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LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) - For the second straight week to start the season, the Dallas Desperados won in a rout - this time over Tampa Bay. As a result, they were just one vote short of a unanimous choice for the top spot of the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll, as voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).
Schutt SportsDallas (2-0), which travels to No. 10 Kansas City (1-1) this week, received 14 of 15 first-place votes. No. 2 Georgia, which moved up two spots after defeating Austin, which dropped from sixth to ninth, 60-51 on Sunday, received the other first-place vote.
The Force (2-0) will face the Storm on the road in the league's only Saturday game this week.
Utah (2-0), which scored the second-most points in the league this week in a 75-71 win over Arizona, leaped two spots to third.
Philadelphia won its opening game of the season in convincing fashion - 63-30 over Nashville on Friday, and the Soul jumped five spots from ninth to fourth.
Chicago (1-1) got back on track after losing its opener on the road to Kansas City. The Rush defeated San Jose (1-1), which dropped from second to sixth, on Friday and made the poll's biggest leap from 11th to fifth.
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Colorado (1-1) also rebounded from a loss in Week 1, nipping the Brigade (1-1), which fell from seventh to 10th, 44-40 Saturday.
Orlando (1-1), lost on ESPN's first Monday night game in overtime to Los Angeles. The Predators, who are home for a Southern Division game against the Wranglers (1-1), dropped from third to eighth.
The two newcomers to the poll are No. 11 New Orleans (1-1), who returned to the Crescent City to a sold-out crowd in victorious fashion over Columbus, and the No. 12 Avengers, who are on a bye this week.
The Destroyers and Grand Rapids Rampage dropped out of the Top 12.
SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (MARCH 14)
Rk. Team [1st Place] W-L Pts. Pvs. This week
1. Dallas Desperados [14] 2-0 169 1 at No. 10 Kansas City
2. Georgia Force [1] 2-0 154 4 at Tampa Bay
3. Utah Blaze 2-0 142 5 at Nashville
4. Philadelphia Soul 1-0 130 9 at Grand Rapids
5. Chicago Rush 1-1 91 t11 vs. New York
6. San Jose SaberCats 1-1 86 2 Idle
7. Colorado Crush 1-1 75 8 vs. Arizona
8. Orlando Predators 1-1 72 3 vs. No. 9 Austin
9. Austin Wranglers 1-1 60 6 at No. 8 Orlando
10.Kansas City Brigade 1-1 41 7 vs. No. 2 Dallas
11.New Orleans VooDoo 1-1 38 - at Las Vegas
12.Los Angeles Avengers 1-1 36 - Idle
Others receiving votes: Las Vegas Gladiators 17, Grand Rapids Rampage 15, Columbus Destroyers 14, Arizona Rattlers 7, Nashville Kats 4.
Dropped out: Columbus Destroyers (10), Grand Rapids Rampage (t11).
