SATURDAY'S PLAYOFF RESULTS

(12-7) COLUMBUS- 21   (11-7-1) NEW YORK- 7

West Point, NY:  Bo Levi Mitchell threw two first half touchdowns in leading the Columbus Explorers to a 21-7 playoff victory over the New York Phantoms before 28,211 at Mitchie Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell completed 16 of 26 passes for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns with one sack. Adrian N. Peterson ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Reggie Williams caught 5 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. David Paulson had 4 receptions for 44 yards and a score for the Explorers who advance to the Eastern Conference Championship next weekend.

Case Keenum led the Phantoms completing 26 of 43 passes for 266 yards with 1 interception and was sacked twice. LeRon Council had 11 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown. Josh Hill caught 8 passes for 84 yards in the loss for New York who finish 11-7-1 on the season.

The Phantoms got on the board first as LeRon Council ran in from 6 yards out, finishing a 13 play 87 yard drive with 7:09 remaining in the first quarter.

Columbus answered with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter as Adrian N. Peterson pushed in from one yard out to even the score at 7-7.

Columbus took the lead early in the second quarter as Bo Levi Mitchell hit Reggie Williams for a 22 yard touchdown strike. Columbus extended their lead to 21-7 as Mitchell connected with David Paulson on a 11 yard strike with 7:37 remaining in the first half to finish the scoring as neither team was able to score in the second half. Columbus moves to 12-7 and will face the winner of the Carolina-Baltimore game for the Eastern Conference title next weekend.


(13-6-0) SACRAMENTO- 27   (13-6-0) PORTLAND-24

Portland, Or:  Sacramento scored 17 unanswered 4th quarter points led by quarterback Ryan Nassib as the Crusaders overcame a 24-7 halftime deficit to defeat the Portland Dragons 27-24 before a near sell out crowd at Providence Park Saturday night.

Nassib completed 19 of 35 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns with 1 interception as the Crusaders defeat division rival for the 3rd time this season. Javone Lawson had 7 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. Danny Coal caught 5 passes for 59 yards and a score. KA' Deem Carey ran 17 times for 65 yards and Randy Moss had 3 receptions for 49 yards.

Portland was led by quarterback Brian Brohm who completed 16 of 36 passes for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was sacked 3 times. Chad Jackson caught 6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Jasper Collins had a touchdown reception , catching 2 passes for 21 yards. Andrew Harris ran for one touchdown as the Dragons finish 13-6 for the season.

Sacramento (13-6) moves on to face the winner of the Houston-Shreveport match up for the Western Conference Championship next weekend.