Blizzard tied for division lead; will take on Fire for division crown this week
July 23, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
There is a saying, "good things come to those who wait." The Green Bay Blizzard has been waiting quite a bit of late, but their waiting has certainly paid off. With the Blizzard on a bye week, both the East and South Division leads hung in the balance as the Blizzard waited for the results of the Louisville Fire vs. Florida Firecats game on Saturday night. When the final gun sounded, the Firecats had defeated the Fire 62-56, brought their record to 12-3, and claimed the South Division title for the third consecutive season. The loss by the Fire dropped them to 9-6 and into a tie with the Blizzard for first place in the East Division.
The Fire comes to Green Bay for a season-ending tilt of monumental proportion. A Hollywood screenplay couldn't be written more wrought with drama or pocked with plot twists than the scenarios that have played out and led these two teams into such an epic match-up. With more on the line than just a mark in the "W" column, this game represents everything that a playoff race embodies: two teams from the same division, with history between them, peaking at just the right time. Players and coaches striving to will one more victory from their battered bodies and minds. The Fire, an established team with a rich history, facing off against the Blizzard, a young team rising to the ranks of the elite, as their fans experience for the first time the joy and pride of supporting a team on the precipice of a championship.
The results of the Fire game were not the only ones that the Blizzard was waiting for. Also in the race for the Division crown are the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers and the Manchester Wolves, who both ended the week with identical 8-7 records, but they got there in different ways. The Pioneers lost of 55-43 to the Quad City Steamwheelers (7-8) to fall to 8-7, and the Wolves eked out a 51-50 win over the Albany Conquest (5-10) to raise their record to 8-7. The two teams are on opposite arcs, as the Pioneers have dropped their last 4 games and the Wolves have won 3 straight.
All this waiting has the Blizzard poised to claim their first-ever Division title. The 4th year franchise has steadily improved every year of their existence, posting their first winning record (9-7) in 2005 to go along with their first playoff appearance. They have waited and fought all season to be in this position, and now the only thing standing in their way is the Fire.
The Blizzard did not get to this point easily. Faced with the toughest schedule in the af2, the Blizzard played 4 of their first 6 games on the road, and took on teams that made the playoffs last season in 7 of their first 8 games. They also had to go into one of the toughest arenas in the league and take on the Firecats, and despite an early-season 3-game slump they survived both challenges, posting wins in 7 of their last 9 games.
They will have their work cut out for them when they take on the Fire in Green Bay this Friday. Back in April the Fire handed the Blizzard a 45-39 defeat in Louisville, and prior to their loss on Saturday the Fire had won 7 of their last 8. It would not be a stretch to say that Friday's game between the Blizzard and Fire pits two of the af2's hottest teams against one another with the ultimate prize on the line. The winner takes home the Division Title and the #2 seed in the American Conference playoffs, complete with a first-round bye, and home field advantage up to the conference finals (Florida has secured the #1 seed).
Friday, July 28th will be WDUZ Fan Appreciation Night, and fans can enjoy $1 Bud Light, soda and hot dogs all night long. There will also be free parking at Lambeau Field. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Brian Noble Talking Key Chain, courtesy of Oneida Casino, and the evening's media sponsor will be WBAY TV-2.
To top off the evening, the Blizzard is proud to have at the game the Foster Trophy, presented each year to the Champions of the AFL. Former Blizzard OL/DL Joe Peters will be on hand to serve as the game's Honorary Captain. Peters, who played for the Blizzard in 2005, joined the Chicago Rush for the 2006 season, and went on to defeat the Orlando Predators in Arena Bowl XX and become AFL Champions.
Tickets for the game are still available, but they are going fast. Groups of 20 or more receive ticket discounts, and they can contact Ticket Director Nick Olsen at (920) 965-8516. Fans interested in individual tickets can contact the Resch Center Ticket Star box office at (920) 494-3401.
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