ALBANY – If the Albany Firebirds want to repeat as Arena Football One champions, they’ll probably have to go on the road to do it.
The Firebirds entered Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Nashville Kats at MVP Arena with a chance to take the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the postseason away from Nashville. Instead, while the Firebirds came back from an early 19-point deficit to tie the game on multiple occasions in the second half, the Kats were able to scratch out a 57-54 victory to lock up the top seed.
In order to earn the No. 1 seed, Albany (9-3) would have needed to win by 10 or more points to win a head-to-head point differential tiebreaker over Nashville (11-1).
Firebirds coach Damon Ware said that, while he was hopeful his team could turn the tables on Nashville and get the top seed, he’s satisfied with being locked into the No. 2 seed and getting two straight bye weeks for his injury-riddled team to get ready for the playoffs.
“We’ve been beat up all year,” Ware said. “We’ve had more season-ending injuries this year than we’ve had in the last five combined. … We need those two weeks off. We will get close to being healthy, and you will see our team come the semifinals.”
For the second straight week, there was no Sam Castronova in the lineup for the Firebirds, with Joshua Kulka getting the start at quarterback against a Nashville team that featured his older brother, Tyler Kulka, under center.
When asked why Castronova – who posted on social media last week about a death in his family – was inactive, Ware’s response was vague.
“I keep those things in house,” he said. “It’s not really for public consumption, but, obviously, there were things that went on. There were things that needed to happen. Ultimately, I am very, very confident in Josh. … I would have no problem starting him in any game that I coach.”
As was the case in Nashville’s 78-69 win over Albany on June 20 in Clarksville, Tenn., special teams played a crucial role. Nashville kicker Kyle Kaplan was a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points and connected on four deuces, while Albany’s Brent Reis – the team’s third different kicker this year – struggled on dropkick extra point attempts and did not record a deuce.
“We’ve changed kickers so many times,” Ware said, “and it just seems to be the same result every time. … There’s a lot of frustration with the kicking.”
Key moment
Down 18-0 less than 10 minutes into the game and 27-8 after the first quarter, Albany made a surge in the second and third to get back into the game, but couldn’t close the deal.
After the Firebirds tied it at 48-48 with 8:34 left in the first quarter, Reis’ kickoff went just under the crossbar, giving Nashville the ball at its 20-yard line. Tyler Kulka hit Charles Hall IV for a 30-yard touchdown on the very next play to put Nashville back in front, and Kyle Kaplan’s fourth deuce of the game made it a nine-point game.
After an exchange of turnovers, Albany did get within 57-54 on Joshua Kulka’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Tyrese Chambers with 34 seconds left,
Stars of the game
Brothers Joshua and Tyler Kulka put on a wonderful passing display while facing each other for the first time as professionals.
Older brother Tyler Kulka, Nashville’s second-year starter, completed 22-of-32 passes for 232 yards with six touchdowns and an interception. Younger brother Joshua Kulka, an arena football rookie, was 28-of-41 for 311 yards with six touchdowns and an interception, while also adding a rushing touchdown.
“It was awesome,” Joshua Kulka said. “Me and my brother have a great relationship. I love him, but it definitely would have meant more to go and beat him. But, it meant the world. I know my family was excited.”
Numbers to know
2,467: Attendance at MVP Arena for Saturday night’s game.
10: Deuces kicked by Nashville’s Kaplan in two games against the Firebirds this season. Kaplan made an AF1-record six deuces when the two teams met June 20 in Clarksville, Tenn.
1: Touchdown scored by Albany fullback Joshua Zacher. The converted offensive lineman got into the end zone for the first time this year with a 3-yard plunge in the third quarter.
What’s next
Albany: The Firebirds get two much-needed bye weeks before they’ll host a semifinal during the weekend of Aug. 1-2.
Nashville: The Kats have the No. 1 seed and have two weeks off before hosting a semifinal game on the weekend of Aug. 1-2.
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This article originally published at Firebirds will be No. 2 seed for Arena Football One playoffs after loss to Nashville.
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