Post by 50yardfan on Jun 26, 2011 11:54:31 GMT -5
SIFL PLAYOFFS: Like it has for most of the year, stellar defense saves Panthers once again
With time ticking down and the game tied, 54-54, on Saturday night, first it was an interception by Albany’s Demetrie McCray’s that turned the tables, followed a fumble recovery in the end zone by Lionel Bibbins with under a minute to go and an interception return by Corey Rue that sealed it. And just like that, the Panthers beat the Lions --- and now are headed to the SIFL title game.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_PLAYOFFS__124553869.html
COLUMBUS — The Albany Panthers’ offense kept knocking on the door Saturday in Columbus.
However, just like last week against the Erie Explosion, it was the defense that kicked the door down.
Three late turnovers by the Columbus Lions allowed Albany’s defensive unit to punch the Panthers’ ticket to the franchise’s first SIFL Championship game with a 75-61 triumph against their division rivals at Columbus Civic Center.
A Demetrie McCray interception, a Lionel Bibbins fumble recovery for a touchdown and a Corey Rue pick-six — one week after two late interception returns drove the dagger through the Explosion — came in successive defensive series en route to Albany’s first conference crown.
“We’ve been striving off our defense all season,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “They’ve been making plays for us. They stepped up for us this time when we needed it.
“It was a big struggle early in the game. They did a good job of controlling the game, but they stepped up when it was time to.”
Davis’ team leaned on its interceptions leader to start it off.
Having tied the game for the third time with running back Derrick Wimbush’s one-yard score with 5:52 remaining, McCray intercepted Columbus quarterback Chris McCoy to allow Albany to take the lead for good at 61-54 on Panthers quarterback Cecil Lester’s sixth touchdown pass.
McCray read his assigned Columbus receiver’s route perfectly.
“We’re battle-tested,” McCray said. “We’ve been down before. We’ve lost to this team twice, and we’ve played them three times, so we’ve got to know what they’re going to do, but at the same time, it goes back to they know what we’re going to do, too.
“We’ve got to come and make plays. It (was) now or never.”
Apparently so.
Mere plays later, a miscommunication on the Lions’ snap saw the ball land in the Columbus end zone, and defensive lineman Lionel Bibbins scooped it up for a TD and a 68-54 lead, which all but ensured the Panthers the Eastern Conference title.
Or did it?
“At that point, there still was time on the clock, so in my mind, it wasn’t over until (it hit) three zeros,” Bibbins said. “So just keep on fighting. I had to catch my breath. It was a hard sprint, so I just made sure everybody kept on going. We’re going to keep on fighting until that clock says zero-zero-zero.
“(And now) we’re going to go out there in the championship (game) and try to do the same thing.”
Rue must have seen it the same way.
Rue took the Panthers’ third pick of McCoy to the house to put Albany up 75-54, and the once-raucous Columbus Civic Center gave way to the contingent of jubilant Panthers fans who made the 90-mile trip.
A last-ditch effort by the Lions produced a touchdown and a failed onside kick attempt, and the Panthers’ defensive stance was complete — at least for now, McCray said.
“It’s a great feeling, but I know we’ve been preaching the whole year that we’ve got to take steps,” McCray said. “Now we’re on that last step, and we’ve got to go ahead and make it there and bring that championship back.
“We’ve still got one more game to play.”
With time ticking down and the game tied, 54-54, on Saturday night, first it was an interception by Albany’s Demetrie McCray’s that turned the tables, followed a fumble recovery in the end zone by Lionel Bibbins with under a minute to go and an interception return by Corey Rue that sealed it. And just like that, the Panthers beat the Lions --- and now are headed to the SIFL title game.
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/SIFL_PLAYOFFS__124553869.html
COLUMBUS — The Albany Panthers’ offense kept knocking on the door Saturday in Columbus.
However, just like last week against the Erie Explosion, it was the defense that kicked the door down.
Three late turnovers by the Columbus Lions allowed Albany’s defensive unit to punch the Panthers’ ticket to the franchise’s first SIFL Championship game with a 75-61 triumph against their division rivals at Columbus Civic Center.
A Demetrie McCray interception, a Lionel Bibbins fumble recovery for a touchdown and a Corey Rue pick-six — one week after two late interception returns drove the dagger through the Explosion — came in successive defensive series en route to Albany’s first conference crown.
“We’ve been striving off our defense all season,” Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “They’ve been making plays for us. They stepped up for us this time when we needed it.
“It was a big struggle early in the game. They did a good job of controlling the game, but they stepped up when it was time to.”
Davis’ team leaned on its interceptions leader to start it off.
Having tied the game for the third time with running back Derrick Wimbush’s one-yard score with 5:52 remaining, McCray intercepted Columbus quarterback Chris McCoy to allow Albany to take the lead for good at 61-54 on Panthers quarterback Cecil Lester’s sixth touchdown pass.
McCray read his assigned Columbus receiver’s route perfectly.
“We’re battle-tested,” McCray said. “We’ve been down before. We’ve lost to this team twice, and we’ve played them three times, so we’ve got to know what they’re going to do, but at the same time, it goes back to they know what we’re going to do, too.
“We’ve got to come and make plays. It (was) now or never.”
Apparently so.
Mere plays later, a miscommunication on the Lions’ snap saw the ball land in the Columbus end zone, and defensive lineman Lionel Bibbins scooped it up for a TD and a 68-54 lead, which all but ensured the Panthers the Eastern Conference title.
Or did it?
“At that point, there still was time on the clock, so in my mind, it wasn’t over until (it hit) three zeros,” Bibbins said. “So just keep on fighting. I had to catch my breath. It was a hard sprint, so I just made sure everybody kept on going. We’re going to keep on fighting until that clock says zero-zero-zero.
“(And now) we’re going to go out there in the championship (game) and try to do the same thing.”
Rue must have seen it the same way.
Rue took the Panthers’ third pick of McCoy to the house to put Albany up 75-54, and the once-raucous Columbus Civic Center gave way to the contingent of jubilant Panthers fans who made the 90-mile trip.
A last-ditch effort by the Lions produced a touchdown and a failed onside kick attempt, and the Panthers’ defensive stance was complete — at least for now, McCray said.
“It’s a great feeling, but I know we’ve been preaching the whole year that we’ve got to take steps,” McCray said. “Now we’re on that last step, and we’ve got to go ahead and make it there and bring that championship back.
“We’ve still got one more game to play.”