The Wyoming Cavalry are right where they expected to be: playing for a championship in today's American Indoor Football Association Bowl III against the Reading (Pa.) Express at the Casper Events Center.

The Cavalry entered the season as the odd's-on favorite to win a less-than-impressive Western Division, which would guarantee they would host AIFA Bowl III.

They took care of that with a 43-31 victory over the Utah Valley Thunder on July 10.

Wyoming's next task is figuring out a way to stop Reading quarterback Rob Flowers, which could prove to be difficult.

Flowers has accounted for 97 touchdowns n 83 passing and 14 rushing n on the season and his 3,795 total yards lead the league.

"You've got to slow [Flowers] down because I don't know if you can control him," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "The biggest thing is to try to keep him in the pocket and not let him run around.

"He can beat you throwing the ball from the pocket, but I think he's a lot more dangerous when he starts running around.

"We need to try to keep him off balance."

That responsibility falls to the Cavalry defensive line of Tomasi Kongaika, Tyrone Saterfield, Shaine Odell and Rodney Wasche.

So far this season the Cavs' d-line has been up to the challenge, helping hold opponents to a league-low 28.5 points per game and powering its way to 32 sacks.

But the Cavs haven't faced a player like Flowers since Florence quarterback Omar Jacobs picked them apart in a 48-12 victory in AIFA Bowl II.

"[Flowers] is a running threat and a passing threat," Saterfield said. "We've got to collapse the pocket and make sure we stay in our rush lanes.

"If we can make him throw the ball I think we can have success."

Keeping Flowers in the pocket won't be easy.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound quarterback is protected by an offensive line that averages 6-6, 362.

"They're huge up front and Flowers likes to find a hole he can run through," Saterfield said. "We have to contain that guy. When we run our stunts we just have to contain the quarterback."

If the Cavs can do so they then have to set their sights on slowing down an explosive trio of receivers in Carmelo Ocasio, Yardon Brantley and Jeff Willis.

Those three will be challenging a Wyoming secondary led by safety Tanner Tetrault and cornerbacks Stacey Edwards, Robert Cook and Beau Wendling (Rock Springs).

Tetrault leads the AIFA in tackles and has a team-high 11 interceptions on the season.

"It's tough because if we rush outside it opens up holes for Flowers to run," Maciejczak said. "And if you don't , he's going to sit back there and beat you by throwing the ball to those receivers."

The best formula for a Cavalry win might be for them to outscore the Express.

And with an offense that leads the league in scoring (58.8 points per game) and total offense (255.1 yards per game) the Cavalry have the personnel to do just that.

Veteran quarterback Matt Strand threw for more than 3,000 yards for the second consecutive season and has 73 touchdown passes against just nine interceptions.

Wyoming also has an experienced quartet of receivers in Dante Dudley, James Everage, B.J. Charlton and A.J. Street, along with an elusive running back in James Jones.

Dudley has 35 touchdown receptions and leads the league in scoring while Jones is second with 30 touchdowns.

"We haven't really run the ball that much this season," Charlton said, "but I think if we run the ball effectively it will open things up for the receivers."

Maciejczak doesn't expect the Express defense to make many mistakes, but when it does he said the Cavalry have to be poised to strike.

"We have to take advantage of what they give us," he said. "They'll give us the opportunity to make three or four big plays and we're going to have to take advantage of those.

"The good thing about this team is we're good on the fly. Our guys are smart and they can make adjustments.

"I think it's going to be a chess match."

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.

AIFA Bowl III Tracker

TODAY: American Indoor Football Association Bowl III, Casper Events Center, 5 p.m.

WHO'S HERE: Wyoming Cavalry (13-2) vs. Reading Express (13-3).

FLOWERS POWER: Reading quarterback Rob Flowers has accounted for 97 touchdowns on the season and leads the AIFA in total offense.

HE SAID IT: "You've got to slow [Flowers] down because I don't know if you can control him." n Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak.