Colts' hopes for playoffs on line against Lions

Halfway through the American Indoor Football Association's regular season, the Augusta Colts are preparing for their first must-win situation.

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Michael Holahan/Staff

Florida's Marcus Tolen (right) tries to bring down Augusta's Chip Dykes in an April 18 win for the Colts. Augusta plays at Columbus on Saturday.

The Colts won't face elimination when they play the Columbus Lions on Saturday, but head coach Bubba Diggs didn't downplay the game's significance.

"With the standings, it makes it huge," he said. "They won the first one. We need to split with them, then take care of business the rest of the way to make the playoffs."

The AIFA's South Division standings show the Lions and Colts in a tie for second place with identical 5-2 records. The Mississippi Mudcats, undefeated at 6-0, sit atop the division, and only the top two teams will advance to the postseason.

Saturday's game in Columbus is the final regular-season matchup between the division rivals.

Columbus won 54-44 over Augusta in the season opener at James Brown Arena, but that was before the Colts picked up quarterback Mike Rathe , who threw seven touchdowns in his Colts debut two weeks ago.

Rathe missed last week's game, a 68-51 loss in Mississippi, because of a prior committment in his position as a graduate assistant with the University of South Carolina football team. Diggs said he expects Rathe to be available for the rest of the season.

IRONMAN WANTED: Rathe's consistent presence the rest of the year will be a welcomed change for a team that's been riding a three-man quarterback carousel. Anthony Young and Brandon Satcher both have started but also have missed games with injuries.

In Saturday's loss to Mississippi, it was Young's turn to suffer an injury, and Satcher played the role of substitute star.

"Anthony got knocked out of the game with a slight concussion, but he's OK," Diggs said. "I anticipate him being back this week."

Young's injury came on the first possession of the second quarter. The Colts, who trailed 36-3, looked to Satcher and found an offensive spark.

The opening-day starter came off the bench to throw five touchdown passes and generate scoring drives on seven of the final nine Colts possessions. The comeback attempt came up short, as the undefeated Mudcats, who led by as many as 41 points, held on for a 17-point victory.

BY THE NUMBERS: Colts linebacker Ralph Scott leads the AIFA with 32.5 tackles this season. Fullback J.K. Sabb , a Laney alum, leads the league in rushing touchdowns (12), and lineman Gary McCausland ranks second in the league with nine tackles for loss.

STILL OUT: Colts franchise player Marvin Stone remains injured and likely will miss his third consecutive game Saturday with an injured ankle. Despite missing the past two games, Stone leads the team with eight touchdown receptions this season.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.