Three Football Champions Crowned

Recently there were two indoor and one outdoor football teams which won their leagues’ championship games. The American Arena League, American Arena League 2 and Continental Football League hosted their title games.

American Arena League - Columbus (GA) Lions

The Columbus Lions defeated the Wheeling Miners 49-46 for the AAL title at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Wheeling (6-3) led 14-0 near the end of the first half, but Columbus (9-0) used the Gold Ball - which doubles the points when down by 14 - to its advantage, tying the game and then took a 16-14 lead on a safety.

However, the Miners grabbed a 20-16 lead at the half, but were outscored 20-0 in the third quarter as penalties and turnovers were costly.

The Lions scored on a 6-yard run by Marco Lee and Mekall Yancie scooped up a fumble and rumbled 15 yards to make it 29-20 in favor of the visitors. Following another Miners' fumble, quarterback Blaine Espinosa connected with Jarmon Fortson from 8 yards out and the lead grew to 36-20.

Trailing 43-20 in the fourth quarter, Wheeling used the Gold Ball to close to within 43-32 on a 16-yard scoring connection from Darryll Clark to Alex Coleman. Clark made it 43-40 with a 1-yard TD run and Brandon Munoz bulled in for the two points.

However, Espinosa's short TD plunge made it 49-40 before Clark and Ranius Daramola teamed up on a 40-yard scoring play as time expired.

This was the sixth league championship for Columbus. Their first in the AAL. Their previous titles were in the Southern Indoor Football League (2010), Professional Indoor Football League (2015), American Indoor Football (2016, 2024) and American Indoor Football Association (2016).

American Arena League 2 - Peach State (GA) Cats

Another Georgia team, the Peach State Cats (10-0) capped an unbeaten season with a 44-12 victory over the Steel City Stampede inside WesBanco Arena to capture the AAL2 Championship Bowl.

Leading 15-6 at the half, the Cats' defense and special teams took over in the second half. Peach State returned a trio of interceptions for touchdowns and also returned a kickoff for another six points.

James Gray (48 yds.), Marquis Robinson (30) and Dante Leggett (46) all had a pick-6, while Antonio Turner ran a kickoff back 40 yards.

This was Peach State’s second league title. The Suwannee, Georgia-based team won the Professional Arena Independent Association last season.

Continental Football League - San Antonio Toros

The San Antonio Toros won the inaugural league title to complete their undefeated season with a convincing 46-24 win of the Tall City Black Gold.

Watch the game here: https://youtu.be/FJ-Ls4bu32c?si=R97zl6K3SWMQ7lrk

The Continental Football League is attempting to revive the previous league which played in the 1970s.  The league struggled with stability but hopes to return stronger in 2027.