AFL Arena Football League

Rush Move to First as League's Only Unbeaten Team

Published on April 4, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - Although they are the only unbeaten team remaining in the League, the Chicago Rush (3-0) needed a tiebreaker to claim the top spot in the Week 4 Coaches Poll, as the overall point total left them tied with the Arizona Rattlers (2-1). Both the Rush and Rattlers received 147 total points, but Chicago finished with eight first-place votes, two more than Arizona. This narrow margin of victory is similar to the Rush's Week 4 game versus Iowa, where Chicago used overtime to squeak out a one-point road win over the Barnstormers (1-2). Russ Michna threw seven touchdown passes in the victory, which brought his season total to 20. The first-place Rush will host the Kansas City Command (0-3), the League's only winless team, this Saturday, April 7.

The Rattlers and San Jose SaberCats (2-1) both used dominating performances to increase their point total from last week. Arizona rode reigning National Guard MVP Nick Davila to a 56-28 victory over the Command, while San Jose bounced back from a loss to defeat the Spokane Shock (1-2) handily, 69-35. San Jose came in third in this week's poll with 146 total points, one behind both Arizona and Chicago. The Cats also received three first-place votes. Both teams are at home this weekend, with the Rattlers hosting the Shock and San Jose playing Aaron Garcia and the San Antonio Talons (2-1).

The next two teams in the rankings, the Philadelphia Soul (2-1) and Georgia Force (2-1), will play each other in a 4/5 showdown in Georgia this Saturday, April 7. The Soul dropped from first to fourth after their 62-68 loss at home to the Cleveland Gladiators (2-1). Even in the loss, quarterback Dan Raudabaugh had an excellent game, with six touchdown passes and only one interception. He will have to continue this, however, because the Force defense has caused more turnovers and interceptions than any team in the AFL. The Force, who were idle last week, totaled 85 points in this week's Poll, moving from sixth to fifth. The Soul received 118 total points.

Gino Guidugli and the Milwaukee Mustangs (2-1) continued their climb up the League's rankings after a convincing win against the Pittsburgh Power (1-2). The win helped them move from seventh to sixth, finishing with 70 total points. Guidugli had a 131.05 QB rating in the team's home victory last week, throwing three touchdown passes on only 15 passing attempts. Guidugli rushed for three scores as well. Ironman Marcus Everett also contributed to the win, shining defensively with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and two onside kick recoveries. The Mustangs return to action in Week 6 when they travel to Spokane on Saturday, April 14.

The San Antonio Talons (2-1) and Tampa Bay Storm (2-1) check in at seventh and eighth respectively, and will both face tough road tests in the coming weekend. The Talons will travel to the "Cat's Lair" in San Jose to face the third-ranked SaberCats and Mark Grieb. The Talons, who boast one of the game's best receiving corps in Jomo Wilson, Carl Moore and Jason Willis, will look to ride the momentum of their late-game win last week in Orlando 47-34. The Storm, who will travel to New Orleans for "NET10 Arena Football Friday" on NFL Network, will also need to be at their best against a resurgent VooDoo club. Tampa Bay's Stephen Wasil has improved every week under center, as the team squeaked out a 71-69 victory behind his eight total TDs (seven passing, one rushing) last week. The Talons finished with 69 total points, while the Storm, who were unranked last week, climbed to eighth with 45 points total.

Utah's rise in the rankings came to a screeching halt this week, as a 57-72 home loss to the New Orleans VooDoo (1-2) dropped them from fifth to ninth. Quarterback Tommy Grady threw seven touchdown passes, but also four costly interceptions. The Blaze (2-2), who are off this week, will return to action against the Jacksonville Sharks (1-2) in a Week 6 matchup in Jacksonville. The Blaze finished this week with 44 total points, 60 less than the total they received last week.

The tenth and final team ranked in this week's Coaches Poll is the Cleveland Gladiators (2-1), who made waves with their upset victory over the Philadelphia Soul. The Soul - who were ranked first at the time - couldn't handle the Gladiators' John Dutton, who was nearly unstoppable. Dutton threw for nine touchdowns and rushed for another as the Gladiators ruined the Soul's home opener, and crashed into the Week 4 rankings. The Gladiators finished with 39 total points and the final spot in the poll, after not being ranked last week. Cleveland will return home to the Quicken Loans Arena this Sunday as they host the Orlando Predators (0-3).

WEEK 4 COACHES' POLL

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

1 Chicago Rush (8) 3-0 147 2

2 Arizona Rattlers (6) 2-1 147 4

3 San Jose SaberCats (3) 2-1 146 3

4 Philadelphia Soul 2-1 118 1

5 Georgia Force 2-1 85 6

6 Milwaukee Mustangs 2-1 70 7

7 San Antonio Talons 2-1 69 9

8 Tampa Bay Storm 2-1 5 -

9 Utah Blaze 2-2 44 5

10 Cleveland Gladiators 2-1 39 -

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