SIFL: Columbus Lions host rival Albany Panthers tonight to determine Southern Division champion

It has taken less than two seasons for the rivalry between the Columbus Lions and Albany Panthers to grow into one of the most fervent in the Southern Indoor Football League, and there is more than bragging rights on the line at 7:30 tonight when the teams meet at the Columbus Civic Center to determine the Southern Division champion.

“I think the rivalry works so well because, first of all, we’re both local,” Gibson said. “On top of that, we have a lot of guys who played college against each other, and most importantly both teams are good. If we were both 0-16 teams, nobody would care. With both sides of this rivalry winning, there’s always something on the line.”

The Lions and Panthers enter tonight’s game with matching 9-1 records with each team responsible for the other’s lone loss. The Panthers won 46-26 in the first meeting and the Lions won 60-56 the second time.

Both of the previous games were played in Albany, Ga., and Gibson said he hopes playing at home will help the Lions win the series advantage and with it home-field advantage through at least the SIFL semifinals if the team continues winning.

At 10-0, the Houston Stallions would host the SIFL championship game if they remain undefeated.

Both teams have already secured playoff berths and a home game in the opening round; however, Gibson pointed to last season’s semifinal upset of then-top-seeded Albany as proof that the winner of tonight’s game does not get a free pass to the championship.

“If there’s one thing I recognize, it’s that, yeah, this is a big game, but it also doesn’t mean you’re going to win a championship,” Gibson said. “Look at last year with Albany losing to Louisiana as evidence that anything can happen in the playoffs.

“Right now we’re just happy we’re already in the playoffs and have a home game, and (tonight) we’re going to try to win another one.”

Chris White, 706-571-8571; follow Chris online at twitter/com/le_chriswhite and at facebook.com/lechriswhite.

This story was originally published June 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "SIFL: Columbus Lions host rival Albany Panthers tonight to determine Southern Division champion."