Jacksonville Sharks defeat Columbus Lions in championship game

The Columbus Lions had all the momentum in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s inaugural National Arena League championship game against the Jacksonville Sharks.

Having clawed back from a scoreless first half, the Lions had the ball inside the red zone against the Sharks with just 12 seconds left and down only six points.

However, a botched snap between center Ryne Holland and quarterback Mason Espinosa led to the Lions fumbling the ball away to the Sharks, preserving the 27-21 Jacksonville win and the NAL championship trophy.

Espinosa acquitted himself well in the game, a redemption of sorts for him after losing his starting job to backup Darren Daniel in the first game of the regular season against the Sharks after throwing three first-half interceptions.

He found the Lions’ top three receivers all season – newly-minted NAL Offensive Player of the Year Michael Reeve and fellow wideouts Jarmon Fortson and Tristan Purifoy – for three second-half touchdowns to pull Columbus back within single digits after a scoreless first half, the first such occurrence for the powerful Lions offense in several years.

The Sharks were the only team to find the scoreboard in the first half, taking a 13-0 lead to the locker room. Fullback Derrick Ross, far and away the NAL’s leading rusher this season, got the scoring started in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run.

Jacksonville’s second score came on a trick play, as quarterback Damien Fleming passed behind the line of scrimmage to Mo Williams, who then threw to an open Mo Ruffins in the end zone for the two-score advantage.

Fleming suffered an injury during the second half, but his backup, Arena Football League veteran Jason Boltus, didn’t skip a beat, throwing two touchdown passes in his first two drives.

After Fortson’s touchdown to bring Columbus within six at 27-21 with less than three minutes left, Lions cornerback Chris Pickett intercepted a Boltus tipped pass in the end zone to give the Lions a chance to go ahead late.

The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak by the Lions, dating back to an April 29 regular season loss at Jacksonville and including a thrilling 52-50 come from behind playoff win at Lehigh Valley on June 26.

Columbus finished 10-4 on the season but 0-3 against the Sharks.

This story was originally published July 10, 2017 at 11:25 PM with the headline "Jacksonville Sharks defeat Columbus Lions in championship game."