KATS, FIREBIRDS SQUARE OFF SATURdAY FOR FIRST PLACE IN AF1 AND PLAYOFF POSITIONING ON THE LINE

KATS, FIREBIRDS SQUARE OFF SATURDAY FOR FIRST PLACE IN AF1 AND PLAYOFF POSITIONING ON THE LINE

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – When this season’s Arena Football One (AF1) was released, one matchup jumped off the page and was circled as one of the key matchups for 2026, if not the regular season game of the year.

Come Saturday at 4 p.m. at F&M Bank Arena, the Nashville Kats (7-1) will play host to the Albany Firebirds (8-1) with first place in the league standings on the line. The winner will have a leg up to be the potential top seed for the postseason playoffs. 

It is also a rematch of last season’s Arena Crown championship game won 60-57 by the host Firebirds. The matchup has been tabbed as the league’s VICE TV Game of the Week.

“It’s a game where we obviously want to play well and see where we stand against the defending champions and the team to beat,” Kats coach Darren Arbet said. “Our guys are playing well. We’ve been getting better each week. That’s what I told them I wanted them to do at the beginning of the season, and we’ve been doing that.”

The Kats are coming off a 48-32 home win last Saturday over the Minnesota Monsters. The Firebirds lost their first game of the season in their last outing on Friday with a 57- 39 home loss to the Michigan Arsenal.

Arbet said like any game, it comes down to executing the fundamentals, especially in a high-profile game like Saturday.

“Don’t turn the ball over and execute in all three phases of the game,” said Arbet, who earlier this season became just the second coach in indoor football history to win 200 games. “They are the champions until Aug. 8 when the title game is played. We look forward to this opportunity.”

The Kats are led by quarterback Tyler Kulka. The AF1 most valuable player candidate is second in the league in touchdown completions (40), passing yards per game (246.8) and offensive yards per game (244.1), while ranked third in total passing yards (1,974) and total offensive yards (1.953).

After the Kats fell short in the AF1 title game last season to the Firebirds, Kulka is eager for Saturday’s matchup. The teams will square off again Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m. at Albany.

“As a team, we have to look at it as just another game,” said Kulka, who has twice this season been named AF1 Offensive Player of the Week. “But obviously this is a big one. A win would set you up with a great opportunity to get the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Ever since that championship game last season, we’ve been wanting another shot at Albany.”

Kulka’s favorite receiving target has been Murray State product Malik Honeycutt, who leads the league in receiving yards per game (100.8), while second in total receiving yards (806) and fourth in offensive yards per game (224.9).

Fellow wide receiver Kendyl Williams, also a Lawrence Tech alum, is tied for first in touchdowns scored per game (2) and is fourth in the league in receiving yards per game (85.3), points scored per game (12) and total points scored (84).

Kats running back Derrick Maxwell Jr., an Emporia State product, is second in the league in rushing touchdowns (7). Defensive back Derrick Jones, a product of Ole Miss, is fifth in the league in total tackles (38).

This season, the Kats are 5-0 at home, including last Saturday’s win over Minnesota to sweep the season series. 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) and May 16 versus the Oceanside Bombers (63- 49).

The Kats close the home portion of the regular season on Saturday, June 27 at 4 p.m. against the Beaumont Renegades.

All AF1 games this season can be watched at TheAF1.com — the league’s official website – and the league’s YouTube channel. The June 20 matchup versus Albany will be the VICE TV National Game of the Week.

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