ALBANY, GA -- Deep down, the Albany Panthers believed all season that the SIFL Championship would have to go through them.
The Panthers made sure to be one of two participants in the title game with a 75-61 win over Columbus on Saturday. Now it's official- the SIFL title game will have to go through the city of Albany, as well.
The Louisiana Swashbucklers (10-4) upset the Houston Stallions (13-1) on Monday night 56-41 in the SIFL Western Conference Championship. Since the Panthers (12-2) have a better record than the Swashbucklers, Albany will host the title match at the Albany Civic Center on Saturday night at 7:30 PM.
Albany beat Louisiana in week one of the regular season 30-27 after trailing by 20 at the half. The Panthers defense shutout the Swashbucklers in the second half, and won the game on a Wes Virgillio 39 yard field goal as time expired.
These two teams have some playoff history. Louisiana became the first team to win a road playoff game in the SIFL last season by defeating Albany 41-35 at the civic center. The Panthers entered that 2010 first round contest with the Swashbucklers as the favorite.