AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

June 17, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Derry
504-232-9944

Soul looks to wrap up first-round postseason bye

PHILADELPHIA TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – As the Arena Football League heads into its final week of the regular season, five teams have a shot to finish No. 1 in the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll. But the top of this one is a lot like many of the others this season – it’s Philadelphia at the top, followed by Eastern Division-rival Dallas in the No. 2 spot.

The Soul can wrap up a bye in the first round and home-field advantage with a win Sunday at No. 8 New York, which also is fighting for one of the final three playoff positions in the National Conference. For the Desperados to surpass the Soul, Philadelphia must lose and Dallas would have to win at No. 5 Chicago, which dropped two spots after losing Saturday.

Georgia, which clinched the Southern Division title and a first-round bye, is third and picked up a first-place vote for the first time this season. San Jose also won its division last weekend after getting by Tampa Bay, and is fourth. Those teams will face off Saturday night at HP Pavilion, as the SaberCats try to gain home field in the American Conference. No. 9 Arizona is the only other AFL team to clinch a playoff berth.

There are five other teams in the poll with a shot to be part of the postseason. No. 6 Cleveland needs to defeat Columbus at home to lock up a spot. No. 7 Orlando has a bye, but can get in with a loss by New Orleans, New York or the Gladiators. No. 8 New York either has to win against Philadelphia on Sunday or have New Orleans or Cleveland lose. The 10th-ranked VooDoo needs a win or a Gladiators loss. And No. 12 Utah gets in by winning at Arizona or with a Colorado or Grand Rapids loss.

No. 11 Tampa Bay was eliminated after losing to the SaberCats.

SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (JUNE 17)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.	This week
1.	Philadelphia Soul [15]	12-3	202	1	at No. 8 New York
2.	Dallas Desperados [1]	12-3	185	2	at No. 5 Chicago
3.	Georgia Force [1]	10-5	164	4	at No. 4 San Jose
4.	San Jose SaberCats	10-5	154	5	vs. No. 3 Georgia
5.	Chicago Rush	10-5	142	3	vs. No. 2 Dallas
6.	Cleveland Gladiators	8-7	105	6	vs. Columbus
7.	Orlando Predators	9-7	101	11	Regular season complete
8.	New York Dragons	8-7	83	8	vs. No. 1 Philadelphia
9.	Arizona Rattlers	8-7	72	7	vs. No. 12 Utah
10.	New Orleans VooDoo	8-7	61	9	vs. Grand Rapids
11.	Tampa Bay Storm	7-8	34	10	vs. Los Angeles
12.	Utah Blaze	5-10	9	12	at No. 9 Arizona
Others receiving votes: Grand Rapids Rampage 7, Los Angeles Avengers 4, Colorado Crush 3.
Dropped out: None.

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)