The 2010 CIFL playoffs kickoff tonight in Cincinnati, Ohio as the Miami Valley Silverbacks battle the Cincinnati Commandos. Cincinnati won both meetings this season, with the most recent, a 58-50 win that saw the Silverbacks erase a 32-6 halftime deficit.

The FireHawks came up one yard short of defeating the Wolfpack on their home turf on May 1st. A goal line stop by Kurt Ware as time expired preserved the 33-32 victory over a FireHawks team that was shutout by Wisconsin 49-0 two weeks earlier. Game time is 8pm ET on Saturday night.

The winners of the games this weekend will play for the 5th CIFL Championship next weekend at the arena of the highest remaining seed at 8pm.

Both games will have live stats in the CIFL GameCenter along with live game audio on the CIFL Radio Network, also available in the GameCenter. The playoffs will be the debut of the new live stat application, a significant upgrade over the original output.

The Continental Indoor Football League is pleased to announce the players of the week. The awards are based on play from the weekend of May 29.

Offensive Player of the Week

Marques Johnson, Wisconsin - Johnson had five receptions for 64 yards and four touchdowns in the Wolfpack win over previously unbeaten Cincinnati. The win marks the first time in the five year history of the league that there will be no undefeated team at the conclusion of the regular season.

Defensive Player of the Week

James Kamoku, Wisconsin - Kamoku recorded 13 tackles (9 solo, 8 assits) in the win over Cincinnati. Two of his 13 tackles were for loss.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ricky Emery, Chicago - Emery had eight kick returns for 126 yards against the Miami Valley Silverbacks.

The Continental Indoor Football League is pleased to announce the players of the week. The awards are based on play from the weekend of May 22.

Offensive Player of the Week

Matt Schabert, Wisconsin - Schabert was 14 of 19 for 187 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Chicago. He also had 11 yards on two carries and a touchdown.

Defensive Player of the Week

Tramaine Billie, Fort Wayne - Billie recorded 6.5 tackles (4 solo, 5 assits) in the FireHawks upset bid in Cincinnati. He also had a fumble recovery, interception and defensive touchdown.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Justin Wynn, Fort Wayne - Wynn returned five kicks for 143 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown against Cincinnati.

(Canton, Ohio) - It was determined during a Wednesday afternoon conference call with Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) Commissioner Jeff Spitaleri and the owners of the six teams in the league that the Marion Mayhem will cease operations immediately, ending the team's 2010 season.

"This was a unanimous decision by all of our member teams," said Spitaleri. "Other options were considered and rejected by the teams. Everyone felt that the best decision, unfortunately, was to have the Mayhem cease operations."

The decision was based on the economic state of the team and the continuing hurdles and circumstances that would need to be addressed immediately to successfully move forward. The primary hurdle was financial. The Mayhem needed to raise several thousand dollars in a short timeframe to continue playing at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marion, Ohio.

"It's an unfortunate situation and we never want to see a team not finish their schedule," said Spitaleri, "but the economic climate surrounding all teams in indoor football right now played a major role in this decision."

The Fort Wayne Firehawks, Wisconsin Wolfpack and Miami Valley Silverbacks will each be awarded wins for their remaining games against Marion. Fort Wayne will be awarded two wins, while Wisconsin and Miami Valley will each receive one win.

The Mayhem were founded in 2006 as members of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL), the predecessor to the CIFL. The team had a 30-25 all-time record and had their best season in 2009 when they went 9-4 and finished in first place in the East Division of the CIFL.

"We are thankful for the support of the people of Marion and everyone involved with the Marion County Fairgrounds," said Spitaleri. "We enjoyed bringing professional indoor football to Marion and hope that we can bring it back to the city when the economy improves."

The CIFL regular season will conclude on June 5 and the CIFL playoffs will continue as scheduled on the weekend of June 18 with the championship game being played on June 26.