Phantoms earn share of division title

For the second time this season, the Florence Phantoms proved they could overcome a double-digit deficit on the road and hold on for a victory.
Just as it did in Fayetteville on April 13, Florence went into Columbus and overcame a 14-point first-half deficit Friday night.
But the Phantoms needed a huge defensive stop as time expired to secure a 40-35 win over the Lions that gave the team a share of the American Indoor Football Association’s Eastern Division championship.
Florence coach Tavares Bowens hopes that Friday night’s road win will finally silence the critics that still question whether his team is for real.
“We’re a good team. The games we lost in the past were because we were young and inexperienced,” he said. “It’s not what other teams have done to us, it’s what we’ve done to ourselves.”
With five seconds remaining in the contest and the ball resting at midfield, Columbus quarterback Joey Conrad was sandwiched by Nick Freet and Al’Tariq Brown as he attempted a last-second heave to the end zone.
The ball landed harmlessly at the Florence 10, and the Phantoms (8-4) celebrated their fifth straight win.
“Our defense played its heart out. They were huge (on Friday),” Bowens said. “We took advantage of their quarterback’s inability to read zone coverages and we applied adequate pressure.”
Florence was able to pull out a win without the services of several of its stars. Wide receivers A.J. Bennett was scratched from the lineup due to injuries, and defensive end Cory Groover served a one-game suspension due to his second ejection in three games.
Reggie Glover, who was acquired off waivers from the Lubbock Renegades of arena football2, came up big for his new team. Glover pulled in six passes from Omar Jacobs for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
South Florence’s Torrey Pettigrew caught five passes for 74 yards and a score.
“Our guys are starting to believe that they can win every game now,” Bowens. “We have to win the individual battles, the game within the game.”
Bowens added that, despite the win, his team needs to improve in the kicking game as Florence prepares for the postseason. Derrick Scott misfired on three PAT attempted, had another blocked and missed a short field goal that gave the Lions one last shot to win the game.
“Columbus is a good team. We have to close games out against good teams,” he said. “We can’t afford to miss field goals that can ice games.”

Notes
Defensive back Leroy Kelly of the Baltimore Mariners has been invited to a tryout with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
He is the son of Browns’ Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly, who rushed for 7,274 yards and 74 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the team from 1964-1973.
“I’ve learned a lot (in the AIFA),” said Kelly. “I’ve been around positive people, developing my technique and working hard. I’ve really picked up a lot of things being in this league.”
“I don’t have to tell you how excited we are about this,” said Mariners’ owner and AIFA co-founder John Morris. “LeRoy has been a joy to work with. He has richly earned this invitation, and we know he will do well.”