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by Walter L. Johnson II
June 21, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)


Twelve weeks have come and gone in the 2005 arenafootball2 regular season, and as we get closer to postseason play, the stakes get that much higher. Let's read on to find out how things turned out in the week that was: Week 12.

WOLVES DOWN FIRECATS: In the "Game of the Week" in the af2 last Saturday, the Manchester Wolves extended their winning streak to ten straight games by going on the road, and knocking off the defending Arena Cup champion Florida Firecats, 52-29, in front of 6,034 fans at Germain Arena in Estero, Fla.

The Wolves (10-1) moved into the top playoff spot in the American Conference with the win. Despite the loss, though, the Firecats, as well as the Wolves, both managed to clinch playoff spots, thanks to the Albany (N.Y.) Conquest losing at Quad City 62-50. As for Florida, the Firecats fell to 9-2 on the season, dropping into the second playoff position in the American Conference.

MORE SURPRISES!!!! Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder in the af2, they just did! In Macon, Ga. on Saturday, the Macon Knights (5-6) took advantage of Albany's misfortune, as they knocked off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pa.) Pioneers (6-5) 53-41 to move two games ahead of the Conquest for the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference.

If that wasn't weird enough, out in Bossier City, La., the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings did a slight shake-up of the National Conference playoff picture by downing the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz 54-46 at home. The loss dropped Oklahoma City to 6-5 on the season, and into fifth place in the National Conference playoff race.

Finally, in North Little Rock, Ark., the Arkansas Twisters spoiled the debut of new South Georgia Wildcats head coach Donnie Davis by cruising to a 59-28 rout in front of 6,373, a healthy crowd by af2 standards. The win was only the second of the season in 11 tries for the Twisters, while the Wildcats have now lost five straight games, dropping to 2-9 on the season.

DORADOS DROP COYOTES: The Rio Grande Valley Dorados handed the Central Valley Coyotes their third straight loss last Saturday, as they cruised to a 55-36 win in front of 4,525 fans in Hidalgo, Tex. The Dorados rallied from a 29-20 halftime deficit to win for the sixth time in their last seven games. On the other hand, the Coyotes have been outscored 188-127 during their three-game losing streak, which dropped them into a tie for the last playoff spot in the National Conference. Both teams sit at 5-6 after 12 weeks of regular season action.

DRIVE TO THE PLAYOFFS: Here's how the playoff seeding would look if postseason play started this weekend.

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

1. Manchester (10-1)*%

2. Florida (9-2)*%

3. Green Bay (7-4)

4. Louisville (6-5)#

5. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (6-5)

6. Macon (5-6)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

1. Memphis (10-1)*

2. Tulsa (8-3)*

3. Rio Grande Valley (7-4)

4. Amarillo (7-4)

5. Oklahoma City (6-5)

6. Quad City (5-6)

Central Valley (5-6)

KEY: *--Current division leader

%--Clinched playoff berth

#--Holds tie-breaker advantage based on head-to-head win

A LOOK AHEAD: Here are the key games for Week 13:

Quad City (5-6) at Manchester (10-1): The Steamwheelers head east to New Hampshire to take on the Wolves in this crucial inter-conference match-up. Quad City currently sits tied with Central Valley for the last playoff spot in the National Conference, while Manchester will try to extend its winning streak to 11 straight games.

Memphis (10-1) at Oklahoma City (6-5): The Xplorers look to move one step closer towards clinching a playoff berth in this Friday night Midwest Division showdown. As for the Yard Dawgz, they hope to bounce back after letting things slip away at Bossier-Shreveport.

Macon (5-6) at Florida (9-2): The Knights can get to .500, and solidify their playoff hopes in the process by upsetting the Firecats. Speaking of Florida, the Firecats must re-group after being stomped by Manchester at home last weekend.

QUICK PICKS

Last Week: 5-5

Season-To-Date: 68-40 (.630)

Manchester over Quad City

Louisville over Albany

Green Bay over Birmingham

Memphis over Oklahoma City

Central Valley over Bakersfield

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton over South Georgia

Florida over Macon

Tulsa over Arkansas

Amarillo over Bossier-Shreveport

Rio Grande Valley over San Diego

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