Years of Existence: 2012-
Venue: Columbus Civic Center (Columbus, GA)
Accomplishments
2012 – Playoff appearance
2013 –
2014 – Playoff appearance
2015 – PIFL Champions
Lifetime Record: 27-24
Home: 19-7
Away: 8-17
Playoffs: 2-2
Average Attendance: 2,910
The Columbus Lions joined the PIFL, moving from the SIFL the year before. Randy Hippeard led the team at quarterback for the entire season, throwing for 3,280 yards, 72 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His favorite targets were Maurcie Dupree and Londo Crawford. Dupree snagged 40 touchdowns, while both eclipsed the 1,000 receiving yard mark. Gerald Gales caught 76 balls for 888 yards and 19 scores. Though the team went 6-6, only two losses came by ten points or more. The team managed wins against Knoxville, Alabama, Louisiana, and defeated top team Albany one time. The team earned a playoff berth and would travel to Albany for the PIFL’s biggest rivalry game. However, this meeting was not close. Columbus went 0/9 on third down conversions en rout to a 60-36 loss. With Randy Hippard moving on to the AFL in 2013, the Lions needed to find a new quarterback. Nobody really stuck out on the 4-8 campaign, as Marcus Jones, Lee Chapple, and Brian Harris all saw significant action. They passed for 18, 13, and 12 touchdowns respectively, but also for 12, 8, and 3 interceptions. Maurice Dupree was again the top receiver for the team, catching 20 touchdowns and amassing 902 yards. Twelve more scores went to Gerald Gales. On defense, LeRoy Vann returned three of his five interceptions for touchdowns, while Anthony Shutt picked eight passes of his own. The team got out to a 3-2 start, crushing Knoxville then winning close contests with Louisiana and Richmond. However, the defense would fail the team in the next games, allowing 255 points in the next four contests. A late season 35-15 loss to Albany saw the Lions turn the ball over five times. The team returned in 2014, quarterbacked by three indoor veterans: Luke Halpin, Chris McCoy, and Antwon Young. The three combined for just over 1,700 yards, 58 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Leading all wide receivers was Jarmon Fortson, who hauled in 66 catches for 921 yards and 22 scores. Roshard Marshall picked ten passes and returned two for touchdowns. Winning four of their last six games, the Lions made the playoffs and faced Nashville. The Venom used a 23-12 second half to beat Columbus 44-39. The team’s fourth PIFL season was the charm. Behind the arm of Casey Kacz, who threw for 2,361 yards, 52 scores and 17 interceptions, the Lions went 10-3 and clinched the top playoff seed. Terrance Ebagua caught 26 touchdowns. The Lions specialized in close games, as all but two regular season contests were decided by ten points or less. All three losses came by three points to Lehigh, Alabama, and Nashville. The postseason, though, was another story. Columbus trounced Lehigh 69-41 with nine Kacz touchdown passes. In the championship game, it was the defense that loomed large, turning over the Richmond Raiders three times and helping the Lions to a 41-14 run to end the game with a 64-38 victory.
