By: Matthew Hester
Southern Indoor Football League
Media Relations Director

LAKE CHARLES, LA (JULY 16, 2010) – Come this Sunday, the Louisiana Swashbucklers (6-6) of the Southern Indoor Football League find themselves in a familiar place when they travel to take on the Columbus Lions (9-3) in the Championship Game going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.

When the Swashbucklers make their second straight trip to the Peach State, they will be playing for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, second in the SIFL.  It’s become a regular thing for the Swashbucklers, especially around this time of year.  Compared to there past championship seasons, this year has had plenty of hardships creating some doubt that can be all erased come Sunday around 9 p.m. 

At the beginning of the season change was the theme as head coach Darnell Lee left for the IFL’s Alaska Wild leaving the duties in the hands of former Bucs player Shadrick McAfee.  After a disappointing 2-3 start, Bucs made a mid-season coaching change replacing McAfee with long-time defensive coordinator Michael Warren.  In the mist of that change, former head coach Darnell Lee returned from Alaska taking up the post of offensive coordinator.   Migrating along with Lee, were a couple of former players including last seasons championship game Most Valuable Player in defensive lineman Bryant Mason.

Even more so, the quarterback situation in Lake Charles got murky when both starter Alvin Bartie and back-up Shaun Samuels went down with injuries forcing the Bucs to bring in former starter Freddie Harrison.  Since his return, Harrison has thrown for 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Despite finishing the regular season with a 5-6 record, including a season-ending fourth quarter collapse against their ‘I-10’ rivals the Lafayette Wildcatters left the Swashbucklers with the lowest seed in the SIFL playoffs and an impending first round date with the regular season champion Albany Panthers.  Chips were stacked high against the Bucs considering they had yet to win a road-game nor had the Panthers lost a game at home. 

But that’s why the game is not played on paper as the Black and Purple Gang upended the regular season champion Panthers behind five turnovers including holding their offense to just 3 of 9 in the red-zone.  Swashbuckler’s quarterback Freddie Harrison only needed to complete 11 passes as the offense maintained their ball control offense managing to hold the ball for over 32 minutes of the game. 

Back in late May, the Bucs ball control offense was vital in their 51-31 victory over the Lions.  Fullback Kendrick Perry rushed for 108 yards helping minimize the Columbus attacking defense as the balance Swashbucklers attack featured 24 passes and 24 rushes converting 60% of their third down conversions.  In Columbus’ season opener back in late March, the Bucs got an 88-32 smacking from the Lions 311 yards of total offense and seven turnovers.  

Led by All-SIFL first teamers defensive back Brandon Thomas and linebacker Courtney Brooks, Louisiana boasts the leagues top total defense (205.8 yards/game) as well as holding opponents to the lowest third down conversion rate (22.5%).  Respectively, Columbus and Louisiana both possess the top two stingiest defenses in the SIFL going a combined plus 41 in the turnover margin.

Sunday’s Championship takes place this Sunday night as the defending champion Louisiana Swashbucklers travel to take on the Columbus Lions with kickoff at 6:00 p.m.  Fans can also watch and listen to the game live online by logging on to www.southernifl.com and clicking on the listen live icon.