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ALBANY, GA -- When the Albany Panthers left for Columbus on Friday afternoon, quarterback Cecil Lester and defensive back Demetrie McCray stated the 86 mile venture to the Lions home arena was strictly a business trip.

The Panthers earned their pay on Saturday night defeating the defending SIFL Champion Columbus Lions 75-61 clinching a spot in the 2011 SIFL Championship game next Saturday.

Down 30-20 at halftime, Albany outscored Columbus 55-31 in the second half, and, as usual, used defensive turnovers to grab the game away from the Lions late.

Two Albany fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns in the final minutes officially shut the door on Columbus’ 2011 season. First, defensive lineman Lionel Bibbins fell on a loose ball in the end zone to move the Panthers ahead by 14 points, 68-54. Then, Corey Rue ran another fumble back for the final, game-clinching touchdown to make the score 75-54.

Even though the Panthers had lost two straight to the Lions, the team was sure of itself heading into Saturday night’s tilt. Before leaving for Columbus on Friday, McCray said, with a confident smirk, it’s tough to beat a good team three times in one year.

This was the fourth meeting of 2011 between peach state rivals Albany and Columbus. While the Panthers had lost the last two meetings against the Lions, including a 58-39 loss that sealed the SIFL Southern Division for Columbus, the team from Albany won the game that mattered most on Saturday night.

The Panthers now face the winner of Monday’s SIFL Western Conference Championship between the Houston Stallions and Louisiana Swashbucklers. If Houston maintains its undefeated record and defeats Louisiana, the Stallions will host the title game. However, a Swashbucklers victory places the SIFL Championship in the “Good Life City” next Saturday at the Albany Civic Center.