Soul host Jacksonville

PHILADELPHIA (May 6, 2011) – The Philadelphia Soul (2-5) will be playing their second home game of the season tonight against the Jacksonville Sharks (6-1) at Wells Fargo Center.

The Soul hope to put consecutive wins together for the first time this season, while the Sharks look to extend their franchise-record six game winning streak in the teams’ first-ever meeting.

It will be ‘Faith & Family Night’ at the Wells Fargo Center, with faith-based rock bands ‘Fairwarning’ and ‘Freddie Fish & the Loaves’ performing prior to the game, beginning at 5 p.m.  Fans are also invited to attend the Post Game Message of Encouragement with the Philadelphia Soul Chaplin Mike Reichenbach and the official Post Game Party of the Philadelphia Soul at Chickie’s & Pete’s in South Philly, presented by Miller Lite, immediately following the game.

Last week, the Soul defeated Iowa 76-62, in Des Moines, on the arm of quarterback Ryan Vena.  The three-year Arena Football veteran completed 20-of-30 passes (66.7%) for 317 yards and tied a career high by throwing eight touchdowns, against his former team.  Vena was aided by the improvement of his offensive line, which did not allow a sack against the Barnstormers.

The emergence of rookie wide receiver Keith Stokes and consistency of wide receiver Donovan Morgan has allowed Vena to excel over recent weeks.  After two weeks, Stokes has caught 19 receptions for 240 yards and five touchdowns, including a 49-yard touchdown reception last week, which ties the league record.  On the other side, Morgan has compiled 56 receptions for 869 yards, ranked No. 2 in the League, and 13 touchdowns.

Jacksonville’s offense has proven to be one of the most lethal in the AFL, scoring an average of 62.6 points per game, ranked No. 2 in the league, and outscoring opponents by 19.8 points per game in their six victories.  The Shark posing the greatest threat is 17-year veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia, who threw for his 1,000 career touchdown pass last week in a 76-55 victory over division and in-state rival Orlando Predators (4-3).

Garcia will be looking to add to his touchdown record by connecting with wide receivers Jeron Harvey and Jomo Wilson.  The pair has collectively caught 99 passes for 1,254 yards and 32 touchdowns.  Fullback Kirby Griffin has also contributed by rushing for 149 yards, No. 5 in the league, and eight touchdowns, tied for No. 6.

The Soul defenders in charge of stopping the Sharks’ attack are two AFL veterans, defensive back Mike Brown and linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo.  Brown has made key plays throughout the first seven games of the season by contributing 32.5 total tackles, three interceptions, and two pass break ups.  Last week against the Barnstormers, Alfonzo helped solidify a Soul victory with a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.  He has also added 29.0 total tackles and two fumble recoveries this year.

Defensive back Micheaux Robinson provides the biggest bite in the Sharks’ secondary with his 46.0 total tackles, four interceptions, and league-leading 15 pass break ups.  The Sharks will need Robinson to help improve their pass defense, which allows 300.3 yards per game, ranked No. 17 in the league.

One of the most important factors of the game could be turnovers.  The Sharks are currently tied for No. 1 in the league with a plus-9 turnover margin.  Although the Soul are tied for No. 12 in the league with a minus-2 turnover ratio, they have improved since their first home game of the season three weeks ago, where they were a minus-7.

This American Conference match-up has the potential to become a high-scoring affair with both offenses peeking in recent weeks as the two clubs look to continue their winning ways.