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COL WINS 2004 LSFL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Central Ohio Lions, a semi-pro football team currently based in Washington Court House, defeated the Columbus Xtreme 26-13 on Sunday afternoon in Homestead, Fla., to become the Minor League Football News Champions. The game was the first ever "AA" national championship and was sponsored by the Minor League Football News. The MLFN has held a "AAA" level national championship for several years and for the 2003 season they expanded to include the many "AA" teams across the country. The Lions went into this contest as the MLFN's #2 ranked team, while the Xtreme, fresh off of a 14-0 season were ranked #1. Even though these two championship-caliber teams are located only 45 miles apart, they had never played each other. The Lions got the scoring underway when quarterback Joe Freeman completed a 35 yard TD pass to Lamont Skipper, which was followed several possessions later by a 34 yard TD run by tailback Krishaun Gilmore. The Lions only managed to connect on one extra point, giving them an early 13-0 lead over the Xtreme. Columbus got on the board before halftime with a 15 yard pass play, but they, too, missed the extra point. This sent the teams to the locker room at the half with the Lions leading `13-6. In the second half, Lion wide receiver Lamont Skipper found the end zone again on an eight yard reverse play and the extra point attempt was good, giving Central Ohio a 20-6 lead. The Xtreme got back on the board a short time later with a 30 yard run TD followed by the extra point kick to round out their scoring for the day. To finish out the scoring, Columbus quarterback threw a pass which was intercepted by Lion defensive back Andy Dillon. He returned the ball to the eight yard line where fullback Brent Lewis punched it in for the final TD of the day. This caps off the Central Ohio Lions best season yet. In 10 years of existence this team has won five league titles and has been nationally ranked on several occasions. They captured the Mid-Eastern Football League championship in the first year of existence when they were known as the Washington Cowboys. They then became the Central Ohio Lions and won the Lakeshore Football League Championship for three consecutive years, before joining the Cross Roads Football League in 2003 and winning that championship. The Lions are coached by Terry Feick and Mark Brobeck. The teams' roster consists of players from the Dayton, Xenia, Washington C.H., Columbus and Cincinnati areas. After a short celebration they will be heading back to Ohio to make plans for next year.
Dick Seuss, President, of the Minor League Football News announced the Most Valuable Players for the "AA" National Championship game during the post game presentations. These two outstanding athletes who won the first ever award were: COLUMBUS XTREME - RAYSHAUN GALES
The staff, team members and their families enjoyed a well stocked carry-in dinner before getting down to the business of celebrating the team's best season yet. The Lions recently completed an 11-0 season which saw them earn their fourth league championship in the past five years, and then go on to win the "AA" National Championship in a game against the Columbus Xtreme in Homestead, Florida on January 11th. Coach Terry Feick congratulated the team as well as everyone who assisted the organization in one way or another during the course of the year. Feick said, "The two most important words on this team were loyalty and family. We all remained loyal to each other and the cause, did our jobs and succeeded. This proves that we are not just a bunch of football hungry people who gather once a week to play a game. We are serious about our goals and our love of the game, and we did it together as one big family." The Lions came into being in 1994 when Washington C.H. resident Elmer Smith and his son, Vernon, formed the Washington Cowboys and began playing in the Mid Eastern Football League. The team has grown over the years and became the Central Ohio Lions five years ago. The Smith family was represented at the banquet by Vernon and his children, his brother and former team member Shawn, and his mother, Annetta. The Smiths have not been directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the team for several years, but Vernon said that it still is important to the Smith family, "It feels very, very good to me that this organization has continued to prosper since my father and I got things started. I know that my father would really appreciate what has happened here. "This is a quality organization full of great people and we as a family appreciate all that has been done and will be done in the future." LIST OF AWARDS FOR THE 2003 SEASON: Beginning with the CrossRoads Football League awards, the team won a gold football for an undefeated championship season and tackle Alan McPherson, guards Kevin Hyme and Neal Wolfe, wide receivers Lamont Skipper and Danny Mack, running back Krishaun Gilmore and quarterback Joe Freeman were named to the CRFL Offensive All-Star Team. Tackle Jessie Black, cornerback Jamie Owens, and linebackers Mike Garnett and Raheem Wilkerson were named to the CRFL Defensive All-Star Team. Mike Garnett was named as the CrossRoads Football League MVP, coach Terry Feick was named Coach of the Year, and Raheem Wilkerson was named Rookie of the Year. The Minor League Football News crowned the team as Midwest Team of the Year. They were also named as 2003 "AA" National Champions as the result of their win in Florida. The MLFN also named General Manager John Ricketts as Team Executive of the Year. Another semi-pro organization, the American Football Association, listed the Lions as the number 7 team in the country in a combined list of "AA" and "AAA" teams and listed them as the NUMBER 1 team in the country in "AA" Aside from a prolific offense, the Lions featured one of the stingiest defenses in the country. In 2003 they held their opponents to an average of 7.5 points per game. This includes two shutouts. Defensive coach Mark Brobeck had this to say about his team, "I think Woody Hayes said it best when he said that you win with people. We had some pretty dynamic people on the defensive side of the ball this year. It is a tradition with our defense that we establish a hard hitting, aggressive, gang tackling style and with 13 new members on the defensive squad this year, they succeeded in continuing this tradition. In the championship game we held their tailback, who ran for over 2,100 yards this season, to less than 100 yards rushing. The Xtreme team members told us at the conclusion of the game that it was the hardest they had been hit all year." Kevin Hyme, a 6foot-4inch, 325 pound offensive lineman and team captain said, "This is one of the things you always dream about as a kid. You always think someday you might have that chance, especially being a football player. It was a great accomplishment for all of us and it really didn't sink in until I got home and started looking back at the past few years and opportunities missed." The Central Ohio Lions are now planning for the future. The 2004 season will get underway with a player tryout in March. The team will be returning to the Cross-Roads Football League to defend their league championship.
Saturday, July 26th Panthers AT C.O.L. W, 25-22 Saturday, August 2nd Colts AT C.O.L. W, 51-0 Saturday, August 9th Chiefs AT C.O.L. W, 26-6 Saturday, August 16th C.O.L. AT Cougars W, 45-0 Saturday, August 23rd C.O.L. AT Rage W, 50-7 Saturday, September 13th C.O.L. AT Stampede W, 45-6 Saturday, September 20th Panthers AT C.O.L. W, 33-3 Saturday, September 27th C.O.L. AT Colts W, 2-0 PLAYOFFS: Saturday, October 18th Chiefs AT C.O.L. W, 42-18 C.R.F.L. CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, October 25th Stampede AT C.O.L. W, 27-13 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Sunday, January 11th C.O.L. vs. Xtreme WON 26-13 Perfect Season, 11-0 Overall Record
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