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West Division Atop AFL Coaches' Poll For Second Straight Week

June 26, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


CHICAGO - For the eighth consecutive week, the Arizona Rattlers (12-2) hold the top spot in the latest Coaches' Poll, despite suffering a 42-72 loss to the San Jose SaberCats (9-4) in Week 14.

For just the second time in the Kevin Guy era - and the first time since his first loss as a head coach in 2008 - the Rattlers were bested by at least 30 points. The defending ArenaBowl champions will no doubt use their Week 15 bye to regroup and rest up for another postseason run, as they prep for the Orlando Predators (5-8) on July 6.

Following the 30-point victory over their longstanding division rivals, the SaberCats leapfrogged the Spokane Shock (10-4) for the No. 2 spot in this week's Poll after receiving four first place votes. San Jose can put a damper on another West Division foe's season in Week 15, as they travel to Salt Lake City for a matchup with the No. 9-ranked Utah Blaze (5-8). A loss would knock the Blaze, last season's National Conference runner-up, out of playoff contention. Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Spokane Shock dominated Utah last week, 80-41, but fell one spot behind San Jose in the Poll based on first place votes. Spokane is off with a bye in Week 15, but will return to action on July 6 against another team looking to solidify their postseason position, the Tampa Bay Storm (7-7), who come in at No. 7 in this week's Poll.

Coming in at No. 4 in the Poll once again are the Philadelphia Soul (8-5) who moved one step closer to wrapping up another East Division title with a 54-30 win over the No. 10-ranked Iowa Barnstormers (6-8) in Week 14. Clint Dolezel's squad can clinch a postseason berth and the division with a win or a Pittsburgh Power (3-10) loss in Week 15. The Soul square off with the Cleveland Gladiators (2-11) at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Jacksonville Sharks (9-5) flirted with disaster in Week 14, but eventually closed out a 43-41 victory over the Gladiators to clinch their fourth straight postseason berth. The Sharks will look to distance themselves further from the rest of the South Division pack in Week 15, as they host the No. 8-ranked Orlando Predators (5-8). While the Predators appear to be in the driver's seat for at least the final Wildcard spot in the American Conference moving forward, a loss to the Sharks would knock Orlando out of contention for the South Division championship.

The Week 15 Orlando vs. Jacksonville matchup will also serve as a homecoming of sorts for Predators quarterback Aaron Garcia, who guided the Sharks to an ArenaBowl XXIV championship in 2011. The game will be Garcia's first in Jacksonville since winning the conference championship in the "Shark Tank" two years ago. Kickoff for the "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" broadcast on CBS Sports Network is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

WEEK 15 COACHES' POLL

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

1 Arizona Rattlers (10) 12-2 127 1

2 San Jose SaberCats (4) 9-4 108* 3

3 Spokane Shock 10-4 108* 2

4 Philadelphia Soul 8-5 88 4

5 Jacksonville Sharks 9-5 81 5

6 Chicago Rush 8-6 75 7

7 Tampa Bay Storm 7-7 42 6

8 Orlando Predators 5-8 25# --

9 Utah Blaze 5-8 25# 9

10 Iowa Barnstormers 6-8 21 10

*Tie broken on first place votes

#Tie broken on number of high-placing votes

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