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Philadelphia Soul game notes

April 5, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release


SOUL VS. RUSH: THE FACTS

Date: Sunday, April 9, 2006
Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET
Site: Wachovia Center
Officials: Referee: Terry Brown, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Rod Pearson, Line Judge: Art Lucky, Back Judge: Scott Helverson

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...

On SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia with Jacob VanRyn handling play-by-play and former Soul WR/DB and current Team Ambassador Keita Crespina adding color analysis.

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
On NBC with Ray Bentley, Allen Bestwick and Otis Livingston calling the game.

THE SERIES - SOUL VS. RUSH

This will be the third meeting between the Soul and Rush. Last season in the second week of the season, the Soul traveled to Chicago and fell to the Rush 51-41. Philadelphia WR/LB Sean Scott tied a team record with five receiving touchdowns in the defeat while WR/LB Etu Molden and OS Henry Douglass each tallied two touchdowns a piece.
WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Soul win, it would
- Give the Soul a 2-1 record vs. Chicago
- Give the Soul a 6-5 overall record
- Give the Soul a 4-2 home record

THE SOUL'S GAME vs. AUSTIN

Offensive Player of the Game: Derrick Lewis (AUS)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Donvetis Franklin (AUS)
Ironman of the Game: Sedrick Robinson (AUS)

PHILADELPHIA -- John Fitzgerald threw six touchdown passes, included four to Derrick Lewis, as the Austin Wranglers (7-3) defeated the Philadelphia Soul (5-5), 43-38, at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Penn.
Fitzgerald finished 23 of 38 for 296 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions. Lewis had 8 receptions for 150 yards and 4 TDs. Sedrick Robinson chipped in with 5 catches for 64 yards and 2 TDs.
For Philadelphia, Tony Graziani was 29 of 42 for 269 yards, 4 TDs and no interceptions. Mike Brown led Soul receivers with 11 receptions for 112 yards and 2 TDs.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Austin 6 7 14 16 43
Philadelphia 14 7 3 14 38

THE COACHES


Bret Munsey (First Season)

Bret Munsey becomes the third head coach for the Philadelphia Soul, as the organization heads into its third season in 2006. With an extensive coaching background, this will be Munsey's first head coaching position in the League.

Munsey, 37, joins the Soul after serving on Orlando's staff for three seasons under Jay Gruden. After joining the Predators in 2003 and serving as the team's offensive coordinator and wide receivers/defensive backs coach, he was promoted to assistant head coach in August of 2003. This role also included his director of player personnel and defensive coordinator roles throughout the last two seasons.

In 2005 the Predators finished with a 10-6 regular season record and lost in the conference finals to the Georgia Force. The team ranked third in the League in scoring defense (47.2 ppg), fifth in total defense (269.2 ypg) and second in pass rating defense (98.9).

In his role as defensive coordinator, Munsey organized Orlando's defensive game plans and served as defensive backs coach. His 2004 defense ranked first in the league in scoring defense (43.1), total defense (236.8 ypg) and pass rating defense (95.7).

The Soul look to capitalize on Munsey's defensive knowledge. Philadelphia was the worst in the League against the run last season, allowing 576 yards. They also allowed the second most touchdowns in the League and made the least amount of tackles. Cutting down on stats like these are Munsey's top priority.

In his role as assistant head coach, Munsey handled several administrative duties for the Predators - including planning and conducting training camp, tryouts and player housing. He was also in charge of recruiting and handled contract compliance with the League.

In his first season with the Predators, Munsey served as offensive coordinator and coached the wide receivers and defensive backs.

Munsey came to the Predators from the Carolina Cobras, where he served as defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Cobras were ranked in the top five in the Arena Football League in many defensive categories and came within one play of earning a spot in the semifinals.

Prior to his stint in Carolina, Munsey served as head coach and director of football operations for the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the af2. During his first season as a head coach, Munsey led his team to a 14-2 regular season record (15-3 overall). His defense ranked in the top five in all major categories and three defensive players were named to the "All-af2" team.


