af2 arenafootball2

Steeldogs hold top spot in week 10 poll

June 2, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - For the sixth straight week a different team is atop the af2 Coaches' Poll as the Birmingham Steeldogs have claimed the No. 1 ranking for Week 10, the league office announced today. This marks the first time this season that the Steeldogs have earned the No. 1 ranking. Overall they are the fifth team in af2 to hold the No. 1 spot this season.

The Steeldogs received 273 points, including 18 first-place votes, to top second place Quad City by 41 points. The Steamwheelers, who garnered 232 points and one first-place vote moved up to second after a third place showing last week. The Louisville Fire and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers tied for the third spot this week, each grabbing 224 points and two first-place votes. The only other teams to secure first-place votes this week were the No. 6 Florida Firecats (one vote) and the unranked San Diego Riptide (one vote).

Team posting gains in this week's poll aside from the Steeldogs, Steamwheelers and Fire include the Firecats who moved from seventh to sixth. The Wichita Stealth jumped from ninth to seventh, while the Cape Fear Wildcats improved from 11th to ninth. The Tulsa Talons gained one spot, going from 12th to 11th, while the Bakersfield Blitz took the 12th spot after missing the Top 12 a week ago.

The Week 10 schedule includes three games between Top 12 teams. The No. 2 Steamwheelers travel to Louisville for a battle with the No. 3 Fire on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. No 11. Tulsa hosts No. 7 Wichita on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. and the No. 10 Hawaiian Islanders take on the No. 12 Blitz on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. All times Eastern.

Each week during the season af2 coaches vote for the Top 12 teams in the league by ranking them one through 12 on a ballot. Teams ranked first receive 12 points with the point value decreasing by one for each place below first, meaning a team ranked 12th receives one point. Total points determine the Top 12 list. In the event of a tie in total points, the team with the greater number of first-place votes is ranked higher. The af2 Coaches' Poll is announced every Wednesday during the regular season. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team and the poll results have no bearing on postseason qualification.

WEEK 10 TOP 12
1. Birmingham (7-1): 273 pts (18); Last week: 2nd
2. Quad City (6-2): 232 pts (1); Last week: 3rd
3. Louisville (6-2): 224 pts (2); Last week: 4th
3. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (6-2): 224 pts (2); Last week: 1st
5. Oklahoma City (6-2): 193 pts; Last week: 5th
6. Florida (5-3): 153 pts; Last week: 7th
7. Wichita (6-2): 144 pts; Last week: 9th
8. Tennessee Valley (5-3): 116 pts; Last week: 8th
9. Cape Fear (4-3): 93 pts; Last week: 11th
10. Hawaii (5-3): 91 pts; Last week: 6th
11. Tulsa (5-3): 64 pts; Last week: 12th
12. Bakersfield (5-3): 41 pts; Last week: Not in Top 12

Other teams receiving a significant amount of votes this week include Manchester (34 points) and San Diego (29 points).



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