Washington DC Franchise to Name Dean Cokinos First Head Coach

(photo credit: al.com)

The Washington DC AFL franchise, which has yet to be named, is expected to name Dean Cokinos their first ever head coach, according to Arenafan.com. Cokinos is currently the assistant head coach for the Tampa Bay Storm, but was not listed as coach in Sunday's loss against the Jacksonville Sharks.

Cokinos has been a head coach before. His last head coaching job was with the New Orleans Voodoo. He lead the team to a 3-14 record before the franchise folded at the end of last season. He was also the head coach of the PIFL's Alabama Hammers. He led them to a title in 2013.

He also coached the Alabama Vipers , who later became known as the Georgia Force, from 2010-12. He went 20-16 in his two seasons with the team, making the postseason both seasons.

Now that Cokinos has been named the coach, he will have 10 months to come up with a strategy for the Washington franchise in order to reach the team's expectations of winning Arena Bowl XXX in 2017.

Arena Football Power Rankings: Week 5

8. Tampa Bay Storm

(photo credit: tampabay.com)

The Storm have taken two teams to the edge in two close games this season. The only thing about those two games is that they were against the Cleveland Gladiators and the Jacksonville Sharks, two teams that haven't put up much of a fight this season. Against the other two teams they faced, the top two teams in the AFL in the Orlando Predators and the Arizona Rattlers, they were dominated in every way possible. The Storm have proven themselves to be the weakest link. Goodbye.


7. Portland Steel

(photo credit: portlandtribune.com)

Like the Storm, the Steel have also gotten what was coming to them against the Rattlers, losing to them twice. But unlike the Storm, the Steel have shown that they can compete with the Predators, taking them to the edge when they faced off earlier in the season. Still, the Steel have shown they are still a very weak team in the AFL. 

6. Cleveland Gladiators

(photo credit: blog.cleveland.com)

The Gladiators are a much different team than the team that went to Arena Bowl XXVII in 2014. They can't hang with the big boys in the AFL, losing to the Soul by double digits. They also even almost found themselves on the losing end to the Tampa Bay Storm. When it comes to playing the top teams like the Soul, they don't compete. They need to find a strategy to compete against the top teams in the AFL or they'll find themselves at a low seed in the playoffs this summer.

5. Jacksonville Sharks

(photo credit: jacksonville.com)

The Sharks are like a see-saw. One week, they're upsetting the Soul at the Wells Fargo Center, and the next they're giving up a double-digit lead to the Storm. They need to stay consistent if they want to see themselves as one of the top seeds in the AFL at the end of the season and earn homefield advantage in the playoffs.

4. Los Angeles KISS

(photo credit: news4usonline.com)

The KISS got off to a hot start on the season, but have lost two games in a row since. While their first loss was a close one to the Orlando Predators, the loss to the Soul was not a pretty one. They gave up 21 consecutive points and the turnovers kept piling on as they fell by a final score of 56-33. The turnovers need to be reduced if the KISS want to get back to that hot streak they were on in the beginning of the season. 

3. Philadelphia Soul

(photo credit: soul.arenafootball.com)

The Soul have been red hot since their loss to the Jacksonville Sharks. Quarterback Dan Raudabaugh continues to lead the AFL in passing touchdowns and running back Jeramie Richardson continues to lead the league in rushing touchdowns. If the Soul keep that up, they'll continue to be one of the top dogs in the league. 

2. Orlando Predators

(photo credit: brionprice.com)

The Predators have dominated their opponents this season and have also found ways to win games. That is why they are one of two undefeated teams left in the Arena Football League and why they remain the #2 team in our power rankings.

1. Arizona Rattlers

(photo credit: acc,blogs.starnewsonline.com)

The Rattlers have been the most dominant team in the league through the first five weeks this season hands down. They have blown out all opponents they have faced except for the overtime win against the Sharks. Their biggest challenge comes this Saturday when they face the Orlando Predators at the Amway Center in Orlando. After Saturday night. only one team will be unbeaten.

Soul Soar to Win Over KISS

(photo credit: Philadelphia Soul/Twitter)

The Los Angeles KISS and the Philadelphia Soul met for the first installment of the Rocks vs Jocks game. LA was looking to bounce back from a tough road loss at the hands of the Orlando Predators, but they couldn't stop the Soul offense. The two teams played equally in the first quarter, with the score being tied 14-14. But in the second, the Soul blew the game open. 

A pick six and two passing touchdowns courtesy of Dan Raudabaugh, gave the Soul the three possession lead. Nathan Stanley cut the deficit to two touchdowns via a one yard rushing touchdown, but it didn't seem to help. Philadelphia would stay steady the rest of the way, as their offense continued to dominate the KISS defense. Raudabaugh finished with 250 yards and six touchdowns.

