New York Dragons

Here is my Week 5 Power Poll and Preview of games

This week there are some key games to watch out for in Week 5.

You have the final two undefeated teams playing this weekend and looking to stay perfect on the year.

The Philadelphia Soul (4-0), #1 in the Power Poll, hosts #5 Tampa Bay Storm (2-1), on Saturday, March 29 at 2p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Soul's offense did not look like it missed injured QB Tony Graziani at all last week against Los Angeles. Backup QB Matt D'Orazio stepped in and was 28 of 42 for 338 yards and eight touchdowns. 

The Dallas Desperados (4-0), #2, travels to the Nassau Coliseum to take on #15 New York Dragons (1-3) on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. ET in a Eastern Division matchup.

Desperdos QB Chris Sanders was 20-of-28 for 276 yards and six touchdowns last week as the Desperados ended the SaberCats 15-game home winning streak 

The Desperados are looking to go 5-0 for the second consecutive season with a win. Dallas is 32-4 in their last 36 regular-season contests, including 12 in a row and six straight on the road. 

The Chicago Rush (3-1), #3, welcomes the Arizona Rattlers (2-2), #9, to the Allstate Arena on Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (AFL NET, FSN Arizona - Delay, at 9:30 p.m. PT, CSN Chicago - Delay, 3/29 at 4 p.m. CT, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

This game marks the first time Rush QB Sherdrick Bonner will face his former team of the past 14 seasons.

Bonner, left Arizona as the team's all-time leader in passing yards (40,979), attempts (5,268), completions (3,261) and touchdown passes (829).

Bonner also led the Rattlers to five ArenaBowl appearances and two championships in ArenaBowls VIII and XI.

This weeks other games include:

Saturday

#8 San Jose (2-2) at #16 Kansas City (0-3), 6:00 P.M. ET, (FSN Bay Area/NBC Local - Live, KSMO Local - Live)

#7 Orlando (2-2) at #13 Columbus (1-3), 7:00 P.M. ET, (AFL NET, WRDQ TV - Live, Columbus Sports Net - Live, CSS - Delay, 3/30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

#14 Georgia (1-3) at #17 Utah (0-4), 9:00 P.M. ET, (CSS - Live, KJZZ - Live)

Sunday

#10 Los Angeles (2-2) at #12 Grand Rapids (1-2), 2:00 P.M. ET

#4 New Orleans VooDoo (3-1) at #11 Colorado (1-2), 4:00 P.M. ET (FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Live).

Bye Week: #6 Cleveland (3-1)

Power Poll Rankings:

 1) Philadelphia Soul (4-0, LW: 1) Beat Los Angeles 71-34 on 3/20

 2) Dallas Desperados (4-0, LW: 2) Beat San Jose 59-56 on 3/22

 3) Chicago Rush (3-1, LW: 4) Beat Colorado 70-35 on 3/22

 4) New Orleans VooDoo (3-1, LW: 6) Beat Cleveland 63-24 on 3/21

 5) Tampa Bay Storm (2-1, LW: 8) BYE WEEK

 6) Cleveland Gladiators (3-1, LW: 3) Lost to New Orleans 24-63 on 3/21

 7) Orlando Predators (2-2. LW: 11) Beat Georgia 50-45 on 3/22

 8) San Jose SaberCats (2-2, LW: 5) Lost to Dallas 59-56 on 3/22

 9) Arizona Rattlers (2-2, LW: 13) Beat New York 62-33 on 3/21

10) Los Angeles Avengers (2-2, LW: 7) Lost to Philadelphia 71-34 on 3/20

11) Colorado Crush (1-2, LW: 9) Lost to Chicago 35-70 on 3/22

12) Grand Rapids Rampage (1-2, LW: 15) Beat Kansas City 92-52 on 3/24

13) Columbus Destroyers (1-3, LW: 17) Beat Utah 52-49 on 3/21

14) Georgia Force (1-3, LW: 10) Lost to Orlando 50-45 on 3/22

15) New York Dragons (1-3, LW: 12) Lost to Arizona 33-62 on 3/21

16) Kansas City Brigade (0-3, LW: 14) Lost to Grand Rapids 52-92 on 3/24

17) Utah Blaze (0-4, LW: 16) Lost to Columbus 49-52 on 3/21

WEEK 4 HONORS

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: Grand Rapids Rampage QB James MacPherson and Philadelphia Soul WR Chris Jackson

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER: New Orleans VooDoo DB Calvin Spears

IRONMAN PLAYER: Chicago Rush WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo

Farouk Adelekan (6-2, 275, University of Houston), who recently completed his second AF2 season with Tennessee, was a major force on the Vipers’ defense. 

The former University of Houston standout tormented the Green Bay Blizzard in his best game last season, with five total tackles (all solo), three tackles for a loss, three sacks for 23 yards, and three forced fumbles.

Adelekan also recovered two of the three fumbles he forced, and had five quarterback hurries in that same game.  

His style of play is aggressive and punishing. 

The Chicago native is a product of Nigerian parents, and moved back to Lagos, Nigeria after birth until the age of seven.  Adelekan holds a baccalaureate degree in Psychology, and is a rather blunt and outspoken guy.  

Farouk has signed with the New York Dragons, and says while he misses Chicago’s rich culture and his many friends, he understands that he has to take care of business in New York. 

Let see if I can get into the head of this Psychology major. 

Do you have a nickname? 

No, but the name “Farouk” means king. 

Where have you traveled to other than within the United States? 

Lagos, Nigeria. 

Born in United States? 

Yes. 

Where were you raised? 

Raised in Lagos, Nigeria and Chicago, Illinois.  

Where do you call home? 

Chicago.

What is the name of your hometown newspaper? 

Chicago Tribune.

Your favorite hometown hang-out? 

Bi-Level Club in Chicago.

Where did you go to high school? 

Thornton Fraction North High School.

CSI, NYPD Blue, or ESPN SportsCenter? 

ESPN, all day all the time. 

Tell me about living in Chicago? 

I love the culture and people in the Chicago community.  I have close ties with the Nigerian community there. 

What do you for fun outside of football?          

I love music and enjoy listening to a variety of music in my spare time, especially rap and hip hop. 

Which NFL defensive end do you admire? 

Dwight Freeney.

Which coach made lasting impression on you while growing up? 

Coach Lemon, strength and conditioning coach.

Favorite Quote? 

“The first and best victory is to conquer self.”

Proudest Achievement? 

Earning my degree.

Are you always being accused of psycho-analyzing people? 

I've been accused of playing Dr. Phil once or twice.  But I'm innocent! 

Pet Peeve? 

Needy people.

Who is the rock in your life?

My older brother Tunde and mom Sherifat are key to my success. 

Who is in your entourage?  

Rich Childress, Lee Robinson,  Victor Malone, and Jackie Battle. 

What would you like fans to know about you? 

Fans should not confuse my punishing demeanor on the field to anything off the field. 

I am sure there is an AFL player out there that you will like to play against, if so who is he? 

I want to take on the entire Chicago, Columbus and San Jose teams.

Have you ever done kickboxing or yoga? 

Kickboxing. 

Do you trash talk?

I speak with my actions on the field. 

Who is the best trash talker you ever heard?

[Boxer] Roy Jones, Jr.  

Have you ever been pancaked?

I've eaten a few pancakes on and off the field. 

Jersey Number? 

No. 93 

Look for Farouk to take New York by storm—he is definitely a contender.