Darmel Whitfield caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rod Rutherford with 13 seconds left, as the Erie RiverRats clinched an American Indoor Football Association playoff berth with Friday’s 47-43 victory over the Huntington Heroes at Tullio Arena.

It marked consecutive last-second victories for the ‘Rats, who improved to 7-2 atop the league’s North Division. Whitfield’s winning TD came less than a week after Rutherford connected with Brandon Jackson with 14 seconds left in Erie’s 50-48 over Canton.

Whitfield caught two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter vs. Huntington. The former Gannon University standout totaled five receptions for 74 yards.

Mercyhurst Prep graduate Jovon Johnson returned the second half kickoff 57 yards for an Erie TD.

The ‘Rats, winners of four straight, qualified for the playoffs with five games left in the regular season. They travel to Huntington (5-4) on May 17, then visit the Florence (Ala.) Phantoms on May 23.

— Mike Copper