Following that outstanding season, Munsey was named "af2 Coach of the Year" in a vote by his peers.

Mike Hohensee (Sixth Season)

Mike Hohensee is the only coach in team history and has guided the Rush to a 44-32 regular season record and five playoff appearances in the team's first five seasons. He has an 88-76 regular season record and a 95-85 overall record in his 12 seasons as a head coach.
The 2006 season will be his sixth as head coach of the Rush, his 20th in the Arena Football League, his 13th as a head coach in the league and his 18th as a member of an AFL coaching staff.

Hohensee signed a contract extension through the 2006 season with an option for 2007 on July 19, 2004 and has led the Rush to two Central Division titles (2002, 2004) and three trips to the AFL semifinals (2002, 2004, 2005). He also ranks third all-time in AFL career coaching victories (95) and recorded the 90th win of his career April 2, 2005 at New York.

He became the fourth coach in AFL history to record 80 career wins with a 51-36 win against the Tampa Bay Storm April 11, 2004.
during his 12 seasons as a head coach, his teams have reached the playoffs nine times and won a division title five times. Hohensee has coached against 43 different franchises during his AFL career and was hired as the first head coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000. He joined the Rush after spending the previous two seasons as head coach and director of player personnel for the AFL's New England Sea Wolves and was also the head coach of the Washington Commandos (1990), the Albany Firebirds (1994-96), the Anaheim Piranhas (1997) and the New England Sea Wolves (1999-2000).

Hohensee began his coaching career as an assistant for the Chicago Bruisers in 1989, becoming the first former AFL player to join the league as a coach ... became the youngest head coach in league history when he took over the Washington Commandos in 1990.

SOUL'S NOTES AND TRENDS

WHAT A HOOT
This Sunday will not be the first time Soul Lineman Donny Klein and Rush WR/DB Buchie Ibeh will play football on the same field. They both played together while attending Temple University.

ALUMNI SHOWDOWN - PART II
OL/DL Dwayne Missouri attended Northwestern University where, in his senior year, he led the team with 20 tackles for loss, which tied him for fourth in the conference and the second best in school history. He also led the team with eight quarterback hurries and five sacks, recording 52 tackles and finishing eighth on the team. Missouri earned championship performance recognition four times, defensive player of the game twice and big playmaker of the game once. This week, Missouri will face fellow alumni, Rush FB/LB Levelle Brown who also played for the Wildcats.

CENTENIAL
WB/DB Mike Brown exceeded 100 yards receiving for his third straight game. He went for 112 yards and was the first Soul player to get double digit figures in receptions (11) in 2006. He has eclipsed the 100 plateau four times this season.

PITT PALS
FB/LB Chad Dukes of the Soul and Rush OL/DL Frank Moore will meet again as they clash this Sunday, after playing on the same side of the ball in 1994 at the University of Pittsburgh.

FALLING SHORT
At last week's game against the Austin Wranglers, the Soul were in the lead at the half, but fell to defeat in the final quarter. This marks the second time this season the Soul lost after being up at halftime. The first time was in Week 5 against the Colorado Crush, when they lost 48-38 after leading at the midway point 28-21.

RED ZONE DEFENSE
The Soul defense has given up a League low 143 points inside the 10-yard line.

THREE IS NOT A CHARM
The Blue and Grey have yet to score more than seven points in the third quarter since Week 4 against the New York Dragons when they tallied 24. They have managed 27 points total since.

KEEPING TRACK
OS Steve Smith surpassed 300 receptions for his career by catching nine passes, gaining 81 yards last week. He is 262 yards shy of reaching the 4,000-yard mark for his AFL career.

MAKE A WISH
Soul WR/LB Lamont Moore turned 31, this past week on April 4, along with his Rush counterpart WR/DB Carlos Wright, who celebrated his 25th birthday.

ONSIDE
Since the Soul's inception into the AFL in 2004, they have managed to recover three onside kicks in 30 attempts. This season, Philadelphia is 0-7 on attempts and they have not recovered one since the inaugural season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 5, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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