Xplorers crach top 12 in coaches poll

April 28, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS- The Memphis Xplorers of af2, owners of a two-game winning streak and a 2-1 overall record, broke into the af2 Coach's Poll Top 12 for the first time this week.

The Xplorers, who rebounded from a season-opening loss at Birmingham with victories at home versus Florida and at Bossier City, were voted the 11th-best team in af2 by the league's coaches. Memphis's 59 votes were only 14 behind 10th-place Tulsa in the latest poll.

Xplorers head coach Danton Barto says that while he's happy to see the Xplorers get some recognition from the other coaches in the league, he doesn't put much stock in polls.

"It's great to be ranked among the better teams in af2," said Barto. "But no one goes to the playoffs because some teams voted for them. We're going to have to continue to work hard in practice and in the games."

Memphis's opponent this weekend, divisional rival Tennessee Valley, was voted the 5th-best team in the league in this week's poll. The two teams will meet this Saturday at 7:30 pm in Huntsville, Alabama.

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.

The Xplorers will look to continue their offensive growth in this weekend's game, trying to sustain a pattern of rising point totals. Memphis put 69 points on the board this past weekend, defeating Bossier City by a wide 40-point margin.

"I've been pleased at our team's progress so far," said Barto, "but I still think we've got a long way to go before we get to where I want us to be." The Xplorers defense has been one of the key elements of their success so far, with the team's scoring defense ranking 8th in the league.

The winner of this weekend's game will assume sole possession of first place in the Mid-South Division of af2.

This week's game will be broadcast on SportsPlus 790 WMC, with pre-game starting at approximately 7:15 pm CST.

All Xplorers practices and scrimmages are open to both the public and the media. The team's practices will occur at the DeSoto Civic Center at approximately 7:30 every evening, except for travel and game days. For more information, contact media relations director Galen Clavio at 662-342-1755.

Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm CST. All sixteen regular season Xplorers football games will be heard throughout the Mid-South on SportsPlus 790 WMC. In addition, all home games will be broadcast on X-Cast, a special in-house radio broadcast designed specifically for the DeSoto Civic Center. X-Cast airs on 107.9 FM, and can be received while in the DeSoto Civic Center by using a walkman or other personal radio.

For more information, contact the Xplorers office at 662-342-1755.



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