Soul's Tiger Jones honored

PHILADELPHIA – The Arena Football League has announced that Philadelphia Soul wide receiver Tiger Jones has been awarded the Cutter’s Catch of the Week award for his effort against the Cleveland Gladiators in the Soul’s home opener on Sunday, April 1.

“That catch epitomizes what Tiger brings to the field – day in and day out,” said Soul head coach Doug Plank.  “The effort that he demonstrates on a daily basis – even when he played for me in Georgia – has been outstanding and is a great example for his teammates.”

Jones made the play on a 22-yard touchdown reception at the start of the third quarter.  Stretching out for the ball, Jones tumbled head first over the back wall of the end zone.  Jones held onto the ball to complete the catch and the score.  The play gave Philadelphia a temporary 41-34 lead to open the second half in a back-and-forth affair with the Gladiators.

Tiger Jones currently leads the Soul’s receiving corps in yards (329) and is second in touchdowns (6) and scoring (36).  Jones also ranks No. 2 on the team in all-purpose yards behind WR/KR Jeff Hughley.  Those numbers put Jones at No. 8 in the League for receiving yards per game (109.7).

After his 2011 season with the Dallas Vigilantes, Jones was named a First Team All-Arena player and recognized as the Cutter’s AFL Wide Receiver of the Year.  He finished the year No. 1 in receiving yards per game (124.0), receptions, and yards while scoring the fifth-most touchdown receptions.  Tiger looks to replicate those numbers for the Soul after being reunited with his quarterback from Dallas, Dan Raudabaugh, and his former coach from the Georgia Force in 2008, Doug Plank.

The Philadelphia Soul (2-1) hit the road again after dropping their home opener to their Eastern Division rival Cleveland Gladiators 68-62.  The Soul are now stuck in a three way tie for first in their division as they head to Georgia to face the Force (2-1).  The game marks the first time Soul head coach Doug Plank returns to his former team.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 7 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, GA.