Playoffs in af2 full of surprises, thrills

by Walter L. Johnson II
August 10, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)

After an 18-week regular season, what started out as a 34 teams playing in arenafootball2 for the 2002 campaign became a 16-team playoff field last weekend. Now it is down to eight teams as we approach the second round. Well, what are what we waiting for? Let's go!

In the American Conference, the Macon Knights (14-3) defeated the Augusta Stallions (13-4) 57-41 in Macon, Ga. last weekend. The two Georgia squads split the regular season series, with the Stallions winning 48-47 in Augusta before the Knights bounced back with a 50-47 win in Macon three weeks later.

In the rubber match, however, a blocked extra point that led to a defensive two-point conversion late in the second quarter proved to be the turning point in the contest as Macon put the game out of reach in the second half. The Knights will now host the Florida Firecats this weekend in the second round.

The Firecats (10-7) went north to Tallahassee, and knocked off the Thunder 43-31 for their first-ever playoff victory. The Thunder swept the Firecats in both regular-season contests to clinch the American Conference Southern Division title. But Florida came when counted the most, while Tallahassee (9-8) ended the season on a three-game losing streak, losing 65-45 at Augusta, then 64-61 against Jacksonville, to go with their loss to the Firecats.

In Fayetteville, N.C., the Cape Fear Wildcats (14-3) also earned their first-ever playoff victory with a wild 57-48 win over the Richmond Speed (13-4). The Wildcats will now make the trip up north to face Albany Conquest (14-3) in upstate New York. The Conquest had to hold on to down the Rochester Brigade (7-10) 31-26. By far, this should be the biggest of the four quarterfinal round contests.

In the National Conference, the Birmingham Steeldogs (12-5) traveled to Huntsville, Ala., and defeated the Tennessee Valley Vipers (14-3) 65-51 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. The Steeldogs will next head out west to face the Tulsa Talons (15-2). The Talons blocked a last-second field-goal attempt, and held for a 34-32 win over the Arkansas Twisters. The Talons have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as long as they continue to win.

Elsewhere, the Peoria Pirates (12-5) also survived a first-round scare by edging the Wichita Stealth 37-36 in Peoria, Ill. last week. The Stealth (6-11) was one of three teams with losing records entering the playoffs, yet came within inches of pulling off the upset.

The San Diego Riptide, on the other hand, finished the upset in Bakersfield, Calif. last weekend. The Riptide (8-9) knocked off the Blitz on the road 40-27 last weekend. Now their reward for doing so is a long trip halfway across the nation to face the Pirates in Peoria this weekend.

QUICK PICKS

Macon 52 Florida 40

Albany 49 Cape Fear 48

Tulsa 55 Birmingham 45

Peoria 60 San Diego 44

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