The Minnesota Monsters have secured the No. 3 seed and a home game in the opening round of the Arena Football One playoffs. All that remains unsettled is which team will return to Amsoil Arena for the quarterfinals.
Minnesota strengthened its position with a 56-42 victory over the Washington Wolfpack on Saturday night, improving to 7-4 with its second consecutive win. The Monsters will complete the regular season against the Beaumont Renegades at 6 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena.
A Minnesota victory would eliminate Beaumont and give Washington the sixth and final playoff berth. The Wolfpack then would return to Duluth the next weekend for a rematch with the Monsters.
A Beaumont victory would move the Renegades into the sixth seed and create back-to-back games between Beaumont and Minnesota at Amsoil Arena.
Quarterback Ja’Vonte Johnson completed 14 of 37 passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns with one interception against Washington. Jarvai Flowers was his leading target, catching six passes for 99 yards and three touchdowns, including a 40-yard score. Shiloh Flanagan added four receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive lineman Claude Davis provided an unusual and decisive offensive contribution for Minnesota. Used as a short-yardage runner, Davis carried eight times for 16 yards and three touchdowns. The Monsters finished with seven offensive touchdowns — four passing and three rushing.
Kicker Michael Hall converted four extra points and two deuces. Linebacker Chei Hill recorded Minnesota’s only credited sack.
Washington quarterback Andrew McBride completed 15 of 34 passes for 163 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also scored on a 1-yard run, accounting for all six Washington touchdowns.
Brandon Lombana caught three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolfpack. Aakiel Greer, Tyler Stevens and Undra Hendrix each had a touchdown reception.
Washington completed its regular season at 5-7 after losing its final three games. The Wolfpack’s playoff hopes now depend entirely on Minnesota defeating Beaumont.
The Renegades kept their season alive by routing Kentucky 50-20 on Saturday. Beaumont improved to 4-7 and would finish tied with Washington at 5-7 by defeating Minnesota.
Beaumont owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating Washington 42-35 on May 23. The AF1’s tiebreaking order is winning percentage, head-to-head results and points scored.
Minnesota cannot fall below third place. Even with a loss to Beaumont, the Monsters would finish 7-5 and remain ahead of Kentucky through the head-to-head tiebreaker. Minnesota swept the Barrels, winning 69-32 on May 30 and 60-8 on July 5.
While Minnesota secured its playoff position, the Nashville Kats wrapped up the AF1 regular-season championship and No. 1 seed by defeating the Albany Firebirds 57-54 on Saturday night at MVP Arena.
The game featured brothers Tyler and Joshua Kulka at quarterback. Tyler Kulka led Nashville by completing 22 of 32 passes for 232 yards and six touchdowns with one interception. Joshua Kulka completed 28 of 41 passes for 311 yards, six touchdowns and one interception for Albany.
Jordan Gandy caught seven passes for 44 yards and three touchdowns for Nashville. Charles Hall IV had five receptions for 64 yards and two scores, while B.K. Smith Jr. caught four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Desmond Maxwell added a rushing touchdown.
Nashville kicker Kyle Kaplan provided the decisive advantage by converting all seven of his extra-point attempts and four deuces. Kaplan accounted for 15 points as the Kats overcame an Albany offense that produced more passing yards and eight total touchdowns.
Joshua Kulka also rushed for a touchdown for the Firebirds. Tyrese Chambers caught 10 passes for 114 yards and three scores, Agiye Hall had five receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown, Isiah Scott caught four passes for 33 yards and a score, and Darien Townsend finished with eight receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Offensive lineman Joshua Zacher added 17 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Nashville finished 11-1 with nine consecutive victories, scoring a league-leading 735 points. The Kats earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including the Arena Bowl championship if they advance.
Albany finished 9-3 and will be seeded second. The defending champion Firebirds opened the season with eight consecutive victories before losing three of their final four games. Their 652 points rank second in the league.
Nashville and Albany will receive first-round byes before entering the playoffs in the semifinals.
Kentucky completed its regular season at 7-5 after losing its final three games. Once in contention for a first-round bye, the Barrels instead will be seeded fourth and host fifth-seeded Michigan in the opening round.
Michigan continued its late-season surge Friday night with an 86-74 victory at Oceanside. The Arsenal have won four consecutive games, improving to 6-6 while raising their season scoring total to 574 points, third most in the league.
Michigan will host Oceanside in the other game on the final regular-season weekend. Regardless of that result, the Arsenal cannot overtake Kentucky and will begin the playoffs on the road.
Oceanside fell to 1-10 with its 10th consecutive loss and has been eliminated from postseason contention.
The six-team playoff format gives Nashville and Albany first-round byes. Minnesota will host Washington or Beaumont in the No. 3-versus-No. 6 quarterfinal, while Kentucky will host Michigan in the No. 4-versus-No. 5 matchup.
The quarterfinal winners will advance to face Nashville and Albany in the semifinals the following week. The Arena Bowl championship will be played at the home of the highest remaining seed.
For Minnesota, the final regular-season game offers an opportunity to carry a three-game winning streak into the playoffs. A victory would bring Washington back to Duluth. A loss would keep Beaumont alive and bring the Renegades back to Amsoil Arena one week later.