GAME PREVIEW: KATS RALLY TOWEL GIVEAWAY SPONSORED BY THOMAS RESTORATION

CONGRESSMAN VAN EPPS KATS KAPTAIN SATURDAY; KATS RALLY TOWEL GIVEAWAY SPONSORED BY THOMAS RESTORATION

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – As the Nashville Kats close out the home portion of the regular season Saturday, they will do so with a “Red, White & Klaws Out” promotion full of activations.

First off, the Kats (8-1) sit all alone in the Arena Football One (AF1) heading into Saturday’s game versus the Beaumont Renegades (3-5). 

Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville. But it’s much more than just a game, but promotions before, during and after the contest as well.

Saturday's Game includes…

* Festivities have also been labeled “Military Appreciation Night” where members of the military will receive a 10 percent discount off tickets purchased at the arena box office with a military ID.

* U.S. Congressman Matt Van Epps will serve as Kats Kaptain for the game. He will be available for autographs and photographs at the arena’s main entrance when the gates open at 3 p.m. The representative of the Seventh District in the United States House of Representatives will be part of the pre-game on-field festivities including the ceremonial coin toss.

*A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Van Epps served 10 years on active duty as an Army aviator, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. He flew and commanded missions in both the AH-64D Apache and the MH-47G Chinook, serving with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) as a pilot-in-command and air mission commander.

* Also available for photos and autographs the main entrance will be U.S. Army Colonel Jeffrey Pickler. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Army Achievement medal. Upon graduating from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in June 2014, Colonel Pickler served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery in the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he was assigned to the Joint Staff in the Chairman’s Action Group and later served as Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs from March 2016 to October 2019.

* The first 1,000 fans through the gates when they open at 3 p.m. will receive a free Kats Rally Towel sponsored by Clarksville’s Thomas Fire & Restoration and Thomas’ Carpet Cleaning & Restoration Services.

“We are happy to be a large part of the game-day promotions for Saturday’s game to not only show our support for the Kats, but also the military, especially those associated with Fort Campbell,” Thomas Fire & Restoration president and owner Thomas Brennan. “It’s a been a great first season of the Kats calling Clarksville and Montgomery County home. It’s great to see so many local businesses like ours supporting the Kats.”

* The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Rappel Team will rappel down from the arena rafters to deliver the game ball to the game officials in pre- game festivities. The Rappel Team is a premier group of highly trained soldiers responsible for executing and instructing advanced air assault and rappelling operations.

* The National Anthem will be performed by members of the the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band and its Brass Quintet based out of Fort Campbell. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is the only air assault division of the U.S. Army. Nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles,” the 101st has distinguished itself by demonstrating the highest standards of military professionalism since its activation at one minute after midnight, Aug. 16, 1942.

* Saturday’s game will be telecast like all AF1 games this season at TheAF1.com — the league’s official website – and at the league’s YouTube channel and Home Team Network. Jake Lyman, host of The Jake Lyman Show Monday weekdays from 9 a.m.- Noon on 102.5 FM The Game and the Voice of Vanderbilt women’s basketball, will handle play-by-play duties. The color commentator will be Joe Dubin, co-host of the The Chase McCabe and Big Joe Show from noon-3 p.m. also on 102.5 FM and the radio color analyst for MTSU football broadcasts.

* The halftime show on the field will include members of RISE Flag Football Clarksville program led by Dr. Willie J. Wilson competing in a game setting. A retired Special Operations Army veteran, Wilson is founder and commissioner of the city’s premier Nike-sponsored youth flag football for boys and girls in kindergarten through eighth grade.

* The Lady Kats dance team will be signing and selling individual autograph cards just outside Section 102 starting at 3 p.m. The Lady Kats are directed by Laverne Brown and Sissy Brown.

* For the season, the Kats are 6-0 at home, including last Saturday’s 78-69 win over the Albany Firebirds to take over first place in the league standings. Other home wins include the season opener April 14 versus the Michigan Arsenal (78-40), April 27 over the Washington Wolfpack (45-3), May 9 against the Oregon Lightning (64-21), May 16 versus the Oceanside Bombers (63-49) and June 13 versus the Minnesota Monsters (48-32.)

* Earlier this week, Kats kicker Kyle Kaplan, a Notre Dame College alum, was named AF1 Most Valuable Player for Week 11 following the team’s win over the Albany Firebirds. He scored 24 points with six deuces to tie the league’s single game record and added a field goal and nine extra point kicks. The Kats are led by quarterback Tyler Kulka, who’s twice been named AF1 Offensive Player of the Week this season. The AF1 most valuable player candidate leads the league in total passing yards (2,105) and is second in touchdown passes (41), total offensive yards (2,084) and passing yards per game (283). Malik Honeycutt, a Murray State product, leads the league in both total receiving yards (889) and receiving yards per game (99.9), third in touchdowns (17) and fourth in points per game (11.3). The third of his three kickoff returns for a touchdown was named the Week 11 Play of the Week. Kats running back Desmond Maxwell, a Western Kentucky product, is second in the league in rushing touchdowns (10), fourth in rushing yards (99) and fifth in rushing yards per game (11.0). Defensive back Derrick Jones, a product of Ole Miss, is third in the league in tackles (45), while defensive lineman Jaquan Artis, a Lenoir-Rhyne product, is tied for third in sacks (7).

Visit NashvilleKats.com for more information on ticketing, marketing and sponsorship opportunities.