QB Dan Raudabaugh hopes to lead Soul to consecutive ArenaBowl Titles. Photo by Todd Bauders /contrastphotography.com

SOUL SWEEP VALOR, 68-41

Team Clinches Home Field Advantage Throughout Playoffs

PHILADELPHIA— The Philadelphia Soul (11-1) defeated the Washington Valor (1-10), with the final score 68-41 in front of 10,149 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. With this win, the Soul continue their 15-game winning streak at home and have clinched home field advantage for the 2017 AFL Postseason. Should the Soul advance to ArenaBowl XXX, the game will be held at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

“Both sides of the ball played strong tonight,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel. “Now we can rest up during the bye week and prepare for the final stretch of the regular season.”

Soul WR Shaun Kauleinamoku led the receivers with 10 receptions for 126 yards and four touchdowns. WR Ryan McDaniel added eight receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown and WR Darius Reynolds tallied six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Washington WR TT Toliver led the receivers with five receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Philadelphia QB Dan Raudabaugh completed 26-of-30 passes for 330 yards and nine touchdowns. Washington QB Sean Brackett completed 23-of-37 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns.

The Philadelphia Soul won the coin toss and elected to kick off. The Valor scored on their first drive of the game when Brackett threw a 17-yard pass to Toliver. Valor K T.C. Stevens’ kick was good and the Valor took the first lead of the game, 7-0. The Soul responded on the next drive with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Raudabaugh to Kauleinamoku. The kick by K Adrian Trevino was good and with 8:17 left in the quarter the score was tied 7-7. With 3:51 left in the quarter, Raudabaugh threw to Soul FB Mykel Benson for a 16-yard touchdown pass. The kick was good and the first quarter ended with a 14-7 Soul lead.

The second quarter started off with a four-yard touchdown pass from Brackett to Carr. The kick was good and the score was tied 14-14. The Soul regained the lead when Raudabaugh threw to McDaniel for a five-yard touchdown. The kick was good and with 4:19 to play in the second quarter, the Soul lead 21-14. The Valor tied it up with a 29-yard pass from Brackett to Toliver for a touchdown. The kick was good and with the first half winding down, the score was locked up, 21-21. Raudabaugh threw to Kauleinamoku for a three-yard touchdown pass. The kick was no good, and the Soul remained in the lead 27-21. With 0:31 seconds left in the half, Brackett threw to Valor OL Anthony Parker for a five-yard touchdown. The kick as good and the Valor lead by one point, 28-27. The Soul came back on the next drive, was a 20-yard touchdown pass from Raudabaugh to Reynolds. The kick was good and the Soul held the lead, 34-28. Soul DB James Romain tackled Toliver, causing him to fumble to the ball. The Soul recovered it as the first half came to an end with the Soul in the lead 34-28.

The Valor kicked off to start the second half. Raudabaugh threw to Kauleinamoku for 21-yard touchdown pass. The kick was good and the Soul continued to lead, 41-28. Brackett’s pass intended for Jackson was intercepted by Richardson making it Soul ball. Kauleinamoku scored his fourth touchdown of the game off of a five-yard pass from Raudabaugh. The kick was good, giving the Soul a 48-28 at the end of the third quarter.

To start off the final quarter, Brackett ran the ball in for a 5-yard Valor touchdown. The kick was good, making it 48-35. On the next drive, Raudabaugh’s pass intended for Reynolds was intercepted Valor DB Michael Knight and the Valor took over with 11:50 to go in the game. Soul DL Sean Daniels strip-sacked Brackett causing a fumble which was recovered by Soul LB Joe Goosby making it first down Soul. Raudabaugh threw to Soul TE Michael Simons for an 8-yard touchdown. The kick was good and the Soul lead with 9:47 left in the game. Brackett’s pass was intercepted by Romain giving the Soul possession once again. The Soul capitalized on the possession when Raudabaugh threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Reynolds. The kick was good and the Soul lead 62-35 with 7:00 left in the game. Valor ball was striped by Goosby, recovered by Soul SB Dwayne Hollis giving the possession. Soul QB Luke Collis handed it off the Benson for a 1-yard touchdown run. The kick was blocked, and with 3:33 left to play in the game, the Soul lead 68-35. Valor OL Will Corbin ran the ball in for a 7-yard touchdown run. The kick was no good, the Soul lead 68-41. The Soul dominated the Valor with a final score of 68-41.

The Soul will recognize their final bye week of the regular season. Following the bye week, the Soul will travel to play the Baltimore Brigade on Saturday, August 29 at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TCN and 97.5 The Fanatic.

Offensive Player of the Game: Soul WR Shaun Kauleinamoku
Defensive Player of the Game: Soul DB James Romain
MVP of the Game: Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SOUL

The 2016 World Champion Philadelphia Soul are in their 12th season in the Arena Football League. In the first 11 seasons, the Soul have won four Division Championships, four Conference Championships and two World Championships. Since the inaugural season in 2004, the Soul are the winningest professional sports team in Philadelphia. Season memberships and Group tickets for the Soul’s upcoming 2017 season are on sale now. For tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a Soul representative by filling out the form on www.philadelphiasoul.com. Follow the Soul on Facebook at facebook.com/soul and Twitter at twitter.com/soulfootball.