Talons resume perch atop Coaches Poll for week 14

Wednesday June 25, 2008

The defending ArenaCup Champion Tulsa Talons have moved back into the No. 1 spot in the Week 14 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced today. The Talons (11-1) collected 430 of a possible 448 points and 14-of-29 first place votes in securing the top position. Tulsa clinched a playoff spot this past week with a 58-52 road win against Rio Grande Valley. It was the Talons’ ninth straight postseason appearance, the most of any active team. Tulsa, one of three original af2 member teams, has qualified for the playoffs every season of the team’s existence.
 
The Spokane Shock (11-1, 427 points, 11 first place votes) slipped back one spot to the No. 2 position this week after suffering their first loss of 2008, 57-55, at home to the No. 6-ranked South Georgia Wildcats. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (10-2, 391 points, 4 first place votes) held firm at No. 3 as the team scored an impressive, 69-40, Week 13 home victory against Manchester. With the win the Pioneers clinched their second straight East Division title and secured their fifth straight trip to the postseason. Green Bay also qualified for the playoffs in Week 13 and maintained its place in the poll at No. 4 on the strength of 69-27 home win against Mahoning Valley. The Blizzard (9-3, 342 points) have won four consecutive contests. The Florida Firecats (8-3, 315 points), who enjoyed a bye in Week 13, held onto the No. 5 spot in the poll. The team returns to action in Week 14 when they host No. 3 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
 
The complete Top 16 is listed below. The number in parentheses indicates the number of first place votes the team received.

WEEK 14 TOP 16
RANK	TEAM	PTS
1	Tulsa	430 (14)
2	Spokane	427 (11)
3	W-B/Scranton	391 (4)
4	Green Bay	342
5	Florida	315
6	South Georgia	308
7	Tennessee Valley	291
8	Arkansas	271
9	Lubbock	252
10	Lexington	187
11	Central Valley	182
12	Louisville	172
13	Austin	106
14	Corpus Christi	76
15	Bossier-Shreveport	68
16	Boise	55