Central Valley starts, ends hot: Coyotes earn 3rd straight victory over Bakersfield.

Byline: Lisa Houk

Jul. 29--Call it Central Valley Coyotes unleashed or just what coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. ordered for the upcoming conference playoffs.

In a wild start, the Coyotes produced 27 points, two fumbles -- one recovered and returned for a 12-yard touchdown -- and two Bakersfield Blitz players were ejected. The Coyotes then flushed out the Blitz (6-10) with a 27-point fourth quarter to ride out a 54-20 win Saturday at Selland Arena.

The final regular-season victory put the Coyotes in prime position for the American Conference playoffs Aug. 3-5.

"We beat them three times this season, and since they knocked us out of the playoffs last year, this is extra sweet to beat them tonight," said Biletnikoff, whose team suffered a 45-37 loss to the Blitz last year. "We face a tough test in Manchester coming up."

The Coyotes (10-6), who clinched a playoff berth on July 14, finished second in the American Conference West Division behind the Spokane Shock and will travel to New Hampshire for a first-round playoff game against Manchester on Friday or Saturday (to be determined). The 2007 ArenaCup, the championship of Arenafootball2, is Aug. 25 at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, La.

The Coyotes' Jason Barnes was flooded by fans during the postgame autograph signing session on the field. Barnes had seven catches for 99 yards and scored four touchdowns -- three on catches and one on a 3-yard run.