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ALBANY, GA -- The Columbus Lions-Albany Panthers divisional game was a scheduled “whiteout” for the team and its fans on Saturday night.

The Panthers public relations department had it right in this one…the Panthers started “whiteout” fast on Saturday, but the team couldn’t hold on to the momentum.

Now, the only thing to whiteout is the scoreboard. The Panthers fall to the Lions 60-56 at the Albany Civic Center.

In the first offensive possesion, Panthers quarterback Cecil Lester finds John Harris five yards up the field, and Harris does the rest. Harris juked through a crowd of Lions defenders, and into the end zone for a 7-3 Panthers lead.

Cornerback Levance Richmond picked off 2 passes in back-to-back first quarter series for Albany, but had to leave the game with an injury.

The second interception led to a quick 20 yard strike in the first from Lester to Antwontis Cutts with a missed extra point, the Panthers lead 13-3.

It was 13-10 Panthers in the second quarter, Lester lost grip of the ball on the snap, and the Lions found it in Panthers territory. On the next play, Columbus takes the lead 17-13, and Albany wasn’t able to completely recover from there.

The Panthers trailed 52-36 in the fourth quarter before a rally moved the score to 52-50, but the Panthers can't put the finishing touches on the comeback.

Panthers (8-1) lose for the first time in the 2011 season, and fall to second place in the division.