The Columbus Lions joined the SIFL after leaving the AIFA and WIFL. The team enjoyed an 8-3 regular season, with seven blowout victories. Other than a three point win at Lafayette, all the wins came by at least 18 points. Chris McCoy quarterbacked the team, throwing for 41 touchdowns to just nine picks in the regular season. Tirone Morris, Gerald Gales, and Lon Dewalt were the primary targets, combining for 43 scores. The team scored 17 rushing touchdowns, with Melvin Parris accounting for five. The defense intercepted the opposition 33 times, returning six for touchdowns. Damian Daniels alone made 14 interceptions. The team earned the top playoff seed and hosted Lafayette in the semifinal round. The Wildcatters were easily dispatched, 61-26. In the SIFL Championship game, Columbus blasted the Louisiana Swashbucklers in a ho-hum affair, 68-13 to win the franchise's first title. The Lions returned to defend their title in 2011. Once again, Chris McCoy again quarterbacked the team, this time throwing for 58 touchdowns and 12 picks, while running for 15 more scores. Of the previous year's wide receivers, only Gerald Gales remained, catching 23 scores and piling up 1,049 yards. Anthony Merritt caught 13 touchdown passes and ran for nine, while Josh Smith would be on the receiving end of 16 more scores. Damien Daniels made 18 of the team's 30 interceptions, returning two to the house. Opposing quarterbacks were sacked 41 times. Columbus' dominance was relatively unchallenged all year, except for fellow South division competitor, Albany. The lone regular season loss for the Lions came against Albany, while Columbus took a four point win in Albany. The only other challenge for Columbus was a 29-28 victory at Fayetteville, in which Columbus kicked a 27 yard field goal as time expired to win. Come the playoffs, Columbus would host Trenton in the first round. In a back and forth affair, which saw McCoy throw for six touchdowns, Trenton would score with 30 seconds left. A two point conversion failed, however, giving Columbus a 62-60 victory. Columbus would then host Albany. In the two teams' fourth meeting, it would be Albany that would pull away late after the game was tied at 61. Two late fumbles would lead to two Albany touchdowns and a 75-61 victory for the Panthers.