Game Preview: Soul Look to Battle the Gladiators
Published on August 6, 2015 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (August 6, 2015) - The Philadelphia Soul look to remain undefeated against the Gladiators in the regular season after suffering three tragic losses to them in 2014. The Soul (14-3) will travel to Cleveland to face the Gladiators (8-9) in Week 20 at the Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday, August 8 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
The Soul and Gladiators have already faced each other twice this season with the Soul coming out victorious both times. This past week the Soul won their last regular home game of the season against the VooDoo, with the final score 61-28. Marco Thomas led the Soul receivers with nine catches for 62 yards and four touchdowns. Ryan McDaniel added five receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown. Shaun Kauleinamoku had three receptions for 18 yards. Tommy Taggart added three rushing touchdowns on 11 carries. Dan Raudabaugh finished the night by completing 19 of 28 passes for 144 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. Defensively, Kent Richardson led the team with five total tackles, while Beau Bell added three total tackles and two sacks for eight yards.
The first match-up to look for in the game is Soul DB LaRico Stevenson up against Cleveland WR Collin Taylor. So far this season, Stevenson has had 81.0 total tackles, five interceptions for 45 yards, and five pass break-ups. Between both games, Stevenson recorded 7.0 tackles and leads the Soul defense in total tackles overall. This season, Taylor has recorded 136 receptions for 1,523 yards and 41 touchdowns. In Week 4, he recorded 10 receptions for 120 yards and four touchdowns. In Week 16 against the Soul, he had four receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
The quarterback showdown will be worth watching this weekend as Raudabaugh continues to connect with receivers and lead the League in passing yards and touchdowns overall. Gladiators' QB Shane Austin stands at No.4 in the League with 4,475 passing yards and 98 touchdowns. Notably, Soul wide receiver, Marco Thomas has been Raudabaugh's most popular target and has broken a handful of Soul receiving records during his first year with the team.
Thomas is going to be a tough match up for Gladiators' DB Dominic Jones. So far this season, Thomas has recorded 150 catches for 1,724 yards and 39 touchdowns. He has a combined 16 receptions and four touchdowns against Cleveland so far. Jones has a total of 13.0 total tackles against the Soul offense and leads the Gladiators' defense with 73.5 tackles for the season.
The Soul will host the Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday, August 15 on the Rothman Field at the Wells Fargo Center at 5 p.m. in the first round of playoffs.
Arena Football League Stories from August 6, 2015
- Wide Receiver Jamar Howard Activated from Injured Reserve - Portland Thunder
- Game Preview: Soul Look to Battle the Gladiators - Philadelphia Soul
- Taylor Named AFL MVP for Week 19 - Cleveland Gladiators
- Week 20 Preview: Sharks Host VooDoo on Saturday - Jacksonville Sharks
- Putting the Sting Back in Soul Defense - Philadelphia Soul
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