Firecats Can Clinch Home Playoff Game with Win over Albany
July 13, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
Estero, FL- With their win last week over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, the Florida Firecats became the 1st team to clinch a playoff spot in the American Conference. This Saturday the "ËCats can become the first team in the conference to assure themselves that at least one of the games will be played at home.
With a win over Albany, Florida would improve to 11-3 with just two game remaining in the regular season and be guaranteed of finishing no lower than the #4 seed.
"We don't get into all of that," said Firecats Coach Kevin Bouis. "I don't write any scenarios up on the board before practice, we don't talk about the what if's and could be's. All that does is mess us up. What we do talk about is, if we handle our business, control the things we can control and play our style of football, then things will fall into place."
The Firecats control their playoff destiny and can, for the 2nd year in a row, secure the #1 seed in the post-season if they win their 3 remaining games regardless of how the other teams in the conference finish the season.
"That's the only thing we can control and the only thing we can focus on," Bouis went on to say. "It's cliché but it's true, we can't afford to get caught up in worrying about the playoffs and who goes where today, we can only play "Ëem one game at a time and that begins against Albany."
Florida can also win the division for the 3rd year in a row with a win this week coupled with a Memphis loss. The division championship would earn the team a 1st round bye and the assurance of at least one playoff game at home, the Firecats are 3-1 all-time at Germain Arena in the post-season.
A win over the Conquest would also be a milestone victory for Coach Bouis, in just his 2nd year at the helm he would earn his 25th regular season win.
The Firecats host the Albany Conquest this Saturday July 15th. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm. Call 390-CATS (2287) to make your reservations. Games can be heard each week on 98.9FM WGUF and online at www.abc-7.com and www.nbc-2.com.
The Firecats are offering a full sized autographed helmet to any fan that purchases season tickets for 2007 by this Saturday. The team is 12-2 at home the last 2 years combined in the regular season.
Florida hosts the Louisville Fire Saturday July 22nd on fan appreciation night, the final home game of the regular season. The "ËCats will have a chance to avenge their loss to the Fire in the 2005 Conference Championship.
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