AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

Jan. 31, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

Crush faces No. 2 Force in championship rematch this week

COLORADO TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The top two teams in the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll meet this weekend in a rematch of last season's ArenaBowl.

No. 1 Colorado (1-0) is at No. 2 Georgia (1-0), with the Force looking for some revenge for last season's 51-48 loss to the Crush in the championship.

Colorado secured its top standing the weekly poll, which is voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA), receiving 11 first-place votes and 143 points after defeating the Chicago Rush, 65-56. Georgia, which had one first-place vote and 122 points to remain second, beat the Orlando Predators, 48-31.

The Philadelphia Soul (1-0) moved up four places to No. 3 after a 52-34 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm. Philadelphia hosts the No. 7 Los Angeles Avengers (1-0), who defeated the Arizona Rattlers, 40-31, to advance two spots.

Moving up two spots No. 4 were the Dallas Desperados (1-0), who beat the Kansas City Brigade, 58-44. Dallas visits the No. 8 Utah Blaze (1-0), a 48-35 winner over the San Jose SaberCats. Utah entered that game unranked.

The Nashville Kats (1-0) also made a big move up, traveling six places to No. 5 thanks to their 57-28 victory over the New York Dragons. Nashville hosts the No. 9 Columbus Destroyers (1-0), who entered the poll after knocking off the Grand Rapids Rampage, 53-30.

Chicago (0-1), which dropped a spot to No. 6, is at New York (0-1).

The Austin Wranglers (1-0) entered the poll at No. 10 following a 64-46 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators. Austin is at Arizona (0-1).

San Jose (0-1), which fell eight spots to No. 11, is at Las Vegas (0-1). Tampa Bay (0-1), which also dropped eight places in going to No. 12, plays at Grand Rapids (0-1).

Orlando (No. 8), New York (No. 10) and Kansas City (No. 12) dropped out of the poll following opening-week defeats.

2006 SCHUTT SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL (JAN. 31)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.
1.	Colorado Crush [11]	1-0	143	1
2.	Georgia Force [1]	1-0	122	2
3.	Philadelphia Soul	1-0	107	7
4.	Dallas Desperados	1-0	105	6
5.	Nashville Kats	1-0	95	11
6.	Chicago Rush	0-1	75	5
7.	Los Angeles Avengers	1-0	58	9
8.	Utah Blaze	1-0	51	-
9.	Columbus Destroyers	1-0	42	-
10.	Austin Wranglers	1-0	41	-
11.	San Jose SaberCats	0-1	35	3
12.	Tampa Bay Storm	0-1	30	4
Others receiving votes: Orlando Predators 17, Kansas City Brigade 6, Arizona Rattlers 5, New York Dragons 4.
Dropped out: Orlando Predators (8), New York Dragons (10) and Kansas City Brigade (12).

Schutt Sports, the sports gear company with a reputation for innovation, is sponsoring this season's Top 12 Poll. Its website is schuttsports.com.

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.

2006 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Colorado) • Jan. 31 (Colorado) • Feb. 8 (Colorado) • Feb. 14 (Colorado) • Feb. 21 (Austin) • Feb. 28 (Nashville)	• March 7 (Colorado) • March 15 (Colorado) • March 21 (Dallas) • March 28 (Dallas) • April 4 (Dallas) • April 11 (Dallas)	• April 18 (Dallas) • April 25 (Dallas) • May 2 (Dallas) • May 9 (Dallas) • May 16 (Dallas)