Derrick Wimbush (2) scores a touchdown during the third quarter against the Columbus Lions.
by Walter L. Johnson II
The Albany Panthers not only saw their hopes of remaining undefeated go down the drain, they also fell out of first place in the Southern Division of the Southern Indoor Football League for the first time all season as well, all in one mistake-filled night.
The defending SIFL champion Columbus Lions played like the champions they were at the Albany Civic Center Saturday night, as they handed the Panthers their first loss of the 2011 season in a 60-56 win.
"They're a good team," Panthers head coach Lucious Davis said of the Lions after the game. "We just have to go back to it, and try to (pull) out a win next week."
Leading 13-3 late in the first quarter, a series of mental mistakes allowed Columbus (8-1) to take a 17-13 lead in the early stages of the second quarter. It was the start of a seesaw battle for the remainder of the first half, ending with a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Merritt with 12.5 seconds left. That gave the Lions a 37-30 halftime lead.
After stopping Albany (7-1) on downs to start the second half, Columbus wasted no time in taking advantage, as starting quarterback Chris McCoy ended a five-play, 34-yard drive with a touchdown run from four yards out.
McCoy's touchdown gave the Lions a lead they would not relinquish at 44-30. The Panthers would spend the rest of the night trying to play catch-up, as they no closer than two points down the stretch.
Penalties killed Albany's chances at making a late comeback, committing eight of them for 133 yards. But Columbus also made the most of their chances in the red zone, scoring seven times in eight tries.
"(Columbus) made some big plays down the stretch," said Davis. "But we've just got to keep playing. (The Lions) are a championship team. You can't expect to fall down, they played good."
Davis added: "We just have to make sure we learn from our mistakes, and come back next week ready to play."
The defense struggled to get the key stops they usually made. In all, Albany gave up 289 yards of total offense to Columbus in defeat.
"We should have made stops, and we had a couple of plays that we didn't capitalize on," McCray said. "As a defense, our job is to keep the opposing team from scoring."
"A couple of times, we didn't do that," added McCray. "We fought hard to the end, but at the same time, we got to keep the other team from scoring."
That task became more difficult, as defensive back Levance Richmond left the game with an injury at the one-minute warning late in the first half. It's not known how long he might be out.
"I think a big part of that was losing Levance," McCray said. "He's a big part of our defense, and that played a big part of us (struggling)."
Wide receiver Antwontis Cutts had his usual share of heroics in a losing effort. He finished the night with five catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Still, Cutts says the Panthers were their own worst enemy, whether the Lions were defending SIFL champions or not.
"We beat ourselves," Cutts said. "A lot of people went down, but we can't make excuses. We hurt ourselves, the Columbus Lions didn't beat us, we beat ourselves."
The Panthers now face their toughest road swing in their short SIFL history next weekend, starting with a trip to Huntsville, Ala. to face the Alabama Hammers. Davis says his team must put the loss to the Lions behind them quickly, and focus on winning down the stretch.
"We just have to win, that's all," Davis said. "But we've got four games left, and we just have to win. That's all to it."
