-Courtesy of the AFL
#6 NEW YORK DRAGONS (9-8) AT #1 PHILADELPHIA SOUL (13-3)
For the first time in AFL postseason history, the #6 New York Dragons (9-8) make the 95-mile trek to the Wachovia Center to face the #1 Philadelphia Soul (13-3) in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday, July 5 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio – Channel 127) in a National Conference matchup.
Philadelphia enters the playoffs for the third consecutive season and is the number one seed for the first time in team history. The Soul is also hosting its first Divisional Round playoff contest and finished the regular season winning its final three games for the first time in team history.
Philadelphia swept the season series against New York in 2008 for the first time in team history. The Soul won both contests by an average of 25 points, which included a 59-30 Week 17 victory at Nassau Coliseum.
The victory clinched the Soul’s first Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division title along with the League’s best record and the overall top seed in the playoffs.
Philadelphia can become the 16th team to defeat another team three times in a single season with a victory on Saturday. This is the second consecutive season the Soul have faced a team in both its final regular-season game and its first postseason contest. Philadelphia defeated Orlando in consecutive weeks in 2007 (Week 17, Wild Card Round).
After beginning the season 1-4, New York won seven of its final 11 games to clinch its first playoff berth since 2006 and the number six seed in the National Conference playoff standings. The Dragons defeated the #3 Dallas Desperados, 77-63, in the Wild Card Round to capture their first postseason road victory since 1995.
The all-time regular season series is tied 5-5 with Philadelphia winning four of the last six games.
MATCHUP: First-ever postseason meeting...
DRAGONS: Defeated Desperados 77-63 in Wild Card Round...QB AARON GARCIA (2,604) needs 331 passing yards to pass CLINT DOLEZEL (2,934) for sixth all-time in AFL postseason history. Needs six TD passes to pass JOHN DUTTON (60) for fifth all-time in AFL postseason history with 61. Tied League postseason record with nine TD passes in Wild Card Round vs. Dallas...WR TERRY MOSS posted 11 receptions, 145 receiving yards, and three TDs in Wild Card Round...FB/LB IDRIS PRICE posted Wild Card Round-high two rushing TDs and three tackles...DB LEVY BROWN ranked first among rookies in tackles (7.5) and fumble recoveries (1) in Wild Card Round...
SOUL: Captured first-ever Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division championship...Set single-season franchise- record for wins with 13...2-0 this season vs. Dragons...Offense posted single-season franchise best 992 points...QB MATT D’ORAZIO making sixth career postseason start. Posts 2-0 record in Divisional Round games...WR CHRIS JACKSON (30) needs eight TD receptions to pass CORY FLEMMING (37) for fourth all-time in AFL postseason history with 38. Needs 11 PTS to pass HUNKIE COOPER (198) for fifth all-time in AFL postseason history with 199. Needs nine receptions to pass CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER (89) and STEVIE THOMAS (95) for seventh all-time in AFL postseason history with 96. Needs seven receiving yards to pass JAMES ROE (1,257) for eighth all-time in AFL postseason history with 1,258. Needs two TDs to become fifth player to record 200 career postseason points. Needs two first downs to pass EDDIE BROWN (70) for second place all-time with 71...DL GABE NYENHUIS set a single-season Soul record with 9.5 sacks...K CONNOR HUGHES set a single-season franchise record for made extra points with 123.
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