Piranhas Open Playoffs at Tampa Bay

The Piranhas, who lost five of their last seven games, will open the Arena Football League playoffs at Tampa Bay at 4:30 p.m. (PDT) Friday. The Piranhas (9-5) lost their regular-season finale to Orlando, 50-44, in overtime Friday and finished as the seventh-seeded team in the playoffs. Defending Arena Bowl champion Tampa Bay (12-2), which handed Anaheim its first loss June 15, is the second-seeded team.

Had the Piranhas been able to hold a 41-21 third-quarter lead at Orlando, they would be opening Saturday at fifth-seeded Milwaukee.

The Piranhas will be without three starters for the first round of the playoffs. Linemen Kenny Hall has a knee injury, Sal Poulivaati is out because of a bruised leg and receiver/defensive back Jemone Smith has a groin injury.

Piranha Coach Babe Parilli said Troy Kopp, who started the last two regular-season games, will probably start at quarterback. Kopp completed 19 of 34 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions at Orlando.

The other first-round playoff games will be Saturday. Eighth-seeded St. Louis is at top-seeded Iowa, sixth-seeded Orlando travels to third-seeded Arizona, and fifth-seeded Milwaukee will be at fourth-seeded Albany. Should the Piranhas beat Tampa Bay, they would probably travel to Iowa for the semifinals.