AFLWA > News > AFL Top 8 Poll

May 24, 2005
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

League's best record warrants top ranking in final poll

GEORGIA TOPS AFLWA TOP 8 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Despite losing, the Georgia Force finished the regular season No. 1 in the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) Top 8 Poll.

The Force, which lost 54-48 to the San Jose SaberCats, received seven first-place votes and 87 points. Georgia (11-5) hosts the Tampa Bay Storm (10-6) in the first round of the playoffs. Tampa Bay, which defeated the Columbus Destroyers 78-53, remained No. 4 in a tie with the Colorado Crush.

Also not hurt by a loss, the Los Angeles Avengers remained No. 2 following their 71-65 defeat to the Grand Rapids Rampage. Los Angeles (10-6) hosts the No. 8 Chicago Rush (9-7). Chicago, which moved into the poll, beat the Nashville Kats 45-21.

The Orlando Predators, 51-40 winners over New Orleans to knock the then seventh-ranked VooDoo out of the poll, moved up two places to No. 3. Orlando (10-6) is at the No. 6 New York Dragons (10-6). New York kept its ranking after routing Colorado 62-28, dropping the Crush one spot into a tie for No. 4. Colorado (10-6) hosts No. 7 San Jose (9-7), which advanced a place.

AFLWA TOP 8 POLL
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	LW
1.	Georgia Force [7]	11-5	87	1
2.	Los Angeles Avengers	10-6	61	2
3.	Orlando Predators	10-6	59	5
t4.	Colorado Crush [1]	10-6	58	3
t4.	Tampa Bay Storm [2]	10-6	58	4
6.	New York Dragons [2]	10-6	57	6
7.	San Jose SaberCats	9-7	33	8
8.	Chicago Rush	9-7	13	-
Others receiving votes: New Orleans VooDoo 5, Arizona Rattlers 1.

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.

2005 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (San Jose) • Feb. 1 (Tampa Bay) • Feb. 8 (Tampa Bay) • Feb. 15 (Orlando) • Feb. 22 (New Orleans) • March 1 (New Orleans)	• March 8 (New Orleans) • March 15 (New York) • March 22 (Georgia) • March 29 (Georgia) • April 5 (Colorado) • April 12 (Colorado)	• April 19 (Georgia) • April 26 (Orlando/San Jose) • May 3 (Georgia) • May 10 (Georgia) • May 17 (Georgia) • May 24 (Georgia)