AFL Arena Football League

Gladiators Inch Closer to First Place Rattlers in Latest Coaches' Poll

May 28, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - For the 23rd consecutive week, the Arizona Rattlers (10-0) remain No. 1 in the AFL Coaches' Poll after defeating the LA KISS (2-8), 70-25, in Week 11. However, for the first time in more than a calendar year, the back-to-back defending ArenaBowl champions did not garner double-digit first place votes. The undefeated Cleveland Gladiators (9-0) inched closer to the top spot in the Poll thanks to yet another dramatic last-second victory, this time rallying from 17 points down in the final 52 seconds to defeat the Philadelphia Soul (5-5), 54-52, in Week 11. The Gladiators snagged five first place votes this week, the most by a team other than Arizona since the Jacksonville Sharks garnered nine on May 1, 2013.

An Arizona win in Week 12 would clinch a playoff berth and the West Division championship, in addition to tying the AFL record for most consecutive wins to start a season, set at 11 by the Orlando Predators in 1994. Standing in the Rattlers' way are the Pacific-Division leading San Jose SaberCats (7-3), who come in at No. 3 in the latest Poll. In the midst of a five-game winning streak, the SaberCats would love nothing more than to play spoiler to their greatest rivals in front of a national audience on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff for the "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" matchup is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 31.

Cleveland will also have their hands full this week as they look to complete a season sweep of the No. 4-ranked Pittsburgh Power (7-3). Like the Gladiators, the Power also came away with a victory on the final play of the game last week, defeating the fifth-ranked Orlando Predators (6-4), 62-61. Pittsburgh has won four in a row since falling to the Gladiators in Cleveland last month. Kickoff for their Week 12 showdown is set for 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN3.

Despite suffering a tough loss to the Power at home in Week 11, Orlando remains at the No. 5 spot in this week's Poll. This week, the Predators travel to Des Moines for the first time since 2011 for a matchup with the Iowa Barnstormers (5-5). Iowa is coming off a win in "The Graveyard" last week, knocking off the New Orleans VooDoo, 51-41. Kickoff is set for 8:05 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN3.

MAY 28 COACHES' POLL

Rank Team (1st Place Votes) W-L Points Last Week

1 Arizona Rattlers (9) 10-0 126 1

2 Cleveland Gladiators (5) 9-0 121 2

3 San Jose SaberCats 7-3 99 3

4 Pittsburgh Power 7-3 96 4

5 Orlando Predators 6-4 78 5

6 Spokane Shock 5-5 61 7

7 Philadelphia Soul 5-5 55 6

8 Iowa Barnstormers 5-5 53 8

9 Jacksonville Sharks 3-7 25 9

10 Tampa Bay Storm 4-6 21 10

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