The Wyoming Cavalry, after a troubled season in the NIFL, moved to the AIFA as the anchor team in the Western Division. The team played just the three division opponents all regular season long. The Cavalry beat up on Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona for most of the year, except for a home loss to Arizona. The team also lost an overtime game against New Mexico and the regular season finale at Arizona, which didn't mean anything. The Cavalry defense made 31 interceptions, 46 sacks, and held the oppositon to an average of 32 points per game. The offense scored 127 touchdowns, and scored 58 touchdowns in 68 redzone opportunities. The team blew past Arizona and Mississippi in the playoffs, before reaching AIFA Bowl II in Florence. The Phantoms trounced the Cavalry, 48-12. The Cavalry stuck around for the 2009 season, despite an overhaul of the teams in their division. The Utah Valley Thunder and Ogden Knights were new faces, while the New Mexico Wildcats stayed. The Cavalry again dominated their opposition, going 12-2 and outscoring their three opponents by an average of 32 points per game. Matt Strand threw 70 touchdowns on the three other teams, while James Jones rushed for 23 scores. Dante Dudley led the receivers with his 34 touchdowns and 1,089 yards. The team scored nine times on defense and special teams. The two losses on the year came at Utah Valley. When push came to shove, however, the Cavalry would not lose to the Thunder in the playoffs, with a home championship berth on the line. Scoring just four offensive touchdowns, the Cavalry got past the Thunder 43-31 and would host a championship game for the first time in the franchise's ten year history. For the first thirty minutes of AIFA Bowl III against the Reading Express, the Cavalry looked to be quite a formidable foe, despite never playing outside their division. However, the second half saw Reading take a 38-34 lead and never looking back, as Strand threw a pick six and a missed field goal was blocked for a safety. The Cavalry was outscored 35-8 in the second half and would lose 65-42. Matt Strand returned to lead the Cavalry into the 2010 year. He threw for 66 touchdowns and eight picks in just an eleven game regular season, due to three forfeits by Wasilla and Ogden. Jasonus Tillery and Dante Dudley led the wide receivers, combining for 1,743 yards and 43 touchdowns. The Cavalry defense made 19 interceptions and returned four for touchdowns, with Emery Beckles leading the way. The team's only west coast threat was Wenatchee Valley, who took the Cavalry to overtime in week two and beat them in the next to last home game of the year. Wyoming earned the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive year and blasted San Jose, 57-37 to make a third appearance in the AIFA title game. This time, Wyoming traveled to face the unbeaten Baltimore Mariners. Wyoming took a quick 16-0 lead and lead 24-17 at halftime. However, three Strand interceptions and three consecutive red-zone stops would cap a 57-42 comeback win for Baltimore.