Columbus Lions Sign Quarterback Kyle Cool

The Columbus Lions have signed quarterback Kyle Cool for the 2018 season. Cool will enter his fourth professional season in a battle with veteran quarterback Mason Espinoza for the starting quarterback job.

Last season, Cool played for the defunct Corpus Christi Rage, who played in the National Arena League. In the past, Cool also played for the Salina Bombers, Omaha Beef, River City Raiders, and the Kansas Koyotes. During the 2017 season, Cool played in seven games for the Rage, completing 25 of 71 passing attempts, and throwing for a total of 357 yards. He also had a total of 5 touchdowns, and averages 51 yards per game.

He will fill in the void that was open when quarterback Darren Daniel left the team and signed with the American Arena League’s High Country Grizzlies. Whether Cool or Espinoza starts for the 2018 season, the Lions will have a reliable backup quarterback either way.

Cool is among several big signings for the Lions this off-season, along with some re-signings too. Columbus has brought on several SEC and college standouts who will be new to the game. The Lions will once again be strong competitors for the NAL Title, as they have already “roared” loudly this off-season with some great signings. It will be interesting to see how the Lions perform for the upcoming season.

National Arena League Title Game Preview: Jacksonville Sharks vs Columbus Lions

The Columbus Lions will battle the Jacksonville Sharks in the inaugural NAL Championship Game on Monday night in Jacksonville. The Lions have won back-to-back championships, but they both happened in different leagues. In 2015, the Lions took home the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) Cup, and last year, they won the American Indoor Football (AIF) Championship.

The Lions will look to use that experience when they play in the championship on Monday. Columbus has struggled against the Sharks this season, as the Lions lost both contests with Jacksonville this season.

The first loss was a 56-41 defeat in the season opener, and the second loss was a 37-28 loss in April. However, the Lions have been playing like a different team since that last loss against the Sharks.

Columbus has won seven straight games since that April loss to the Sharks. In order to get to the championship, Columbus defeated the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks by a score of 52-50 in the semifinals. The Lions have two very capable quarterbacks that they can turn to on Monday night.

One of those quarterbacks is Darren Daniel, who has thrown for 1,611 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. The other quarterback is Mason Espinosa, who threw for 1,073 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.

Both of those quarterbacks have plenty of reliable weapons. Wide receiver Mike Reeve caught 21 touchdowns, while Tristan Purifoy hauled in 19 touchdowns this season. Jarmon Forston is another weapon, as he caught 15 touchdowns for the Lions. The Lions defense is anchored by Kyle Griswould, who led the league in interceptions this season with 10.

Jacksonville has been dominant all season, as they were undefeated until they lost to the Monterrey Steel in the last game of the regular season. The Sharks defeated the Steel in order to get to the championship game.

With quarterback Tommy Grady injured, the Sharks have started Damien Fleming in his place. Fleming has passed for 1,047 yards and 18 touchdowns in 10 appearances with the Sharks. Derrick Ross has been a force on the ground, as he’s rushed for 25 touchdowns this season.

Fleming’s top receiver has been Maurice Williams, who has caught 14 touchdowns this season. The first ever NAL champion will be crowned on Monday night in Jacksonville.

Why the Sharks Will Lift the Trophy

On Monday night, the Jacksonville Sharks (12-1) and the Columbus Lions (10-3) will play in the inaugural NAL Championship Game. While the Lions are a bit lucky to be here, the Sharks did not get to this game by accident.

First, their offense. Tommy Grady, one of two big AFL holdovers, had an MVP start to the season, completing 62.8% of his passes for 1,060 yards and 23 touchdowns in less than five games before suffering a season-ending injury against Monterrey. Damien Fleming came in relief, and finished out the season showing off a dual threat. Fleming ran for 77 yards and four scores while completing 65.2% of his passes for 1,047 yards and 18 touchdowns. During the times where Fleming’s game struggled, Jacksonville relied on MVP candidate Derrick Ross in the backfield. Ross literally ran away towards a rushing title after a 540-yard, 25-touchdown season. Despite changing coaches from Mark Stoute to AFL legend and coordinator Siaha Burley midseason, the team didn’t miss a beat as far as talent on this side of the ball.

