered the SIFL’s Offensive Player of the Week, Lions receiver Lonnell Dewalt carried the offense on his shoulders Saturday night helped Columbus cruise to a 36-19 halftime lead.  Lonnell was the top receiving threat on the night taking in 10 receptions for 190 yards and four touchdowns.

Going into the half down by 17, the Wildcatters began to scratch and crawl their way back into the game behind the arms and feet of quarterback Juan Joseph.  He lead Lafayette on four consecutive touchdown drives to open the half getting his club within two towards mid-way in the fourth.  Joseph finished the contest completing 17 of 35 passes for 250 yards and seven total touchdowns. 

Columbus quarterback Chris McCoy matched wits with Joseph completing 17 of 31 passes for 270 yards and six touchdowns but more importantly a big goose egg in turnovers.  The difference between the pair was Joseph seemed to have pressure in his face all evening while McCoy had ample enough time to look down field. 

Juan was sacked four times and that constant pressure was a direct result in his second interception, landing in the hands of SIFL interceptions leader Damian Daniels extending his season total to 12.  An exciting game lead to an even more thrilling one-minute mark where some miss-management of game clock gave the Wildcatters a chance to force overtime with a Comiskey 53-yard field goal attempt.  Comiskey’s attempt eventually fell short and Columbus escaped with the 58-55 victory.

Columbus win secures the second seed and more importantly a home playoff date in the first round.  The Lions match up next weekend against the first place Albany Panthers lost some of it’s importance when the Panthers defeated the Greenville Force 66-15 Saturday night locking up the top seed in the standings.  Lafayette heads into a must-win situation next weekend when they take on their “I-10” rivals, the Louisiana Swashbucklers, in a game that will decide who takes third and fourth in the final standings.

For more information from around the Southern Indoor Football League, log on to www.southernifl.com.