Sports stats



AFL Arena Football League

Rattlers, Shock Atop Week 4 Coaches' Poll

April 10, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - For the third consecutive week, the Arizona Rattlers (3-0) hold the top spot in the Arena Football League Coaches' Poll.

The defending ArenaBowl champions have been on a tear thus far in 2013, dismantling opponents by generating an AFL-leading 14 turnovers and pouring it on with the League's top scoring offense. Arizona has handed its opponents their first loss of the season in every matchup this year, and defeated each team by no fewer than two touchdowns in every contest.

For the third consecutive week, the Rattlers - who garnered 13 first place votes in this week's Poll - will square off with the team ranked second in the Poll. In Week 4, that team is the Spokane Shock (3-0), led by the League's top passer through three weeks, Erik Meyer. Meyer has completed 82-of-110 passes for 928 yards and 24 touchdowns without an interception this season. He and the Shock will host the Rattlers in the squad's home opener on Friday, April 12. Kickoff is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.

The Jacksonville Sharks (3-0), quietly off to the best start in franchise history, jump up three spots to No. 3 in this week's Poll, thanks in large part to the mistake-free play of quarterback Bernard Morris. The fourth-year pro has completed nearly 71 percent of his passes and remains one of three passers in the League to have attempted more than 100 passes without throwing an interception this season. Morris and the Sharks host the ninth-ranked New Orleans VooDoo (1-1) in the team's home opener on Friday, April 12. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.

Standing pat at No. 4 in the Poll are the Philadelphia Soul (1-1), who got back on track in Week 3 with a 61-33 win over the Orlando Predators (0-3). The Soul are the only team in the AFL not to allow a sack in 2013. Philadelphia will hope to continue that trend this week on "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday", as they travel to Des Moines to take on the seventh-ranked Iowa Barnstormers (2-1) in the 2013 "Hall of Fame Game". Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST. The game, along with a 30-minute Arena Football Hall of Fame special, will air on CBS Sports Network.

Finishing off the Top Five are the Tampa Bay Storm (2-1). In the team's 77-65 win over the Utah Blaze (1-2) in Week 3, quarterback Adrian McPherson became the first player this season to eclipse 1,000 yards of total offense. The 2004 Rookie of the Year leads the League in rushing with 130 yards and 10 touchdowns, to go along with 874 yards and 15 scores through the air. Ten of those scoring strikes have found the sure hands of receiver Joe Hills, who leads the League with 30 catches and 467 yards in 2013. The reigning Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week finished Week 3 with 259 receiving yards, the third-highest single-game total in AFL history. The Storm will look for more of the same production out of its offensive stars, as the team hosts the San Antonio Talons (0-2), still looking for the first win of the season and reeling after the losses of quarterbacks John Dutton and Rohan Davey last week. Kickoff for the Week 4 matchup is set for 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday, April 12.

WEEK 4 COACHES' POLL

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

1 Arizona Rattlers (13) 3-0 130 1

2 Spokane Shock (1) 3-0 111 3

3 Jacksonville Sharks 3-0 94 6

4 Philadelphia Soul 1-1 89 4

5 Tampa Bay Storm 2-1 85 8

6 San Jose SaberCats 2-1 73 2

7 Iowa Barnstormers 2-1 57 7

8 Utah Blaze 1-2 51 5

9 New Orleans VooDoo 1-1 40 9

10 Chicago Rush 1-2 16 --

Check out the Arena Football League Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...

Arena Football League Stories from April 10, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central