PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Soul won their first home game of the season by defeating the Orlando Predators, 61-51, in front of 9,094 fans at the Wells Fargo Center. The Soul got back to .500 on the season after defeating Doug Plank and the Orlando Predators for the second time this season.
“We did a great job tonight,” explained Soul head coach Clint Dolezel about the win. “There are still some things we need to work on as a team, but I’ll take the win. I’m happy that we were able to hang on for this win, our team really came together and everyone did what they needed to do. I think there a few things we can tighten up on defense. But for right now, I’m happy with my team and happy we were able to pull things through together and finally get this win at home.”
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game Tiger Jones led Philadelphia receivers with five receptions for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Andrae Thurman had eight catches for 67 yards and one touchdown, while Ryan McDaniel recorded six receptions for 56 yards. Larry Brackins hauled in one catch for three yards and a touchdown.
Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh connected on 21-of-27 passes for 251 yards and six touchdowns.
On the ground, FB Derrick Ross finished the game with 23 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game DB Rayshaun Kizer recorded five tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and an interception. LB Joe Goosby had 5.5 tackles on the night, while DB James Romain had 4.5 tackles and a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Orlando’s QB Aaron Garcia connected on 23-of-43 passes for 292 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game WR Maurice Williams led the Predators’ receivers with three touchdowns on six catches for 122 yards. WR T.T. Toliver hauled in 10 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. DB Levy Brown led the defense with 6.5 tackles and a forced fumble.
Both teams scored two offensive touchdowns in the first quarter. Orlando scored on a 1-yard run by LB Marlon Moye-Moore and a 12-yard catch by WR Maurice Williams, with both extra points being missed. Orlando also had a 12-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by DB Dominic Jones. Philadelphia scored on a 3-yard catch by WR Larry Brackins and a 23-yard catch by WR Andrae Thurman to close out the quarter with Orlando leading 19-14.
Philadelphia’s defense was able to stop the Orlando offense twice during the second quarter. Once by forcing a turnover with a forced fumble and recovery by DB Rayshaun Kizer, and the other was a stop on fourth down. Both stops led to Philadelphia touchdowns, with FB Derrick Ross scoring on a 1-yard run and an 11-yard catch. Philadelphia’s 21 unanswered points put Philadelphia in the lead, 28-19, at the end of the first half.
Orlando cut the Philadelphia lead to three at the end of the third quarter after scoring three touchdowns to Philadelphia’s two. Williams recorded two touchdowns for Orlando on a 5-yard and 48-yard catch and WR T.T. Toliver scored on a 12-yard catch. Philadelphia’s WR Tiger Jones kept the Soul ahead in the game, scoring on a 40-yard and 16 yard catch. The quarter ended with the Soul leading, 42-39.
The Soul opened up the fourth quarter with the Cutters Catch of the Game when QB Dan Raudabaugh hit Jones on another deep play, scoring on a 38-yard pass, but failed to convert on the extra point. DB James Romain made the AFL Highlight of the Game when he intercepted the ball for a touchdown on a 50-yard return. Orlando tried to fight back, scoring on two 3-yard touchdown catches by WR Jason Geathers, but fell short after Philadelphia sealed their win on a 2-yard run by Ross. The final score was 61-51.
The Soul will be on the road next week against the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on CBS Sports Network.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Philadelphia WR Tiger Jones
Riddell Defensive Player: Philadelphia DB Rayshaun Kizer
J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker: Orlando WR Maurice Williams
Cutter’s Catch of the Game: Philadelphia WR Tiger Jones 4th Quarter TD Catch
Spalding Highlight of the Game: Philadelphia DB James Romain 50-yard interception for a TD
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