Kats take over first in AF1 with thrilling 78-69 win over Firebirds

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville used a strong special teams performance and capitalized on Albany’s second-half miscues to beat the Firebirds 78-69 in a battle for first place in AF1.

The Kats improve to 8-1 on the season and take over first place in the league. Nashville is also 5-0 at F&M Bank Arena. The Firebirds (8-2) dropped their second straight game and fell to 4-1 on the road.

Malik Honeycutt returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in the first half as the Kats’ offense struggled when they were on the field. Nashville lost two fumbles in the first quarter but stayed close due to strong special teams play.

In addition to Honeycutt’s play on special teams, kicker Kyle Kaplan converted all nine extra point attempts, kicked a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter and scored a season-high five deuces.

The Nashville offense got on track late in the first half, converting two opportunities. Desmond Maxwell scored on a pair of 1- and 2-yard runs, the last with 5 seconds remaining in the half to cut Albany’s lead to 41-39. Kaplan then converted a deuce to tie the game at 41-41 at halftime.

Nashville took advantage of an Albany miscue on the opening kickoff of the second half to take a 44-41 lead. Kaplan’s kick bounded off the net and into the field of play. Nashville’s Dejon Walden recovered the ball at the Firebird 7. Kaplan later kicked a 21-yard field goal.

The game was back-and-forth in the third quarter before Nashville began pulling away in the fourth.

After Maxwell’s third touchdown of the game with 13:56 left to give the Kats a 62-55 lead, Derrick Jones returned a Sam Castranova pass 14 yards for a touchdown.

Maxwell was the game’s leading rusher with 27 yards. Tyler Kulka overcame a slow start and completed 15-of-21 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown, a 33-yard pass to Honeycutt. Honeycutt caught 8 passes for 93 yards and returned four kickoffs for 177 yards. His fourth return was also for a touchdown but was called back due to a penalty.

Castranova threw for 356 yards and 10 touchdown passes, four to Tyrese Chambers. Chambers finished with 10 catches for 98 yards.

GAME NOTES

COIN TOSS: The Nashville Kats won the toss and received to start the game. Malik Honeycutt took the opening kickoff off the nets 5 yards deep in the end zone and weaved through traffic to return it for a touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Nashville kicker Kyle Kaplan converted a season-high five deuces for the Kats in addition to hitting all of his extra points. The Kats’ Malik Honeycutt returned a season-high three kicks for touchdowns in the first half. In the second half, Albany kicked the ball out of bounds each time to keep it out of Honeycutt’s hands.

TITLE GAME REMATCH: The Kats-Firebirds matchup on Saturday was the team’s first since Albany beat Nashville in the AF1 Bowl in 2025. The teams each entered the game with one loss.

REMATCH (PART 2): The Kats and Firebirds close the regular season with a July 11 game at Albany.

KATS KAPTAIN OF THE WEEK: Mike Keith, hall of fame broadcaster and Voice of the University of Tennessee football and basketball, and previously the Tennessee Titans, was the Kats Kaptain of the Game. He participated in the pre-game coin flip.