LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The Dallas Desperados nearly took away the top spot from San Jose, but the SaberCats remained in first place by a point in the latest Top 8 Poll voted on by the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

San Jose (4-1) received nine first-place votes and 134 points, and Dallas (5-1) had seven first-place votes and 133 points. Three other first-place votes went to the New Orleans VooDoo (5-1), which had 116 points and moved from fifth to third.

The SaberCats defeated Colorado 55-35 to keep the top spot and drop the Crush (4-2) three places to No. 6. Dallas routed the Carolina Cobras 77-52 to remain where it was last week. New Orleans was a 45-31 winner over the Detroit Fury.

The Chicago Rush (4-1), which was tied for No. 3 with Colorado, fell to No. 4 despite having the week off.

Moving into the poll at No. 5 was the Georgia Force (4-2), a 52-44 victor over the Orlando Predators. The Los Angeles Avengers (3-2) moved up one place to No. 7 after defeating the Grand Rapids Rampage 48-33.

At No. 8 was the previously unranked New York Dragons, who improved to 3-3 with a 40-35 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm.

Two teams dropped out – the Austin Wranglers (3-2) and the Arizona Rattlers (3-3). Austin was beaten 64-41 by the Indiana Firebirds to fall from No. 6, and Arizona lost 65-64 to Las Vegas Gladiators to drop from No. 7.

One game this week involves two ranked teams – Los Angeles at Dallas. In other games including ranked teams, Las Vegas is at San Jose, New Orleans at Arizona, Orlando at Chicago, Georgia at Indiana (1-5), Colorado at the Philadelphia Soul (3-3) and the Columbus Destroyers (1-5) at New York.

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 members are eligible to vote in the weekly poll. Click here to download a membership application. The fee is $25 through April 15.