KATS OPEN SEASON WITH 78-40 WIN OVER ARSENAL

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Kats opened the season Friday with a convincing 78-40 win over the visiting Michigan Arsenal.

In front of 2,912 at F&M Bank Arena, the Kats were led by quarterback Tyler Kulka, who completed 14 of 18 passes for 258 yards. He threw six touchdown passes against only one interception and averaged 18 yards per completion.

Wide receiver Malik Honeycutt led the Kats in receiving with seven catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Also catching TD passes were wide receivers Steve Peterson, BK Smith Jr. and Jordan Gandy. Offensive lineman Payton Muljo also got into the act with a TD catch as well.

Fullback Austin Collier carried the ball only four times, but three of those rushes resulted in touchdowns.

Defensively, the Kats were led by defensive backs Trae Meadows with eight tackles and an interception and Amos Coleman III with seven tackles and an interception. Linebacker Derrick Maxwell Jr. had six stops and a pick, while defensive back Derrick Joneshad six tackles. Adding an interception was defensive back Omari Alexander, while Roderick Perry and Ezrah Thibodeaux each had a sack.

Arsenal quarterback Malik Henry completed 28 of 48 passes for three touchdowns. He tossed three interceptions and was sacked twice. The Arsenals’ leading receiver was Jarius Grissom with 11 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

The Kats return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. versus the Washington Wolfpack at F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville. The game is the AF1 VICE National Game of the Week and can also be streamed at TheAF1.com – the league’s official website.

Last season, the Kats went 7-5 and advanced to the AF1 Arena Crown championship game before falling 60-57 to the Albany Firebirds. AF1 returns for its second season with the following franchises – Nashville Kats, Michigan Arsenal, Albany Firebirds, Kentucky Barrels, Beaumont Renegades, Washington Wolfpack, Oceanside Bombers, Oregon Lightning and Minnesota Monsters. Fisher also serves as Commissioner of AF1.

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