Top Three Spots Remain the Same in Coaches Poll
Published on June 20, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO - For the second consecutive week, the top three spots in the AFL's Week 16 Coaches' Poll remain the same, with the Arizona Rattlers (10-3) holding the number one position.
After a bye in Week 15, the Rattlers still retain the number one spot with 16 first place votes and 160 points. The team holds the number one spot in the West Division based on total number of wins and own the tiebreaker with the San Antonio Talons (10-3) due to head-to-head competition. The Rattlers travel to Milwaukee this Friday where they will take on the eighth-ranked Mustangs (5-8). Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
With a 62-27 victory over the Jacksonville Sharks (6-7) last week, the Philadelphia Soul (11-3) maintain the second spot in the Poll with one first place vote. Philadelphia clinched a playoff berth, the East Division championship and home-field advantage in Week 15. The Soul have also clinched the #1 seed in the American Conference playoffs.
Remaining in the third spot this week are the San Antonio Talons (10-3), receiving no first place votes, despite riding a seven-game winning streak. The team defeated the Iowa Barnstormers (5-9) last week at home, 57-35. San Antonio leads the Central Division based on total number of wins, but hold the #2 spot in the National Conference due to a loss against the top-seeded Rattlers earlier this year.
The Utah Blaze (9-5) moved up one place to fourth after a last-second victory in the West Division matchup against the seventh-ranked Spokane Shock (7-6). QB Tommy Grady is seven touchdown passes shy of the AFL single-season record of 117. If the Blaze win another game in 2012, it will be the first winning season in the team's six-year franchise history.
Moving down one place into fifth are the San Jose SaberCats (9-5) after a 41-57 loss against the Kansas City Command (3-10). Despite the loss, San Jose remains in the third seed of the National Conference playoff race, based on holding a point differential in head-to-head competition tiebreaker over the Utah Blaze. The SaberCats take on the Spokane Shock this Saturday in a West Division matchup. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
WEEK 16 COACHES' POLL
RK Team (1ST place votes) W-L Pts Last Week
1 Arizona Rattlers (16) 10-3 160 1
2 Philadelphia Soul (1) 11-3 142 2
3 San Antonio Talons 10-3 123 3
4 Utah Blaze 9-5 112 5
5 San Jose SaberCats 9-5 101 4
6 Chicago Rush 8-5 83 6
7 Spokane Shock 7-6 65 7
8 Milwaukee Mustangs 5-8 34 NR
9 New Orleans VooDoo 6-7 29 NR
10 Georgia Force 7-7 28 8
Arena Football League Stories from June 20, 2012
- Shock Practice in the Park - Spokane Shock
- Former BYU Center Assigned to Blaze - Utah Blaze
- Rush Newcomer Earns League Honor for Week 15 Performance - Chicago Rush
- ATI Two-Minute Drill with VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara, Episode 15 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Top Three Spots Remain the Same in Coaches Poll - AFL
- Live NFL Network Broadcasts Resume for Predators vs. VooDoo Game Friday - Orlando Predators
- Force Prepare for Utah Amidst Injuries - Georgia Force
- 21 Questions with VooDoo Doll Abby - New Orleans VooDoo
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.
