The Philadelphia Soul will play their second consecutive game on the road when they travel to battle head coach Mike Hohensee’s former team, the Chicago Rush (1-0).
Hohensee, who has been involved with the Arena Football League for 24 years, was the coach of the Rush for their inaugural season in 2001 through 2008, and also 2010, compiling a 93-64 overall record. The Rush reached the playoffs all nine years under Hohensee, and also earned four Central Division titles, one conference championship, and the ArenaBowl XX title.
“There are a couple of people in Chicago that I will be happy to see, but for the most part we parted ways for reasons,” said Hohensee. “We are just going out there to win a football game and they just happen to be the Week 2 opponent.”
Along with Hohensee, five Soul players have played for the Rush, including wide receiver/linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo (2003-08, ’10), defensive back Chris Martin (2010), wide receivers Donovan Morgan (2008) and Syvelle Newton (2010), and offensive lineman Darnell Whitley (2010).
One other Hohensee coached player will also be changing sides, not teams, but rather his position. Rush Head Coach Bob McMillen played for Hohensee from 2003-07 and is entering his rookie year behind the bench. The Soul are 4-5 all-time against rookie head coaches and will be playing against their second consecutive after defeating the Chris Siegfried-led Pittsburgh Power 58-52 in Week 1.
On the field, both teams have plenty of offensive weapons at their arsenal. Soul quarterback Justin Allgood completed 25-of-36 passes for 300 yards and five touchdowns in Week 1. Allgood’s touchdown passes were all thrown to wide receiver Donovan Morgan, who tied two Soul records with 14 receptions and six total touchdowns, adding one rushing to his five receiving. Morgan also added 189 receiving yards and was named the ‘Offensive Player of the Week’ for his accomplishments.
“Chicago is a great atmosphere and a couple of us have played there before,” said Morgan. “Honestly, it might be a little cocky, but I think we are going to go in there and destroy their DBs [defensive backs].”
The Rush offense will rest on the shoulders of quarterback Russ Michna, who is entering his fourth year with the team. Michna completed 19-of-26 passes for 240 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. Wide receivers Charles Dillon and Reggie Gray both caught three touchdowns, with Dillon catching eight passes for 109 yards and Gray catching seven passes for 98 yards.
Defensively, Gray added an interception, as the Rush held the Milwaukee Mustangs to the second lowest point total of Week 1. Soul defenders also made key plays at critical moments in the game with none bigger than defensive back Mike Brown’s 15-yard interception return for a touchdown that ended overtime and gave the Soul a victory. Soul defensive back Tanner Varner also chipped in by intercepting two passes in the end zone, one which bounced off two walls before Varner was able to make the grab. Brown earned ‘Highlight of the Week’ while Varner earned ‘Catch of the Week.’
With all ties and connections aside, both the Soul and Rush will be looking to remain undefeated at 2-0 to stay atop their respective divisions and conferences.
For the second straight week, the Soul will be playing in front of a national audience with kickoff at 8 p.m. (EST), on the NFL Network.
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