Albany Panthers



Years of Existence: 2012-
Venue: Albany Civic Center (Albany, GA)
Accomplishments
2012 – PIFL Champions
2013 - Playoff appearance
Lifetime Record: 19-8
Home: 13-1
Away: 6-7
Playoffs: 2-1
Average Attendance: 5,243

The Albany Panthers joined the PIFL after leaving the defunct SIFL. The team was quarterbacked by Cecil Lester for the majority of the year. Lester passed for 2,195 yards, 47 scores and 11 interceptions. Antwone Savage, Clenton Rafe, and Antwonti Cutts were the top wide receivers. Damian Daniels led the defense with nine interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. A key statistic for the team was allowing opponents in the red zone to score touchdowns only 60% of the time, while Albany scored touchdowns on all but six trips inside the opponent's redzone. The team was involved in many close games, but came out on the winning side in all but two cases. The final regular season game at Richmond was lost as the Raiders kicked a 27 yard field goal with time expiring. The team would also avenge its other loss to Columbus, via a 69-36 beatdown in the first round of the playoffs. This setup a rematch with Richmond. The Panthers stormed out to large first half leads and ultimately hung on for the championship, 60-56. Cecil Lester returned to the team in 2013 and put up even more impressive numbers than 2012, throwing for 3,274 yards, 61 touchdowns and 14 picks. 64 passes, 732 yards and fifteen scores went to his brother, John Lester. Clenton Rafe also returned to the wide receiving corps, catching 14 scores. Of the seven regular season victories, perhaps the finest in PIFL history was a triple overtime thriller which the Panthers took over Richmond, 69-63. The team's five losses came by a combined 24 points. The team again made the playoffs, this time as the fourth and lowest seed. They would travel to Alabama to face the Hammers and fall in a mild rout, 61-46.