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March 9, 2004 For Immediate Release Contact: Mark Anderson 702-379-0154 |
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| Five teams garner first-place votes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN JOSE LOSES,
BUT STAYS ATOP AFLWA RANKINGS |
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LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Despite suffering their first loss, the San Jose SaberCats retained their No. 1 ranking in the Top 8 Poll, which was conducted by the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA). The SaberCats (3-1) were defeated 64-50 by the New York Dragons, but kept the top spot with nine first-place votes and 131 points. Four other teams also received first-place votes.
Receiving four first-place votes and 110 points were the Dallas Desperados (4-1), who moved up two places to No. 2. They defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage 66-50. In a tie for third were the Colorado Crush and Chicago Rush, each 4-1. Colorado, which also was third last week, received two first-place votes and 104 points following its 62-61 victory over the Detroit Fury. Detroit (2-2), which was No. 8, dropped out of the poll. Chicago, which had one first-place vote, suffered its first loss, 53-47 to the Philadelphia Soul to drop from No. 2. The New Orleans VooDoo (4-1) had the three remaining first-place votes and 90 points for No. 5. New Orleans, which also was in that spot last week, beat the Tampa Bay Storm 55-43. Two other teams moved up – the Austin Wranglers (3-1) from No. 7 to No. 6 and the Arizona Rattlers (3-2) into the poll at No. 7. Austin defeated the Carolina Cobras 56-55, and Arizona topped the Columbus Destroyers 65-42. Even though the Los Angeles Avengers (2-2) did not play, they fell two spots to No. 8. The standings could receive a shake-up this weekend when Colorado plays at San Jose. Other games involving ranked teams include Dallas at Carolina (2-3), Detroit at New Orleans, the Indiana Firebirds (0-5) at Austin, Arizona at the Las Vegas Gladiators (2-3) and Los Angeles at Grand Rapids (0-5).
The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director. Only AFLWA members are eligible to vote in the weekly poll. To join, click here to download a membership application.
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