The Dallas Desperados have the best record in the Arena Football League at 11-2, but coach Will McClay isn’t claiming anything.
“When we hoist the ArenaBowl Trophy over our head, we’ll say we’re the class of the league,” McClay said. “We’re leading the league as far as records are concerned, but I’m more interested in staying hot at the end of the season. The teams that are hot at the end of the season usually do well in the playoffs.”
Although the Desperados and the Colorado Crush have clinched playoff spots, Arizona, Nashville, San Jose and Orlando are close to securing their place in the postseason.
Crush coach Mike Dailey predicts the playoff field is far from settled.
“It won’t surprise me that going into the final week of the season that 50 percent of the playoff spots will still be undecided,” Dailey said. “You can’t assume anything in this league.”
Dailey’s Crush found that out the hard way, losing 52-40 last week to the expansion Utah Blaze. The sting of the loss was eased the next day when Kansas City upset Nashville 58-52.
Nashville’s loss left the Crush in the same place as last week. A win Sunday against Orlando at the Pepsi Center would clinch the Central Division title for Colorado and give the Crush a first-round bye. With a win, Orlando could clinch a playoff spot.
“The fact that we didn’t lose any ground as far as the playoffs are concerned is a plus,” Dailey said. “But that doesn’t overshadow that we lost.”
“Colorado has had a bit of a cushion on us most of the year,” Nashville coach Pat Sperduto said. “We had an opportunity, but the bottom line – we didn’t take care of ourselves.”
Upset focus
Players from Grand Rapids, Kansas City and Utah earned weekly honors.
Defensive specialist Thal Woods, a former player at Colorado State, was named defensive player of the week. His key interception just before halftime keyed Utah’s upset of Colorado.
Kansas City’s Chris Sanders earned offensive honors, passing for six touchdowns in his team’s upset of the Kats. Grand Rapids’ Timon Marshall earned Ironman honors with seven receptions and six tackles in a 45-42 upset of Arizona.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303- 820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
