“In the second half we did more of what I was looking for, offensively and defensively,” says head coach Clint Dolezel. “It was an exciting rematch, but we’re a new team and so are they. It’s not about them, it’s about us and if we do what we’re supposed to we’re going to be a hard team to beat.”

J. Lewis Small Playermaker of the Game Marco Thomas led the Soul (4-0) receivers with nine catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Ryan McDaniel added seven catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Shaun Kauleinamoku had 7 receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown, while Adam Smith chipped in with two receptions for 12 yards, and no touchdowns. Tommy Taggart added four rushing yards and one touchdown.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, Dan Raudabaugh finished the night by completing 27-of-36 passes for 262 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. Cleveland’s Shane Austin completed 22-of-35 passes for 298 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Collin Taylor led the Gladiators (2-2) receiving core with ten receptions for 120 yards and four touchdowns, while Dominick Goodman added nine catches for 117 yards and no touchdowns.

Dwayne Hollis led the team with six total tackles, along with LaRico Stevenson who had six total tackles as well.

After winning the toss, the Soul deferred and kicked off to the Gladiators to start the game. Jeramie Richardson scored the first touchdown of the game for Cleveland with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter. The Soul offense responded with LaRico Stevenson running a 33-yard kick return. Marco Thomas scored the first touchdown for the Soul with 6:48 remaining in the first to tie the game 7-7. Gladiator WR Collin Taylor scored the next touchdown off a 28-yard pass with 1:18 left in the quarter. Gladiator K Adrian Trevino missed the extra point, making the score 13-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Soul started the second quarter with a diving touchdown from Ryan McDaniel, giving the Soul a 14-13 lead. Xavier Boyce successfully recovered an onside kick and allowed the Soul to gain control of the ball again. With 7:04 left in the second, McDaniel scored another touchdown, making the score 21-13. When the Gladiators regained control of the ball, QB Shane Austin found WR Andrae Thurman who went in for the next Gladiator touchdown, with 5:36 left in the half. The Soul offense drove down the field and with only 0:05 seconds left in the half and Tommy Taggart ran in for another Soul touchdown. At the end of the half, the Soul lead the Gladiators 28-20.

At the start of the second half, the Soul received the ball. Raudabaugh completed a 48-yard pass to Thomas with 14:21 left in the third. The Gladiators got the ball down to the Soul 21-yard line and were unable to get the first down and turned the ball over to the Soul with 9:37 left in the quarter. Raudabaugh found Thomas for a 20-yard pass, for a Soul first down. With 8:31 remaining in the third, Thomas scored a one-handed touchdown, putting the Soul up 42-20. The Gladiators took control of the ball and with 3:31 left in the quarter, Austin found Taylor for a Gladiator touchdown, making the score 42-27. Trevino attempted an onside kick and it was successfully recovered by Gladiator Mike Alston. With 2:04 left in the quarter, the Gladiators scored another touchdown, closing the quarter with a 42-34 score.

The Soul started the fourth quarter with the ball and Ryan McDaniel quickly found the end zone, with another Soul touchdown. K Tommy Frevert attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Cleveland. Austin finds Taylor for 18-yards, but James Romain forced a fumble, which was recovered by Cleveland on the Philadelphia 15-yard line. Austin threw four incompletes and Soul take over the ball with 8:04 left in the game. The Soul drive in the ball and with 6:04 left in the quarter where Xavier capitalized in the endzone, making the score 49-34. With 3:57 left in the game, the Gladiator’s drove the ball down to score another touchdown. With only a minute left in the game, the Gladiators get the ball and are able to drive down the field for the final Gladiator touchdown. With eighteen seconds left, the Gladiators attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Philadelphia’s Xavier Boyce on the Cleveland 13-yard line and Kauleinamoku goes in for the final touchdown. The Soul come out with another win, the final score 63-48.

Next week, the Soul travel to New Orleans on Sunday, April 26 to face the VooDoo (0-2) at the Smoothie King Center. The game will kick off at 3:00 p.m.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh
Riddell Defensive Player: Philadelphia’s LaRico Stevenson
J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker: Philadelphia’s Marco Thomas
Cutter’s Catch of the Game: Philadelphia’s Marco Thomas 9-yard one handed touchdown in 3rd quarter
Spalding Highlight of the Game: Philadelphia’s Xavier Boyce onside kick recovery in 2nd quarter