AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

March 6, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

Desperados roll in opener; San Jose moves up to No. 2

DALLAS TOPS SCHUTT SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – A resounding 60-7 victory over the New York Dragons allowed the Dallas Desperados to solidify their hold on the top spot of the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll, as voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

Dallas (1-0), which hosts the Tampa Bay Storm (0-1), received 15 first-place votes and 212 points to easily maintain No. 1. The other three first-place votes went to the No. 2 San Jose SaberCats (1-0), No. 4 Georgia Force (1-0) and No. 7 Kansas City Brigade (1-0).

San Jose moved up two places after defeating the Los Angeles Avengers 66-58. The SaberCats visit the Chicago Rush (0-1), which moved down eight spots into a tie for No. 11 after losing 54-41 to Kansas City.

The Orlando Predators (1-0) advanced two spots to No. 3 after beating Tampa Bay 52-27. Orlando is home against Los Angeles (0-1).

Georgia, which hosts the No. 6 Austin Wranglers (1-0), also moved up two places thanks to its 69-65 victory over the Arizona Rattlers. Austin advanced five spots after defeating the Las Vegas Gladiators 57-36.

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The Utah Blaze (1-0) went up four slots to No. 5 after edging the New Orleans VooDoo 63-61. Utah is at Arizona (0-1).

Kansas City, which moved into the rankings, travels to the No. 8 Colorado Crush (0-1), which fell six spots after a 44-42 loss to the Grand Rapids Rampage.

Despite not playing, the Philadelphia Soul (0-0) dropped two places to No. 9. Philadelphia is at the Nashville Kats (0-1).

The Columbus Destroyers (1-0), which entered the poll at No. 10 after defeating Nashville 58-56, play at New Orleans (0-1).

Grand Rapids (1-0) shares the No. 11 spot with Chicago after moving into the poll. The Rampage hosts Las Vegas (0-1).

SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (MARCH 6)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.	This week
1.	Dallas Desperados [15]	1-0	212	1	vs. Tampa Bay
2.	San Jose SaberCats [1]	1-0	179	4	at No.11 Chicago
3.	Orlando Predators	1-0	173	5	vs. Los Angeles
4.	Georgia Force [1]	1-0	162	6	vs. No. 6 Austin
5.	Utah Blaze	1-0	121	9	at Arizona
6.	Austin Wranglers	1-0	106	11	at No. 4 Georgia
7.	Kansas City Brigade [1]	1-0	78	-	at No. 8 Colorado
8.	Colorado Crush	0-1	75	2	vs. No. 7 Kansas City
9.	Philadelphia Soul	0-0	71	7	at Nashville
10.	Columbus Destroyers	1-0	61	-	at New Orleans
t11.	Chicago Rush	0-1	50	3	vs.No. 2 San Jose
t11.	Grand Rapids Rampage	1-0	50	-	vs. Las Vegas
Others receiving votes: New Orleans VooDoo 25, Arizona Rattlers 20, Nashville Kats 10, Los Angeles Avengers 6, New York Dragons 3, Tampa Bay Storm 2.
Dropped out: New York Dragons (8), Tampa Bay Storm (10), Nashville Kats (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.

2007 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Dallas) • March 6 (Dallas) • March 14 (Dallas) • March 20 (Dallas) • March 27 (Dallas) • April 2 (Dallas)	• April 12 (Dallas) • April 18 (Dallas) • April 25 (Georgia) • May 2 (Georgia) • May 9 (Georgia) • May 16 (Georgia)	• May 23 (Dallas) • May 30 (Dallas) • June 6 (Dallas) • June 13 (Dallas) • June 20 (Dallas) • June 27 (Dallas)