Afl Matchups: Conference Championship Weekend on Road to Arenabowl
Published on August 10, 2016 under Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
LAS VEGAS - The Road to ArenaBowl XXIX rolls into Conference Championship Weekend as the American Conference Champion Philadelphia Soul and National Conference Champion Arizona Rattlers will host for the right to play in ArenaBowl XXIX on Friday, August 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
In the National Conference Championship, the No. 3 seeded Cleveland Gladiators (8-9) will head to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the No. 1 seeded Arizona Rattlers (14-3) on Saturday, August 13 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. The Rattlers swept the regular season matchups, 2-0, by the scores of 77-62 in Cleveland on June 3 and 68-20 in Phoenix on July 24.
Year-end award and All-Arena candidate QB Nick Davila (69.6 comp. %, 4,198 yards and an AFL best 110 TDs), All-Arena candidates WR Rod Windsor (145 catches for 1,667 yards and 50 total TDs) and WR Maurice Purify (84 receptions for 1,017 yards and 30 TDs) lead Arizona. Cleveland QB Arvell Nelson (59.6 comp. %, 3,425 yards, 70 passing TDs and 11 rushing TDs) guides the Gladiators attack with All-Arena candidate WR Collin Taylor (110 receptions for 1,437 yards and 32 TDs) and WR Quentin Sims (92 catches for 1,112 yards and 27 TDs) as his main targets.
In the American Conference Championship, the No. 3 seeded Jacksonville Sharks (8-9) head to PPL Center in Allentown, PA to battle the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia Soul (14-3) on Sunday, August 14 at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2. This is a re-match of last year's American Conference title game. The two split their games against each other in the regular season in 2016. The Sharks won the first game, 59-41, back on April 11 in Philadelphia, while the Soul got revenge in the second game, 56-42, on June 4 in Jacksonville.
Philadelphia's aerial attack is led by 2015 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year QB Dan Raudabaugh (69.3 comp. %, 4,303 yards and 101 TDs). All-Arena candidate WR Darius Reynolds led the Soul receivers with 112 receptions for 1,447 yards and 38 touchdowns. Year-end award and All-Arena candidates DL Jake Metz (AFL-leading 9.0 sacks) and DB Tracy Belton (AFL-leading 9 INTs) lead Philadelphia's defense. Jacksonville's year-end award and All-Arena candidates WR Joe Hills (AFL regular season leader with 161 receptions for 2,020 yards and 58 TDs), QB Tommy Grady (68.1 comp. %, 4,495 yards and 94 TDs) and DB Greg Reid (101.5 total tackles, 8 INTs and 35 passes defended) lead the Sharks' attack. Jacksonville interim head coach Bob Landsee is now 3-0 since taking over in Week 17.
Also on Saturday, the new highlight program, "2016 All-Arena Show", will be telecast by CBS Sports Network on Saturday, August 13 at 9 p.m. ET, featuring a look back at the 2016 season. The AFL will use the platform to reveal its 2016 All-Arena teams, while also highlighting top candidates for offensive, defensive players and coach of the year awards.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 3 CLEVELAND GLADIATORS (8-9) AT NO. 1 ARIZONA RATTLERS (14-3)
Saturday, August 13 at 9:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Arena Football League Stories from August 10, 2016
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- Sharks Rekindle American Conference Championship Match with Soul - Jacksonville Sharks
- Storm And Lawrence Samuels Mutually Agree To Separate - Tampa Bay Storm
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