The Jacksonville Sharks, the city’s arena football franchise, is headed to the postseason for the eighth time in the team’s nine-year history.
National Arena League released a final playoff picture update this Monday ahead of the league’s final week of regular season competition. The Sharks (10-5) currently sit atop the league after defeating the Massachusetts Pirates (also 10-5) this past weekend.
The Sharks would clinch the #1 seed with a win next week against the Maine Mammoths (6-8), or even with a loss if the Pirates and the Carolina Cobras (9-5) lose as well. The lowest the Sharks could fall is to #3, and that’s only if they lose and the Pirates and Cobras both win next week.
No matter what, the Sharks will begin their 2018 playoffs on August 11 at 7:00 PM. If they’re seeded 1 or 2, they’ll be playing at Veterans Memorial Arena.
The team will be looking to defend its 2017 championship, winning in the NAL’s first year of existence. It previously won the AFL’s ArenaBowl championship in 2011, and made the playoffs in all but one year during its stint in that league.
The team left for the NAL after the 2016 season, citing the AFL’s poor financial situation.
The Sharks have had an interesting run in 2018. They were led for the first half of the season by former FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson – until he left the team in mid-July with little explanation. Patrick McCain, a former JU slinger, has taken over and held his own, and the team’s fullback Derrick Ross leads the league in rushing TDs. The team appears to be the early favorite to repeat as champion of the six-team NAL.
Don’t forget to show your support for the Sharks in the playoffs – especially if they secure home-field advantage!
