Soul head coach Clint Dolezel addresses team after loss to Sharks in AFC title game. Photo by Pete Lerro / contrastphotogragraphy.com

JACKSONVILLE ENDS PHILADELPHIA’S SEASON WITH 61-56 VICTORY

Sharks take American Conference Championship

PHILADELPHIA (August 23, 2015) – The Philadelphia Soul (16-4) attempted to tie up the game in the last two seconds with Dan Raudabaugh’s 14-yard pass into the end zone, but was intercepted by Jacksonville (12-8) leaving the final score 61-56 in front of 9,378 fans on the Rothman Field at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night. The Jacksonville Sharks were awarded 2015 American Conference Champions, and will proceed to face the San Jose SaberCats in ArenaBowl XXVIII.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle facing a football team like that,” Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel said. “We had a chance to win there at the end, we had it in our hands and that’s all we could have asked.”

Marco Thomas led the Soul receivers with 12 catches for 147 yards and four touchdowns. Shaun Kauleinamoku had 10 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown, while Ryan McDaniel had eight receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown. Lonnie Outlaw added three receptions for three yards and one touchdown.

Dan Raudabaugh finished the night completing 34-of-45 passes for 377 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Russell Athletic Player of the Game, Tommy Grady completed 15-of-29 passes for 238 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.

Joe Hills led the Sharks’ receiving core with five receptions for 55 yards and five touchdowns, while London Crawford added six catches for 94 yards and one touchdown.

Beau Bell led the defense with 5.0 total tackles and one sack for a loss of seven yards, while James Romain had 4.0 total tackles and 3.0 pass breakups. LaRico Stevenson added one interception.

After winning the toss, the Soul deferred and kicked off to the Sharks to start the game.
Tiger Jones scored the first touchdown of the game when Tommy Grady hit him with a 30-yard touchdown pass.

When the Soul gained possession, Dan Raudabaugh had a powerful 32-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Kauleinamoku, which brought the score to a tie 7-7 with 8:46 left in the quarter.

The Sharks once again gained a lead 14-7 with 4:26 in the first quarter after Grady connected with London Crawford for 3 yards.

Shark’s quickly reclaimed possession when Terrance Smith recovered Philadelphia’s fumble. Jones caught a 21-yard pass, which ended the first quarter with a Jacksonville lead, 21-7.

Philadelphia opened up the second quarter, with an interception by LaRoche Jackson.

LaRico Stevenson responded right back with a pick off in the end zone. With 5:54 left in the half,
McDaniel rushed a 3-yard touchdown, which closed the Shark’s lead 21-14. The Sharks retaliated when Grady connected with Joe Hills for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:14 left in the first half. Jacksonville ended the first half with a 28-14 lead.

Only two minutes into the second half, Thomas scored his first touchdown of the game to lessen Jacksonville’s lead 28-21. Despite Beau Bell’s impressive sack against Grady, he completed a pass to Hills for a 5-yard touchdown with 9:01 left in the third quarter. Philadelphia quickly responded when Raudabaugh once again connected with Thomas for his second touchdown of the quarter.

With 4:07 left in the third quarter, Grady completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Hills. The Soul continued to fight when Thomas decreased the Sharks lead for the third time this quarter with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Philadelphia trailed Jacksonville 42-35 going into the fourth quarter.

The Sharks opened up the final quarter, and with 10:32 left in the game, Grady connected with Hills for a 3-yard touchdown. The Soul quickly counterattacked when Raudabaugh completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ryan McDaniel. The Sharks scored again with 6:19 left in the game, and lead the Soul 55-42.

Philadelphia didn’t give up, and retaliated when Raudabaugh connected with Lonnie Outlaw for a 9-yard touchdown. The Soul trailed the Sharks 55-49 with 2:21 left in the game. Grady made a 1-yard rushing touchdown, which put them farther in the lead 61-49.

With 0:39 left in the game, the Soul continued to fight, when Thomas made his fourth touchdown of the game. Jacksonville attempted to strengthen their lead with a field goal, which was no good. The Soul attempted to tie up the game with 0:02 left, but Jackson intercepted the ball in the last second of the game.

The Soul ended their season with a final score of 61-56, and the American Conference Championship was awarded to the Jacksonville Sharks.

Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Jacksonville’s Tommy Grady
Riddell Defensive Player: Jacksonville’s Terrance Smith
J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker: Jacksonville’s Joe Hills
Cutter’s Catch of the Game: Philadelphia’s Ryan McDaniel’s diving touchdown in the fourth quarter
Spalding Highlight of the Game: Jacksonville’s Alvin Ray Jackson’s forced fumble recovered by Terrance Smith