Columbus Lions release 2018 schedule

The Columbus Lions football team has released their official 2018 schedule. The Lions will have seven home games in the upcoming campaign, its second in the National Arena League.

Columbus will get a big early test on April 21, its second game of the season. The Lions will host the Jacksonville Sharks, the team that beat the Lions 27-21 in the inaugural NAL championship game last July.

Below is the Lions' schedule:

Friday, April 13: vs Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, April 21: vs Jacksonville Sharks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, April 28: BYE WEEK

Sunday, May 6: at Massachusetts Pirates (7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, May 12: vs Carolina Cobras (7 p.m.)

Saturday, May 19: at Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, May 26: BYE WEEK

Saturday, June 2: at Jacksonville Sharks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, June 9: vs Maine Mammoths (7 p.m.)

Saturday, June 16: at Massachusetts Pirates (7 p.m.)

Saturday, June 23: at Carolina Cobras (7 p.m.)

Saturday, June 30: vs Massachusetts Pirates (7 p.m.)

Saturday, July 7: vs Jacksonville Sharks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, July 14: at Maine Mammoths (7 p.m.)

Saturday, July 21: at Jacksonville Sharks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, July 28: vs Maine Mammoths (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 4: at Carolina Cobras (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 11: Playoff Semifinals

Saturday, Aug. 18: Championship Game

This story was originally published January 3, 2018 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Columbus Lions release 2018 schedule."