Philadelphia Set to Stall Mustangs' Recovery
June 8, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (June 7, 2012) - The Philadelphia Soul (9-3) travel to Milwaukee, WI to take on the Mustangs (4-7) at the BMO Harris Bradley Center tonight with the game to be broadcast on NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.
The Soul remain in a two-horse race for the best overall record in the Arena Football League with the Arizona Rattlers at 9-3. Philadelphia is the only team in the American Conference with a claim on the League's best record as they hold sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division and the Conference. The Soul are followed by the Cleveland Gladiators and the Jacksonville Sharks who share 6-5 records.
Last week's 79-48 victory over the Orlando Predators in Philadelphia, gave the Soul their first consecutive wins since completing a four-game win streak in Week 8 of the season, with the final win coming against the Predators on the road. Similar to their meeting in Week 9, the Soul head into Week 14 looking to pick up another consecutive win with the Mustangs standing in their way.
Week 12 saw the Soul even up their series with the Cleveland Gladiators, the Predators got swept in Week 13, and Week 14 offers Philadelphia another shot at revenge for an early-season loss in Philadelphia's third consecutive rematch game this season. Milwaukee defeated the Soul 64-63 in a shootout on a late touchdown.
Philadelphia failed to respond as an Emery Sammons reception fell short of crossing the goal line as time expired in the game and on the Soul's hopes of a five-game win streak. This time the stakes are higher as the Soul aim to move closer to locking up home-field advantage in the American Conference playoffs.
Milwaukee has struggled since defeating Philadelphia on May 5, 2012. They dropped three straight games to the Cleveland Gladiators, Georgia Force, and Tampa Bay Storm before finally getting back on track with an impressive 81-68 victory over the San Jose SaberCats in Week 13.
Mustangs QB Gino Guidugli had a career day against the National Conference's second place SaberCats. Guidugli completed 16-of-28 passes for 250 yards and tied the Mustangs' franchise record with nine touchdown tosses on the day. On the season, he has completed 66.5% of his passes, connecting on 226-of-340 for 3,014 yards and 61 touchdown strikes with 11 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 120.51.
In his first meeting against Philadelphia this season, Guidugli completed 13-of-21 passes for 246 yards and eight touchdowns with two picks. His counterpart Dan Raudabaugh had an equally impressive outing. The Soul's 2012 All-Arena candidate went 26-of-45 for 366 yards and seven scores without any interceptions.
Raudabaugh has been a consistent performer and leader all season long for Philadelphia. Completing 251-of-377 passes for 3,273 yards and 76 touchdowns for a 66.6 completion percentage and 118.95 rating, Raudabaugh has quarterbacked the Soul offense to the top of the AFL standings. Raudabaugh will look to outplay Milwaukee's Guidugli in what could be another shoot out game.
"Both quarterbacks had great performances in our last meeting. The scoring was very back and forth until the end, but I don't buy into the quarterback competition idea," said Soul head coach Doug Plank. "Neither of them are on the field at the same time, so I don't think of that as an issue. Dan will go out and perform like he has each week this season."
Raudabaugh's success is due in part to his offensive line, led by Christian Johnson, Brennen Carvalho, and Devin Clark, only allowing their signal caller to be sacked three times all season (No. 1 in the AFL). The other part is Philadelphia's All-Arena wide receiver Tiger Jones.
Jones, the 2011 Cutter's Receiver of the Year, not only became a lethal weapon in the Soul offense, but one of the most potent receivers in the AFL this season. Tiger has hauled in 101 receptions for 1,498 yards and 36 touchdowns, averaging 124.8 yards and three touchdowns a game. Jones currently sits at No. 3 for reception yards (1,498) and reception yards per game (124.8). He ranks No. 4 in scoring (216), scoring touchdowns (36), yards per catch (14.8), and receptions (101).
Soul fullback and League MVP candidate Derrick Ross hammered the competition for a second straight week as he ran the ball for 84 yards and five touchdowns on nine carries. Ross has 102 carries for 425 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground.
Ross is No. 1 in Soul single-season history for each category. The 84 yards was a franchise single-game record, as were his 21 carries the previous week against the Orlando Predators. Ross has also added seven receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the air. His week 13 performance earned him both AFL Playmaker of the Week and National Guard MVP honors.
The League's No. 1 rusher in 2012 will have to take on the No. 3 rushing defense in Week 14. When they met in Week 9, Milwaukee was ranked No. 2 in rush defense and saw Ross carry the ball 11 times for 48 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort for Philadelphia.
"I don't really care about the records, so long as we win I'm happy," said Soul fullback Derrick Ross. "Milwaukee's got a tough defense. Anytime you play a defense like that you just got to put your nose down and grind it out. It'll be a tough game, they're really aggressive on defense."
Philadelphia's defense has improved as the season has worn on, picking off Orlando quarterback Chris Leak three times last week. The unit ranks No. 3 in the league with 22 interceptions, No. 3 with a +10 turnover margin, and No. 4 with 22 sacks.
Soul defensive lineman Bryan Robinson ranks No. 2 in the AFL in sacks (8.0), tackles for loss (11.0), and forced fumbles with five. Robinson is joined among the League leaders by teammates Joe Goosby, Kent Richardson, and Rayshaun Kizer.
Linebacker Joe Goosby ranks No. 1 in the League with three interceptions returned for touchdowns. Defensive back Kent Richardson is No. 2 in the AFL with nine interceptions on the season returned for 100 yards and a touchdown. Fellow DB Rayshaun Kizer ranks No. 1 in passes defended with a total of 24 and No. 8 in interceptions with six for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
With six games remaining on the 2012 schedule and the Milwaukee Mustangs coming off an impressive victory over the talented San Jose SaberCats, the Philadelphia Soul know they must keep grinding to get to where they want to be. With a win, the Soul move one step closer to earning home-field advantage in the AFL playoffs.
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- Philadelphia Set to Stall Mustangs' Recovery - Philadelphia Soul
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