| Eric Tabor Media Relations Director Albany Panthers ALBANY, GA (June 16, 2012) – The 2011 League Champion Albany Panther (10-2) lost a nail biter to the Richmond Raiders (10-2). The game slated to be a Championship preview proved to be all that and a bag of chips. The win was the first time the Raiders have ever defeated the Panthers.  The contest started with an Albany touchdown followed by a Richmond TD. Then the excitement happened, on an apparent paydirt run by QB Darnell Kennedy (15-22-2 257 yards 7 touchdowns). The officials ruled a fumble on the play; the Raiders recovered and marched down the field for a score. Both teams continued to swap leads and TD’s, with the Panthers scoring a touchdown with 70 seconds left to take a 65-64 lead. After a Ryan Gates uno, the Cats led 66-64 with 60 ticks on the clock. With the game still in limbo, Richmond’s kicker T.C. Stevens hit a 27 yard fieldgoal as time expired to lift the Raiders to a 67-66 win. Antwone Savage lead all receivers with six catches for 123 yards, Clenton Rafe also had six grabs for 72 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers will host the PIFL simi-finals Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 pm on Phoebe Field at the Albany James H. Gray Civic Center, as they will take on the Columbus Lions. The game will be broadcast on 97.3 WGEX-FM and online at www.albanypanthers.net with Eric Tabor calling the action. |
