Arctic Predators win franchise’s first game ever

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Arctic Predators have made franchise history.

The Wasilla-based American Indoor Football Association professional football scored its first victory ever Saturday, a 66-63 win over the Yakima Valley Warriors in Yakima, Wash.

“They’re so excited,” Predators coach Hans Deemer said about his players by phone Saturday night. “They’re excited to come home and play at home with a win under their belt.”

The Predators host Wenatchee Valley on Saturday.

Yakima had an opportunity to tie the game at the end of regulation and send it into overtime, but missed a field goal in the final seconds.

“As soon as it left (his foot), I knew it wasn’t going to go through,” Deemer said. “It hooked back in a little bit, but I knew it wasn’t going to hook back enough.”

Full statistics were unavailable as of press time, but Deemer said Predators quarterback Damion Ward threw 10 touchdowns in the win.

The Predators took a 32-26 lead into halftime, but the Warriors used a strong third quarter to enter the fourth with a 35-32 advantage. The two teams combined for 62 points during the final frame.

Both teams are AIFA expansion franchises. The Predators’ first win came in just the team’s fourth game. The Wasilla squad started the season 0-3 and has been idle for the last three weeks. The Predators had a home game last month with the Wyoming Cavalry postponed and have been on back-to-back bye weeks since.

Yakima dropped to 3-3 with the loss. The Warriors beat the Predators in Wasilla earlier in the season.

See the Tuesday edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for more about the Predators’ historic victory.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.