Week 3 Afl Matchups: Gladiators Take On The Storm On Cbs Sports Network
April 21, 2017 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
LAS VEGAS - Week 3 pits a matchup of unbeaten teams as the Philadelphia Soul (1-0) travel to take on the Washington Valor (1-0) on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. ET at Verizon Center streaming on www.ArenaFootball.com. The Soul are currently riding an eight-game win streak dating back to last season. Washington will seek to keep their AFL record perfect coming off their win in Week 1. Former AFL MVP, Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, completed 22-of-31 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns in his first stint under center in 2017. On the other side of the ledger, 2013 AFL MVP Erik Meyer completed 21-of-32 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns in his first action this season.
In Tampa Bay the Storm (1-1) welcome the Cleveland Gladiators (0-2) on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. ET at AMALIE Arena on CBS Sports Network. This will be the second meeting between the two teams after their first meeting in Week 1 which saw the Storm victorious 46-40 in Cleveland. Tampa Bay signal caller Randy Hippeard is off to a good start in 2017, second in the AFL with 248.5 passing yards per contest. Against the Gladiators in Week 1, Hippeard tossed for six touchdowns in the Storm victory. All eyes on whom will start under center for the Gladiators in Week 3. After beginning the season with Shane Boyd under center, Cleveland turned to Tanner Marsh in Week 2 and then replaced him with 2016 starting quarterback Arvell Nelson. Nelson relieved Marsh in the fourth quarter and led the Gladiators throwing two touchdowns as Cleveland came up short in their comeback.
For complete official statistics, game notes and media guides, go to: www.afldigital.com.
WEEK 3 MATCHUPS
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (1-0) at WASHINGTON VALOR (1-0)
Saturday, April 22 - 7 p.m. ET (www.ArenaFootball.com)
PHILADELPHIA
WASHINGTON
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER
First meeting all-time
STREAKS
W8 (2016)
W1
LAST WEEK
W 56-52 at Tampa
Bye
LAST REG SEASON MEETING
First meeting all-time
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)
276.0 (3)
260.0 (4)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)
332.0 (5)
209.0 (2)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)
56.0 (1)
51.0 (2)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)
52. 0 (5)
38.0 (1)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)
-1 (T-4)
+2 (1)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SOUL: QB Dan Raudabaugh has led the Soul to three East Division Championships (2012-13, 2015) and an ArenaBowl XXIX Championship... Raudabaugh was ranked among the top quarterbacks during the 2016 season, completing 339- of-490 passes for 4,303 yards and 101 touchdowns... Last week against the Storm, Raudabaugh threw for five touchdowns on 22-of-31 passes and one interception... WR Darius Reynolds will suit up in Soul gear for the second year. After a successful 2016 season, "Money" Reynolds is on a mission to help win another Philadelphia Championship. Last year, Reynolds made a huge impact for the Soul offense with 112 receptions for 1147 and 38 touchdowns in his first year with the team... Against Tampa Bay last week, he caught five passes for 78 yards and lead the team in receiving touchdowns with three... WR Sean Kauleinamoku, better known to the team as "SK", hauled in five passes for 49 yards and three touchdowns in the Week 1 victory over Tampa Bay... The ArenaBowl XXIX MVP tallied 99 receptions for 1,304 yards and 26 touchdowns a season ago... VALOR: QB Erik Meyer completed 21-31 passes for 237 yards, four touchdowns... He also led the team with 16 rushing yards... Meyer threw the first-touchdown in Washington Valor history, a 34-yard strike to WR Mike Washington early in the first quarter against Baltimore in Week 1... Washington was named the AFL's Week 1 Offensive Player of the Week after his nine catch, 112 yard and three touchdown performance against the Brigade... The 2014 AFL Rookie of the Year, WR Greg Carr, got his season underway with a four reception for 48 yards in Week 1... The AFL's all-time leading receiver, T.T. Toliver, caught three passes for 51 yards, one touchdown and scored a rushing touchdown... The soon-to-be AFL Hall of Famer now has 1,206 receptions for 15,820 yards and 303 touchdowns in his 14-year career... The reigning 2016 AFL Defensive Player of the Year picked up right where he left off, DB Tracy Belton tallied five tackles and corralled two interceptions in Week 1.
CLEVELAND GLADIATORS (0-2) at TAMPA BAY STORM (1-1)
Saturday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
CLEVELAND
TAMPA BAY
REG. SEASON SERIES LEADER
Cleveland leads 11-9
STREAKS
L2
L1
LAST WEEK
L 52-49 vs BAL
L 56-52 vs PHI
LAST REG. SEASON MEETING
4/8/17 TB W at CLE 46-40
TOTAL OFFENSE (RANK)
289.0 (1)
283.5 (2)
TOTAL DEFENSE (RANK)
200.0 (1)
270.5 (3)
POINTS SCORED (RANK)
44.5 (5)
49.0 (3)
POINTS ALLOWED (RANK)
49.0 (3)
48.0 (2)
TURNOVER MARGIN (RANK)
-2 (4)
+1 (2)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: GLADIATORS: QB Tanner Marsh threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns in his AFL debut... The changes at QB didn't stop there as last year's starting quarterback and starting jack linebacker for Week 2 Arvell Nelson re-claimed his spot under center in the fourth quarter, relieving Marsh and tossing two touchdowns before the team ultimately fell to the Brigade, 52-49... After missing Week 1 due to injury, WR Quentin Sims was back with a vengeance in Week 2, leading the team with 12 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns in the home defeat to the Brigade... Sims did not appear in Week 1 but played one game against the Storm in 2016, catching 11 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in a 70-63 road win... Another game, another stand-out performance from Colin Taylor as he caught two more touchdowns in the loss last Sunday, hauling in six passes for 97 yards. Additionally, Taylor extended his regular season touchdown streak to 33. That is the second-longest current streak in the AFL... Through two games, Taylor has collected 12 receptions for 188 yards and four touchdowns. All three are team-highs... New acquisitions Brandon Thompkins and Larry Brackins have gotten comfortable in their role in Cleveland's offense. Brackins scored once again last Sunday on four catches for 27 yards in the home loss to Baltimore. Thompkins sat out the game due to injury.
STORM: QB Randy Hippeard - Begins his second stint with the Storm... Spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Orlando Predators... Completed 236-of-360 passes for 2,967 yards, 65 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2016... In two game this season, Hippeard has completed 42-of-64 passing attempts for 497 yards, a league-leading 12 touchdowns and two interceptions... WR Joe Hills - Returns to the Storm after spending the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Jacksonville Sharks... Was the 2016 Offensive Player of the Year, having caught 161 passes for 2,020 yards and 58 touchdowns... Has scored a receiving touchdown in 70 consecutive regular season games... WR Kendrick Ings - Spent part of the 2016 season in the CFL...Has 11 career games with 100+ kickoff return yards...Had 209 kickoff return yards and a 55-yard return for a touchdown versus Philadelphia (4/15)... With 346 all-purpose yards, Ings broke James Bowden's 17-year single-game franchise record (345)... Ings currently leads the League in All-Purpose Yards (405) and All-Purpose Yards Per Game (202.5).
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