Cavalry look to keep their winning ways alive

By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer

Going undefeated isn't the goal for Wyoming, winning the American Indoor Football Association championship is.

But if the Cavalry (9-0) finish the season unbeaten, it will just be a necessary step toward the team's goal since Day 1.

"We haven't really came out and talked about it," Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand said of going unbeaten. "We still have some tough games to go, so we are just going to try to take it one game at a time."

Wyoming tries to keep its perfect record intact tonight when it hosts the Arizona Adrenaline at the Casper Events Center. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Both teams are already assured of representing the West Division of the Western Conference in the AIFA playoffs. The only thing left to be determined is who will earn the top spot. The Cavs currently hold that position with two victories over the Adrenaline (7-2).

"We are in the playoffs no matter what," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "That wasn't one of our goals. That was something we expected.

"We are shooting for home-field advantage. We are at the last part of the season, so we want to be hitting on all cylinders and producing in all phases of the game and hitting on a high note getting ready for the playoffs."

Wyoming has hit on all cylinders throughout most of this season. The Cavs have outscored their opponents 681-242 and are the only undefeated team left in the AIFA.

Like Strand, Maciejczak knows the team can't be caught thinking ahead. The coach considers his team 9-5 -- nine victories, with five possible losses left on the schedule.

"We have to play games and stay healthy, execute and not get big heads and think that nobody can beat us, because at any given time, anyone can get beat," said Maciejczak. "We've seen it in the NFL all the way through this league and any other league you look at. We can't get complacent and think that teams will be scared of us just because they show up to play us."

Based on how the season has gone to this point, all the Cavs might need to do to complete a perfect regular season is show up and play their usual game. Wyoming has wins against all of its remaining opponents at home and on the road.

Cavs receiver Dante Dudley said it would be nice to finish the regular season undefeated, but it would mean nothing if the Cavs lost in the playoffs.

"We have talks of winning the championship, and that's been the goal since Day 1," Dudley said. "However we get there, it doesn't matter as long as that is accomplished."

n ADRENALINE QB WOES: Adrenaline starting quarterback Chad DeGrenier suffered a heel injury two games ago, missed the team's last game, and did not travel to Casper, The Daily Courier (Prescott, Ariz.) reported.

Jason Swanson, Arizona's backup quarterback, had a deep thigh bruise in last week's game against Utah and was limited at practice this week.

If Swanson can't play, the Adrenaline will have to rely on one of two new players. Arizona recently signed quarterback Keith Poole, and acquired Ronnie Simpson, who had been New Mexico's starting quarterback.

"I don't know how much I read into that," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "Those guys will come ready to play football. This is a huge game for us and them, so if (Swanson) can play in any way, shape or form, they will kind of down play it a little to get to us."

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com.

Cavs Tracker

n WHAT: Arizona at Wyoming, 7:30 p.m., today, Casper Events Center

n RECORDS: Adrenaline (7-2); Cavalry (9-0)

n LAST MEETING: Wyoming 72, Arizona 56.

n PERFECTION: Wyoming is the only undefeated team remaining in the American Indoor Football Association.

n PLAYOFF BATTLE: The Cavs and Adrenaline have clinched the two playoff spots for the West Division of the Western Conference. Now the teams are battling for home-field advantage.

n HE SAID IT: "We haven't really came out and talked about (going undefeated). We still have some tough games to go, so we are just going to try to take it one game at a time." -- Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand.