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Philadelphia Soul Leapfrog to Top Spot in Week 3 Coaches Poll

March 28, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - The Philadelphia Soul (2-0) jumped from fifth to first in the Week 3 Coaches' Poll, after a loss to the top-ranked San Jose SaberCats (1-1) caused a shift in this week's rankings. Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh had seven touchdown passes in the Soul's 84-59 win on NFL Network's "NET10 Arena Football Friday" over their in-state rival, the Pittsburgh Power in the "Keystone Collision." The team leads the League with 73.5 points per game and will face the top-ranked Cleveland Gladiators defense on April 1, who only gives up 40.0 points per contest. The Soul received 11 first-place votes and 146 points total.

The League's only other unbeaten record - and the Poll's second ranked team - belongs to the Chicago Rush (2-0), who were propelled to a 51-49 victory over the Orlando Predators by five touchdown receptions from WR Reggie Gray. Gray currently leads the AFL in scoring average with 27 points per game, and the Rush will need that as they travel to Iowa this week. The Barnstormers (1-1) fell out of the top ten during their Week 3 bye, but will be looking to make a statement against the Rush. Chicago tallied two first-place votes and 127 total points in the Week 3 Poll, five more points than they received last week.

Out in the West, the San Jose SaberCats (1-1) and Arizona Rattlers (1-1) - both of which have been ranked either first or second in each of the previous Polls - are now ranked third and fourth, respectively. The SaberCats fell in Utah after a game-winning field goal attempt went wide, losing their top-ranked spot in the process. The Cats look to rebound this week on the NFL Network, when they take on the Spokane Shock. The Rattlers, who received three first-place votes and 116 total points overall, return from last week's bye with a game against Kansas City (0-2) on March 29.

The Utah Blaze (2-1) impressed voters with an upset victory over the San Jose SaberCats, which helped them move from eighth to fifth in the Week 3 Poll. The Blaze are led by red-hot quarterback Tommy Grady, who took on San Jose's Mark Grieb in a shootout - and won. The Blaze's 104 points this week are more than double their total in the Week 2 Poll. The Blaze will look to keep rolling this week, as they face the new-look New Orleans VooDoo on March 31.

The Georgia Force (2-1) also won in Week 3, cruising to a 28-point victory against the defending champion Jacksonville Sharks. This win, along with the success of quarterback R.J. Archer, has helped them consistently win over voters each week, and come in ranked sixth going into Week 4. Their 74 total points are up from their 53 of last week, and coaches also moved them from seventh to sixth. The Force are idle until an April 7 meeting with the Philadelphia Soul.

The next two spots belong to newcomers in the Coaches' Poll, as both Milwaukee and Spokane were not ranked last week. The Mustangs (1-1) seem to have corrected their offensive woes of last season, winning 65-42 in New Orleans last week. Quarterback Gino Guidugli has been consistent this season, and ranks third in the League in pass efficiency. The Mustangs will play the Pittsburgh Power (1-1), who fell out of the top ten this week, in a March 29 game in Milwaukee.

The Spokane Shock (1-1) returned to the top ten this week at eight, even though they were off during Week 3. In their last game they defeated the San Antonio Talons (1-1) who have dropped to ninth in the Poll. The Shock will have their hands full with the SaberCats on March 30, but will look to the hometown crowd for an advantage. San Antonio, who was also idle during Week 3, will travel to Orlando for a match up with the Predators on March 29.

Jacksonville (1-1) rounds out the Week 3 Coaches' Poll at tenth, reeling after a tough home loss to the Georgia Force. Quarterback Omar Jacobs has struggled recently and threw four interceptions against the Force defense. The Sharks will take on their rival the Tampa Bay Storm on March 30. The Sharks loss was their first since July 15, 2011 and was their first in franchise history to the Georgia Force.

WEEK 3 COACHES' POLL

RK Team (1st place votes) W-L Pts Last Week

1 Philadelphia Soul (11) 2-0 146 5

2 Chicago Rush (2) 2-0 127 3

3 San Jose SaberCats (1) 1-1 120 1

4 Arizona Rattlers (3) 1-1 116 2

5 Utah Blaze 2-1 104 8

6 Georgia Force 2-1 74 7

7 Milwaukee Mustangs 1-1 45 -

8 Spokane Shock 1-1 45 -

9 San Antonio Talons 1-1 37 4

10 Jacksonville Sharks 1-1 32 6

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