Firebirds Remain Unbeaten in Epic Showdown with Nashville

Photo by Gonzo Flics

Firebirds Remain Unbeaten in Epic Showdown with Nashville

The Albany Firebirds stayed perfect on the season Saturday night, delivering another high-scoring spectacle in front of an electric MVP Arena crowd. In a highly anticipated Week 9 rematch against the Nashville Kats, Albany pulled away late to secure a 71-55 victory and improve to 8-0, continuing what has already been a historic campaign in Arena Football One.

First-Half Fireworks Set the Tone

The night got off to a wild start, with both teams trading big plays and momentum swings. Albany opened with a gadget play that saw quarterback Sam Castronova haul in a first-down reception, but the drive stalled, and Nashville capitalized early. Quarterback Tyler Kulka led a sharp opening series for the Kats, capped with a touchdown toss to Antwane Grant.

Nashville built a 10-point lead after a deuce and field goal, but Albany struck back quickly. Castronova hit Duane Brown for a deep 43-yard touchdown to cut into the lead, and from there, the fireworks really began. The Kats answered, stretching the lead to 19-7, but Albany kept fighting—Brown hauled in another touchdown on fourth down to tighten the score again.

With halftime approaching, the teams exchanged scores in rapid succession. Albany’s defense held strong in the red zone, setting up a Castronova sneak to give the Firebirds a 21-19 lead. The Kats immediately responded with another touchdown, but Albany’s hurry-up offense got the job done before the break. Castronova connected with Darien Townsend for a late score, and a deuce from kicker Henry Nell gave Albany a narrow 30-28 edge at halftime.

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Second-Half Surge Seals the Deal

Albany’s defense and special teams took over in the third quarter. Linebacker Dejon Walden scooped up a fumble on a misplayed kick return and ran it in for a touchdown to extend the lead. On the next Nashville possession, Trevon Shorts picked off Kulka, and it didn’t take long for Castronova and Brown to hook up again for six.

The Firebirds exploded for 30 unanswered points behind dominant play on both sides of the ball. Defensive tackle Harold Love forced a fumble with a sack, Shorts added a rushing touchdown, and Albany never looked back. Even with Nashville finding the end zone a few more times, Albany’s offense couldn’t be slowed. Backup quarterback Robert McCoy Jr. added a touchdown pass to Townsend late in the game to put the score out of reach.

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Top Performers Stand Out

Sam Castronova delivered another MVP-caliber performance, accounting for six total touchdowns and over 200 passing yards. Duane Brown was nearly unstoppable once again, racking up four touchdown catches and 144 yards on the night. Albany’s other receivers stepped up as well—Isiah Scott and Darien Townsend combined for nearly 100 yards and two scores.

On the defensive side, Trevon Shorts played a huge role with a momentum-shifting interception and rushing touchdown, while Harold Love and Ezekiel Rose disrupted Nashville’s backfield all night long. Henry Nell added nine extra points and a deuce in a solid outing on special teams.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Albany remains the only unbeaten team in Arena Football One heading into the Week 10 bye. They’ll return to action in Week 11 when they host the Corpus Christi Tritons in what could be another playoff preview.

The Kats, now 5-3, will also regroup during the bye week before hosting the Oregon Lightning in a crucial late-season matchup.

The playoff race is heating up—and the Firebirds are flying high at just the right time.

Photo by Pics by Teagan

Photo by Perfectly Pictured Productions