Indianapolis Clinches Playoffs for the first time since 2023.
Author: Ryan Baker
Photos: SEDIII Productions
Just a week after the Indianapolis AlleyCats got their 100th win in program history, they added more records and milestones Saturday night in a 24-14 win over the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds.
Put these three results in a hat, draw one out, and it could create its own story: The AlleyCats clinched a playoff spot, they posted their highest break percentage in franchise history, and Cameron Brock passed 1,000 total scores in his career.
The first was confirmed right after the game, since Pittsburgh had lost the night before to Madison, giving Indy a win-and-in label. The seeding still isn’t settled, but if the AlleyCats want to host the Radicals, they need Madison to lose both games next weekend and Indy to win both of its games.
“It feels good, yet incomplete,” Bussberg said. “That was step one for 2026. We’re excited we have the chance to compete.”
Despite all of that, Indy is in the playoffs, and records don’t matter once you get there. What matters is the play at that point. On the second milestone, Indy’s 62 percent break rate was three points above its previous record set 10 years ago. Its 16/26 clip came on the backs of 17 blocks, with James Pollard leading the way with three, and Seth Gudeman, Joel Close, and Samuel Ingham adding two apiece.
The third is arguably the biggest. Brock had three assists and three goals Saturday, putting him at 1,002 total scores, but he hit the 1,000 mark in the third quarter on an Elliot Hawkins hammer throw. As the king of scoring, Brock’s total career scores are nearly 200 more than second place. Everyone on the field knew what was happening, and Brock enjoyed the moment with his family, including his wife, kids, mom, and dad.
“I had kind of forgotten that the 1000 scores were coming up,” Brock recalled. “I was just trying to be Pittsburgh and lock up a playoff spot. It wasn’t until my teammates started shouting out numbers that I knew what was going on. Elliot Hawkins came up to me and told me to get in the end zone. They were trying to get me my 1000th score. My teammates were really rooting for me to get this done, and that’s very special. Getting to celebrate that moment with my family on the field afterward was emotional, especially when I saw my kids running toward me and my mom, dad, and wife coming over.”
As for the game itself, the defense started with momentum after a Gudeman layout block in the end zone fired up the entire team. While the block didn’t turn into a break, Indy’s defense looked ready to stay on Pittsburgh’s heels all game.
After that block, Pittsburgh scored but didn’t see the end zone again until the end of the first quarter. Pollard had two blocks, while Ingham had one block and three goals within the first 12 minutes. By the end of the quarter, Indy was up 8-2.
“It was great,” Pollard said on getting his two blocks in the first quarter. “Going up that big takes a lot of pressure off everyone. Everyone can settle into the game faster, which helps us get more blocks and score even more. In our pregame meeting, I mentioned some things Pittsburgh does and where we could hunt for blocks. All my blocks came from those exact scenarios.”
The second quarter was about Indy capitalizing on the Thunderbirds' mistakes. Pittsburgh racked up eight turnovers in the quarter. Coming out of the gate, Indy rattled off four straight goals, pushing its lead to 10 halfway through the second.
Close got his two blocks during a single point in that time, and Nate Little made an incredible left-handed grab over his defender on a cross-field shot from Jeremiah Branson. There could’ve been even more damage right before halftime, but Jack Galle callahan was called back on a foul whistled by the refs away from the play.
By halftime, Pittsburgh committed 17 turnovers and didn’t complete a huck in its six attempts. On the other hand, Indy was 10/15 on D-line conversions and was 50 percent on deep shots.
It was a bit more even in the second half, but Indy stayed in control the entire time. The team put up a three-point run in the third quarter, followed by a four-point run in the fourth. The O-line was struggling with drops and decision-making, which Bussberg recognized.
“The offense was exceptionally sloppy, and it’s something where we won't have success if that continues,” Bussberg said.
It was a good boost for this team. Now, it has set records both offensively and defensively in back-to-back weeks. This is a team that is finally in its stride and is dangerous. It is dealing with injuries that could hinder parts of its game plan, but the roster is deep, and the team has shown resilience over the last couple of weeks.
Individually, Elliot Hawkins continued his unreal season, adding five assists and 515 total yards to his 2026 campaign. Branson was right behind with four assists, while Jason Kempe was the team leader in goals with five. Behind him, all with three each, were Brock, Gudeman, Little, and Ingham.
There’s a chance that was the last time Indy’s home crowd saw the AlleyCats take the field. If that turns out to be the case, it was a great one to end on. For now, they will need to turn their focus to next weekend’s road trip, with a rematch against Pittsburgh and an interdivisional game against the Toronto Rush.
