Georgia Firebirds fall to Columbus Lions

COLUMBUS — Despite a valiant effort, the Georgia Firebirds fell to 0-3 on the season after a 63-50 loss to the Columbus Lions Sunday night in arena football league action at the Columbus Civic Center.

It was the second straight road loss for the Firebirds despite playing perhaps their best game of the season.

The Firebirds never led in the first half, but Columbus’ lead never went above eight points until the final play of the third quarter when Jarmon Fortson’s 12-yard touchdown strike to Darren Daniel made it 46-37. The Lions then scored eight unanswered points on a rouge point and a fumble recovery in the end zone to build a 54-37 lead.

The only lead the Firebirds held was at the 2:55 mark in the third on Evan Selman’s 23-yard field goal to give them a 34-32 advantage.

After Columbus built a 54-37 advantage, Firebirds’ quarterback Percy Turner threw two touchdown passes — a 16-yarder to John Harris and a 4-yarder to Terrence Ebagua — to pull the team within four points of the lead.

However, that was as close as they could get as the Lions used a 46-yard kickoff return with 3:12 remaining to put the game out of reach.

The Firebirds outgained the Lions in total yardage (266-245). Turner threw six touchdown passes and finished with 246 yards on 19 of 40.

Harris caught eight passes for 127 yards and three scores, while Ebagua caught six passes for 76 yards and a pair of TD passes. Zack Brown also added a touchdown reception.

Selman kicked three field goals — 29, 23 and 36 yards.

The Georgia Firebirds will return home Saturday night to play host to the Corpus Christi Rage at 7 p.m. at the Albany Civic Center.