Coaches' Poll Top Two Poised for CBS Sports Network Showdown
April 3, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO - For the second consecutive week, the Arizona Rattlers (2-0) hold the top spot in the Arena Football League Coaches' Poll.
The Rattlers, who garnered 12 first place votes in the Poll, will square off with the team ranked second in the Poll for the second consecutive week. Quarterback Nick Davila guided Arizona to an impressive 77-49 victory over last week's No. 2 team, the Utah Blaze (1-1), who dropped to fifth in this week's Poll following the loss.
Davila and the Rattlers will need that momentum to carry over in Week 3, as they face this week's No. 2-ranked team, the San Jose SaberCats (2-0). The SaberCats defeated the Rattlers in both regular season meetings last season, but Arizona came away with a victory when it mattered most, outlasting San Jose 48-41 in the opening round of the playoffs. The two squads will meet on national television in Week 3, Davila and the Rattlers host quarterback Aaron Garcia and the SaberCats in "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 6.
The Spokane Shock (2-0) move up from fifth to third in the Poll after a 76-61 victory over the Chicago Rush (0-2) in Week 2. Spokane quarterback Erik Meyer is off to an MVP-caliber start to the season, passing for 598 yards and 15 touchdowns with no interceptions in two games of action. Meyer has guided the Shock to a touchdown in 21 consecutive offensive possessions to begin the year. That streak will no doubt be in jeopardy this week, as the Shock square up with the League's top scoring defense, the Iowa Barnstormers (2-0). Quarterback J.J. Raterink and the Barnstormers cruised past the New Orleans VooDoo (1-1) in Week 2, moving up from ninth to seventh in this week's Coaches' Poll. Kickoff is set for 8:05 EST on Friday, April 5.
The Philadelphia Soul (0-1) were out of action in Week 2, but it did not affect the team's stock in the Poll, as Clint Dolezel's squad stands pat at the No. 4 spot. The Soul will travel down to "The Jungle" in Week 3 to square off with their former coach, Doug Plank, and the Orlando Predators (0-2). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 6.
Finishing off the Top Five are the Utah Blaze who look to recover from the loss to Arizona in the team's home opener last week. Reigning League MVP Tommy Grady threw five interceptions in the game. The team will need its star quarterback to get back on track in Week 3, as quarterback Adrian McPherson and the Tampa Bay Storm (1-1) come to town on Saturday night. McPherson earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 2 after accounting for 10 total touchdowns in the Storm's victory over the Cleveland Gladiators (0-2). Kickoff for this week's meeting in Salt Lake City is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.
WEEK 3 COACHES' POLL
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) W-L Points Last Week
1 Arizona Rattlers (12) 2-0 129 1
2 San Jose SaberCats (2) 2-0 112 3
3 Spokane Shock 2-0 96 5
4 Philadelphia Soul 0-1 90 4
5 Utah Blaze 1-1 79 2
6 Jacksonville Sharks 2-0 65 6
7 Iowa Barnstormers 2-0 55 9
8 Tampa Bay Storm 1-1 41 --
9 New Orleans VooDoo 1-1 36 8
10 San Antonio Talons 0-1 35 7
Arena Football League Stories from April 3, 2013
- Predators Announce Child Abuse Prevention Night - Orlando Predators
- Coaches' Poll Top Two Poised for CBS Sports Network Showdown - AFL
- Rush hope to get on winning track against divisional rivals - Chicago Rush
- Shock seek to continue success in last of three game road stint - Spokane Shock
- Jacksonville looks to continue hot start in Saturday trip to Cleveland - Jacksonville Sharks
- Utah Looks to Rebound against Tampa Bay in Week 3 - Utah Blaze
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