AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

May 13, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Derry
504-232-9944

After six weeks atop poll, Philadelphia is dethroned

DALLAS TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – It was all happening for Dallas this week.

On Saturday, the Desperados defeated Grand Rapids, and in the process, quarterback Clint Dolezel became the first AFL player to pass for 900 touchdowns in a career. Two days later, Eastern Division-rival Philadelphia lost its second consecutive game, giving Dallas the best record in the league.

The AFL Writers Association noticed. Among a poll of its members, the Desperados were voted into the top spot of the Schutt Sports Top 12 almost unanimously. One voter picked Chicago, which moved up to second, after the Rush enjoyed its bye week.

The Soul, who lost to No. 9 Georgia on a last-second 2-point conversion Monday, fell to the third position for the first time this season.

Despite losing to Cleveland by 19 points this week, Orlando stayed in the fourth spot – narrowly topping the Gladiators. Cleveland moved up from sixth.

New Orleans dropped one spot to sixth after losing to No. 10 Tampa. New York and San Jose both won and remained seventh and eighth, respectively. Colorado dropped from ninth to 11th after losing to Utah, and Arizona fell to 12th after falling to San Jose.

SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (MAY 13)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.	This week
1.	Dallas Desperados [15]	9-1	190	2	vs. No. 12 Arizona
2.	Chicago Rush [1]	8-2	170	3	vs. Los Angeles
3.	Philadelphia Soul	9-2	166	1	vs. Columbus
4.	Orlando Predators	7-4	121	4	at Kansas City
5.	Cleveland Gladiators	6-4	120	6	at No. 11 Colorado
6.	New Orleans VooDoo	7-4	112	5	Idle
7.	New York Dragons	6-4	101	7	vs. No. 9 Georgia
8.	San Jose SaberCats	6-5	99	8	vs. Utah
9.	Georgia Force	5-5	72	10	at No. 7 New York
10.	Tampa Bay Storm	4-6	39	-	at Grand Rapids
11.	Colorado Crush	4-6	25	9	vs. No. 5 Cleveland
12.	Arizona Rattlers	4-6	22	11	at No. 1 Dallas
Others receiving votes: Los Angeles Avengers 10, Kansas City Brigade 1.
Dropped out: Los Angeles Avengers (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.

2008 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Dallas) • March 5 (Dallas) • March 12 (Dallas) • March 19 (Dallas) • March 25 (Dallas) • April 1 (Philadelphia)	• April 8 (Philadelphia) • April 15 (Philadelphia) • April 22 (Philadelphia) • April 29 (Philadelphia) • May 6 (Philadelphia) • May 13 (Dallas)	• May 20 (Chicago) • May 27 (Dallas) • June 3 (Dallas) • June 10 (Philadelphia) • June 17 (Philadelphia) • June 24 (Philadelphia)