Second, their defense. Three players registered at least six sacks during the season (Jeremiah Price 9.0, Keith Bowers 8.5, Dalyou Pierson 6.5), as there were very few quarterbacks who got comfortable in the pocket against the Sharks. When the front three weren’t completely clicking, the secondary more than did the job. Jacksonville matched their sack total with their interception total, registering 34 apiece. Marvin Ross and Charlie Hunt were the two main ball hawks, combining for 15 picks. When the two of them weren’t grabbing passes, David Hyland anchored the secondary and controlled the middle of the field breaking up a team-high nine passes of his own (yes, he did catch three interceptions for good measure). All of this led to the Sharks leading the league in scoring defense, giving up only 24.9 points per game, more than eight points fewer than their nearest opponent.

Finally, these two teams have met before. Way back on April 29, the Lions traveled to the Shark Tank in what was already considered a playoff preview. Darren Daniel started the game for Columbus, and led his team to a surprise 17-7 lead early in the second quarter.

However, Damien Fleming shook off a bad start and completed 16 of 22 passes for 190 yards and four scores. Jacksonville’s defense also forced a fumble and a crucial fourth-down stop to earn a come from behind, 37-28 win.

Even when the Sharks are down, they’re rarely ever out, and Fleming has matured quite a bit since that Week 7 meeting. Since then, Fleming’s gained a better knowledge of the offense and better control of the ball when it’s in his hands. With the powerful receiving corps in place, and a very healthy defense, Jacksonville will want to eliminate any doubt and prevent another Columbus miracle. Monday night should be title night in Jacksonville.

Why the Columbus Lions Will Win the NAL Title Game

The Columbus Lions will be taking on the Jacksonville Sharks in the inaugural NAL Championship Game next Monday. The Lions have played very well against the Sharks this season, but haven’t beaten them yet. That doesn’t mean Columbus can’t still win this game, however.

The Lions were dominated by the Sharks in Week 1, but in their matchup four weeks later, the Lions only lost to the Sharks by nine points. Ever since that game, the Lions have defeated every single opponent that they have faced. During their seven-game winning streak, Columbus has won by double digits in five of the seven games.

The Lions have the experience necessary to handle this championship game like professionals. Columbus has played in championships in back-to-back seasons, and they won both of them in dominating fashion. They won the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) Cup in 2015, and they took home the American Indoor Football (AIF) Championship in 2016, both under current head coach Jason Gibson. Experience means so much in championship games, and the Lions have plenty of experience that will help them next Monday.

That experience proved helpful in their playoff game against the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, which ended with the Lions winning by only two points. The Lions have two very capable quarterbacks in case one of them isn’t performing well. Their best quarterback during the regular season was Darren Daniel, who threw for 1,611 yards and 38 touchdowns, which gave him a quarterback rating of 104.17.

If Daniel isn’t playing well, then the Lions can turn to backup Mason Espinosa. Espinosa threw for 1,073 yards and 27 touchdowns, and he completed 66.7% of his passes. Both of those quarterbacks can throw to a very reliable weapon in Mike Reeve, who compiled 809 receiving yards and caught 21 touchdowns this season. The Lions also have Tristan Purifoy, who caught 19 touchdowns this season.

Don’t forget about Jarmon Forston, who reeled in 15 touchdowns this season for the Lions.

The Lions haven’t played well against Jacksonville, but the playoffs are a whole new season.

Columbus has a lot of experience after playing in two championship games, and that will be useful in the game next Monday. The Lions have looked like a new team since last losing to Jacksonville.

Another thing the Lions can use to their advantage is the fact that they have two very capable quarterbacks. The Lions have the perfect combination of experience and recent success to take down the Sharks next Monday in the NAL Championship Game.