Boise qualifies for af2 playoffs

(Boise, ID) For the first time in franchise history, the Boise Burn has qualified for the af2 playoffs. The team learned it had qualified when the league decided to stick with the standard 16-team playoff format, with eight teams from each conference qualifying. There had been a proposal to reduce the playoff field to twelve teams. ?All this means is that we know we?ll have one extra game,? Boise head coach Brent Winter said. ?We?re not assured anything beyond that, so there?s still a lot of work to be done.? Boise (9-2) is in position to earn a home date in the playoffs. The three National Conference division champions earn the top three seeds. The best remaining record gets the no. 4 seed and a first-round home game. Spokane (10-0), Tulsa (10-1), and Arkansas (7-4) currently lead their respective divisions. As it stands right now, Boise will have to hold off Rio Grande Valley (6-4), Bossier-Shreveport (6-5), and Oklahoma City (6-5) to earn the fourth seed and home date. Entering this weekend?s games, no team in af2 has been eliminated from the playoff race. In each of Boise?s first two seasons, the team finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers and, in each season, it came down to the final moments of the final game. In 2007, a late turnover kept Boise from winning a point-differential tiebreaker, allowing Tri-Cities to reach the playoffs while the Burn went home. In 2008, Boise trailed Spokane by three points with a minute left to play, but a turnover on downs inside the Shock ten-yard-line gave Spokane the victory?and gave Austin the tiebreaking advantage over Boise to reach the postseason. The Burn is home this weekend to host Stockton (4-7) on Saturday night. Game time is 7:10 PM at Qwest Arena. It?s the second of two 4-for-$44 promotions for the Burn where fans can purchase four tickets, four Pepsis, and four hot dogs for just $44. Tickets are available by calling the Qwest Arena box office at 208.331.TIXS or visiting www.boiseburn.com