Those touchdowns went to Darius Reynolds, and Shaun Kauleinamoku, who had three apiece. KISS quarterback Nathan Stanley had four touchdowns on 18 completions, but he plagued by two interceptions. Captain Morgan had 106 yards and three touchdowns. 

Both teams had 17 first downs apiece. LA had seven penalties, which cost them 56 yards. LA (2-3) has now lost two straight games, after starting 2-1. The Soul (4-1) have won three straight games since losing to Jacksonville. The KISS will look to bounce back next week at home against the Portland Steel. 

Sharks Beat Storm 33-27

(photo credit: Tampa Bay Storm/Twitter)

The Tampa Bay Storm hosted the Jacksonville Sharks in an in-state rivalry game on Sunday afternoon. The Storm were looking for their first win of the season while the Sharks were looking to avoid another 1-5 start.

The Storm got off to a fast start as Mike Washington returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown to give the Storm an early lead. For the remainder of the first half, offense was lessened than usually seen in the Arena Football League, and the Sharks held a 19-13 lead after two quarters.

With the Sharks leading 26-13 with just seconds left in the third quarter, Storm quarterback Adam Kennedy found T.T Toliver in the end zone for a touchdown with no time left. The Storm were down just six with one quarter left.

On their next drive, Toliver scored his second straight touchdown to give the Storm the lead. The Sharks bounced back with a touchdown of their own as quarterback Tommy Grady found his new receiver in Prechae Rodriguez to give the Sharks the lead back.

That would prove to be the game-winner as the Sharks won the game by a final score of 33-27. Tampa Bay remains winless and the Sharks get their second win of the season. The Storm will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Soul next Monday. The Sharks will travel to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators.

Rattlers Dominate Steel to stay undefeated

(photo credit: Arizona Rattlers/Twitter)

Behind the dominant play of Nick Davila and a defense that continues to shine, the Arizona Rattlers improved to 5-0 on the season with a 68-21 victory over the Portland Steel on Saturday night at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

Normally it's the Rattlers offense that takes center stage. But on Saturday, it was the Rattlers defense that dominated. 

After the Steel scored on the games first possession, Arizona's defense did not allow for almost 27 minutes. The offense did its job in that time period as Nick Davila threw three touchdown passes to help Arizona take a 34-14 lead into  halftime. 

Arizona's defense then set the tone for the second half as they registered 5 sacks on Steel quarterback Kasey Peters, who started for the injured Darren Thomas. After holding the Steel to just 28 points on opening night, Arizona kept Portland in check again Saturday, as they ran away with the game in the third quarter. 

Next up for the 5-0 Rattlers: a trip to Orlando to face the 5-0 Predators. 

2016 Week 5 Preview: KISS vs Soul

(photo credit: comcasttix.com)

The Los Angeles KISS will host the Philadelphia Soul at the Honda Center on Monday Night. This is the first game of the season a series between these two known as Rocks vs Jocks.

The Soul come in as a top powerhouse in the AFL as quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has thrown for 16 touchdowns in the last two games for the Soul, both of which have been wins. Running back Jeramie Richardson also leads the AFL in rushing touchdowns.

This week, however, is a tough test. The KISS are not the same team we have seen in their first two seasons. This team is stronger on both sides of the ball. They can make big plays when needed and their defense has been spectacular, clinching two wins for the KISS in their first four games of the season.

The Soul have one of the best offenses in the league. The KISS have one of the best defenses in the leagues. One will have to give in to the other on Monday night at the Honda Center. This could easily be the game of the week in the AFL.

Trailblazers' Success Forces Steel to Schedule Change

(photo credit: heavymetalhill.com)

Two athletic worlds were set for a collision course in Portland on Friday, May 7, as a scheduling snafu had both the Steel of the AFL and the Trailblazers of the NBA scheduled to host opponents in the Moda Center that day. As a result of this unfortunate overlap, the Steel will be relinquishing their home game against the LA KISS and playing it instead at Anaheim’s Honda Center, where the KISS play their home games.

Upon beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs,, the Trailblazers have earned at least two home games during the next series against the Golden State Warriors. Since the NBA takes precedent over the AFL, the Portland Steel played the accommodator and agreed to move the team to LA. Currently, the Steel are scheduled to be hosted by the KISS again on May 28. Whether there will be a date or venue change for that game has yet to be determined.

Additionally, the Steel’s game at the Cleveland Gladiators has been changed from Friday, May 13 to Monday, May 16 due to similar circumstances.

The May 9 game against Los Angeles will have a first pull set for 7 a.m. The May 16 game will kickoff at 5 p.m.

Season ticket holders for the Steel will receive two free vouchers to any future Steel home games, due to the inconvenience.  Additionally, customers who bought tickets to the game via Ticketmaster will be offered full reimbursements.

Mark your calendars accordingly!