Mustangs Lose Thriller 39-37

June 3, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release


Philadelphia - A 4-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Vena to Donovan Morgan on the final play of the ballgame gave the Philadelphia Soul (5-7) the 39-37 victory over the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-8) on Friday evening. In a rematch of the game that was decided in the Mustangs' favor as time expired back on April 4th, the Soul reversed the outcome this time around.

The game began well for Milwaukee as its defense, which has been making headlines the past few weeks for limiting scoring opportunities and producing players of the week, continued its stingy play by intercepting Vena twice in the first quarter. Marcus Everett made the first interception on the second play of the game, while Andre Jones added to his Mustangs-record ninth pick of the year to end a Philadelphia red-zone drive. But the Soul bounced back with an interception of their own from Brandon Perkins and ended a Milwaukee scoring threat.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Soul struck first when Mustangs quarterback RJ Archer was sacked by Darrell Campbell and fumbled in the end zone, allowing Perkins to bounce on top of the ball and give Philadelphia the 7-0 advantage. However, the Mustangs battled back with a touchdown of their own when Archer connected with Damian Harrell on a 25-yard pass on 4th and 9 with 6:11 to go in the first half to knot up the score at seven points apiece.

The Soul would go ahead on a Vena touchdown pass to Syvelle Newton with under a minute to go, but Milwaukee's Garrett Lindholm tacked on a field goal as time expired in the first half to limit the deficit to 14-10 at the break.

The Mustangs capitalized on their first drive of the second half with a Mykel Benson rushing touchdown to give Milwaukee a 17-14 lead, but Vena and Larry Brackins hooked up on a short passing score to go ahead with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Archer and company responded with a balanced offensive drive of their own and Benson scored again to give the ‘Stangs a 23-20 lead to close out the quarter.

Philadelphia battled back early in the 4th quarter with a touchdown pass from Vena to Morgan, only to watch the resilient Mustangs' offense march down the field and score again on a hard-nosed 3-yard TD run by Everett. The Soul regained the lead 33-30 after a 44-yard TD pass from Vena to Morgan with just a minute to go, but a Soul illegal procedure penalty on the ensuing kickoff allowed Benson to add his third touchdown with 55 seconds left. But on their final drive, Philadelphia would pull off the nail biter to send Milwaukee home with a tough loss.



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