Game Preview: Soul Host Sharks in American Conference Championship
August 21, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (August 21, 2015) - The Philadelphia Soul seek revenge against the Jacksonville Sharks in the second round of the 2015 Arena Football League Playoffs. The Soul (16-3) will host the Sharks (11-8) on the Rothman Field at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, August 23 at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports and 97.5 The Fanatic.
The Soul and Sharks have faced each other three times during the 2015 season. This past week the Soul won the first round of playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Gladiators 47-35. J. Lewis Small AFL Playmaker of the Game, Shaun Kauleinamoku led the Soul receivers with eight catches for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Ryan McDaniel had four receptions for 24 yards, while Receiver of the Year candidate and Second Team All-Arena recipient, Marco Thomas had two receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown. Second Team All-Arena FB, Tommy Taggart added 26 rushing yards on eight carries and one rushing touchdown for the Soul. Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game MVP, Offensive Player of the Year candidate and First Team All-Arena winner, Dan Raudabaugh finished the night completing 16-of-28 passes for 190 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
LaRico Stevenson led the defense with 8.0 total tackles and 2.0 interceptions for 15 yards, while Riddell Defensive Player Dwayne Hollis had 4.5 total tackles and 2.0 interceptions for 45 yards and one touchdown. Beau Bell added 2.0 sacks.
The first match-up to look for in the game is Soul DB James Romain up against Jacksonville's WR Joe Hills. So far this season, the Defensive Player of the Year candidate and First Team All-Arena DB has 74.0 total tackles, 30 pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, and is ranked fourth in the league in interceptions (10). Hills leads the Sharks' receivers with 150 receptions for 1,597 yards and 42 touchdowns this season.
The quarterback matchup will be one worth watching as Raudabaugh continues to connect with receivers and lead the League in passing yards and touchdowns overall. He currently has thrown for 5,182 yards, 123 touchdowns and 13 interceptions this season. Sharks' QB Tommy Grady stands at No. 3 in the League with 4,951 passing yards and 100 touchdowns. Notably, Soul wide receiver, Shaun Kauleinamoku has been one of Raudabaugh's strongest targets during his first year with the team.
SK is going to be a tough competitor for Sharks' DB Terrance Smith. So far this season, Kauleinamoku has recorded 71 catches for 1,035 yards and 22 touchdowns. Smith leads the defense with 85.0 total tackles, 23 pass break-ups and four interceptions for 66 yards this season.
With a Soul victory, the team will face the winner of the National Conference Championship in ArenaBowl XXVIII. Kickoff and location are TBA.
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