By: Matthew Hester
Southern Indoor Football League
Media Relations Director

COLUMBUS, GA (JULY 18, 2010) – Behind four turnovers and 274 yards of total offense, the Columbus Lions (10-3) of the Southern Indoor Football League set claim to their first championship in a 68-13 victory over the defending champion Louisiana Swashbucklers (6-7).

In a game that lacked a little championship luster, Sunday’s Columbus victory brings the end of one dynasty and quite possible the beginning of another. Filled with many past playoff disappointments, Columbus can now erase all those memories with joy and jubilation as the Lions captured the cities first indoor football title while the Bucs string of three consecutive titles comes to an end.

Once again rising to the challenge was the number one ranked Columbus defense which forced four Louisiana turnovers while recording six sacks.   Bucs were held to just 98 yards of total offense and were smothered all night by the star-studded Lions defense as SIFL Defensive MVP Damian “Nighthawk” Daniels soared in two interceptions while All-SIFL First-Teamer Franklin Lloyd had 2.5 sacks.  Swashbucklers quarterback Freddie Harrison was held to just 11 of 23 passes for just 111 yards and two interceptions. 

For Louisiana, it was tough gaining any momentum as the Columbus defense seemed to have an answer for the Bucs league-leading rushing attack.  Held to just 23 rushing yards, the Swashbucklers got their first points at the 10:00 minute mark in the second quarter, but by then the club was already down by three scores.  Columbus would continue their onslaught closing the half on a 13-0 run heading into the break up 34-7.

2010 SIFL Offensive MVP Chris McCoy, who earned game MVP honors, completed 18 of 28 passes for 229 yards and five passing touchdowns.  Top receiving target of the night was Gerald Gales registering ten receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns.  All night the Lions receivers made catch after catch as Lonnell Dewalt grabbed three receptions for three touchdowns and on one catch Tirone Morris made the catch of the night when he hauled in a 16 yard pass in the back of the end-zone making the score 54-13 midway through the fourth.

The 2010 Southern Indoor Football Season will come to a conclusion tomorrow when officials from around the league will gather back in Columbus for the 2010 Summer Conference.
For more information from around the SIFL, be sure to log on to www.southernifl.com