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Philadelphia Soul game notes

May 9, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release


SOUL @ FORCE: THE FACTS

Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
Site: Philips Arena
Officials: Referee: David Lambros, Umpire: Al Granado, Head Linesman: Bill Ward, Line Judge: Brian Matthew, Back Judge: Joe Duncan

THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...

On SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia with Jacob VanRyan handling the play-by-play and Director of Communications Tim Farrell adding color analysis . Also, online at www.philadelphiasoul.com.

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...

This week's game will be televised on live with Matt Stewart doing the play-by-play and Chuck Oliver providing the color commentary. Nick Cellini will report from the sidelines.

THE SERIES - SOUL VS. FORCE

This will be the first meeting between the Soul and Force.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Soul win, it would
- Give the Soul its first playoff appearance in franchise history.
- Give the Soul a 1-0 record vs. Georgia
- Give the Soul a 9-7 overall record
- Give the Soul a 4-4 road record

LAST WEEK'S SOUL GAME vs. Dallas
Offensive Player of the Game: Tony Graziani (PHI)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Eddie Moten (PHI)
Ironman of the Game: Mike Brown (PHI)

PHILADELPHIA -- Tony Graziani threw six touchdown passes to lead the Philadelphia Soul to a 51-48 triumph over the Dallas Desperados.

Graziani completed 23-of-36 passes for 317 yards and was intercepted twice. Sean Scott had 88 yards on six receptions while Mike Brown added a pair of receiving TDS for the Soul (8-7), who snapped a two-game skid.

Terrill Shaw caught a three-yard TD pass from Clint Dolezel with 3:21 remaining to cut Dallas' deficit to 44-41.
But Graziani hooked up with Brown for a 34-yard score 59 seconds later to push Philadelphia's lead to 51-41.

Dolezel completed 27-of-44 attempts for 314 yards, seven TDs and four interceptions for the Desperados (12-3), who lead the second-place New York Dragons (10-5) by two games in the Eastern Division.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 SCORE
Dallas 7 6 14 21 48
Philadelphia 7 20 7 17 51

THE COACHES
Brett Munsey (First Season)

Bret Munsey became the third head coach for the Philadelphia Soul and has posted an 8-7 record through the first 15 games. With an extensive coaching background, this is Munsey's first head coaching position in the League.

Munsey, 37, joined 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.


Doug Plank (Second Season)

Doug Plank is in his second season as head coach of the Georgia Force. In his first season as an AFL head coach, Plank led the Force on a magical ride to ArenaBowl XIX. Plank was voted 2005 AFL Coach of the Year thanks to the unprecedented success of the Georgia Force. Plank led the Force to a league best 11-5 regular season record and a 13-6 record overall.

The 11-5 mark was the best record in franchise history (previous best 8-8 in 2003) and secured the Force's first Southern Division Championship and the number one seed in the playoffs. The Force went on to win the inaugural National Conference Championship game by defeating the Orlando Predators 60-58. The victory secured the Force's place in ArenaBowl XIX. Under Plank's leadership the Force have reached elite status in the AFL.

Plank has coached in four straight ArenaBowls. Plank helped lead the Arizona Rattlers to the three previous ArenaBowls as their defensive coordinator. In his final season with the Rattlers the team finished with an 11-5 record and earned the top seed in the AFL playoffs.
A former member of The Ohio State University football team, Plank played in three consecutive Rose Bowls, 1973, 1974, and 1975. While at Ohio State, he played for legendary coach Woody Hayes.

SOUL'S NOTES AND TRENDS

WIN AND GET IN
The Philadelphia Soul are currently in the midst of trying to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in franchise history. If the Soul are able to win this week's game at Georgia, they will see their first playoff game. Unfortunately, if they aren't able to pull out a victory the Soul will be out of the playoffs.

KUBIAK THE QUARTERBACK...
Soul offensive coordinator Jim Kubiak will be facing the last team he played with this week. He was the QB for the Georgia Force in the 2005 season. He played in five games completing 104-of-158 passes for 1,148 yards with 22 touchdowns despite three interceptions. While with the Force, Kubiak completed 32 passes against Los Angeles (2/4/05) and is currently ranked first in most completions in a game. Kubiak just faced another one of the teams he has previously played with last week, the Dallas Desperados.

GEORGIA ON MY MIND
This is the first time the Soul and Force will be playing each other since the inception of the Soul.

GAINED FROM GEORGIA
Soul DS Kevin Gaines will be facing his former team for the first time this week. He played with the Force from 2003 to 2005 and was named Co-Defensive player of the Year in 2003 with OL/DL Jermaine Smith who is still with the Force. In 2004, Gaines was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year and also received All-Arena Second Team honors.

SPEAKING OF GAINES
Kevin Gaines' interception this past week against Dallas has put him just three interceptions shy of holding the fourth all time position in career interceptions in the League. He currently has 40 interceptions throughout his nine year career.

BACK IN ACTION
This past week against the Dallas Desperados, WR/LB J.J. McKelvey returned to action for the Soul. He caught six passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. He missed the previous five weeks with sprained ankle in Dallas and was out until last week's return to face the Desperados one more time.

LEADER OF THE PACK
QB Tony Graziani returned to face division rival Dallas last week after being activated from injured reserve. He completed 26-of-32 passes for 317 yards despite two interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown. The last time Graz saw action was in Week 11 against the Chicago Rush.

FORMER AVENGERS
Tony Graziani will be reunited with Georgia Force OS Chris Jackson, his former Los Angeles Avengers teammate, this week when he travels to Atlanta. Jackson and Graziani played together in Los Angeles from 2001 to 2004. During the 2004 season, they hooked up 125 times for 1,803 yards with 44 touchdowns. Graz helped Jackson go on to being named the League's Offensive Player of the Year.

BACK ONCE AGAIN
Force QB Matt Nagy and OS Jamin Elliott are familiar to the Delaware Valley as they both played college football at the University of Delaware. They face Philadelphia for the first time while with the Force.

TRIFECTA
This past week against Dallas, DS Eddie Moten picked off three passes in the first half against Dallas QB Clint Dolezel. The three interceptions tied a League mark for most interceptions in a game this season and set a franchise record for most in a game. He currently has 11 interceptions on the season and is ranked first in the League. He has also picked off four of Dolezel's 11 interceptions this season (1-@ Dallas, 3/25, 3-vs. Dallas, 5/6).

THE OC's
Kubiak was coached by Georgia offensive coordinator Steve Thonn in 2003 while they were both with the Dallas Desperados; Kubiak as quarterback and Thonn as offensive coordinator. The two were able to produce an offensive unit in Dallas that led the League in total offense (300.4 yards-per-game), passing offense (292.4) and first downs (362). Under Thonn's guidance with Kubiak as starting QB, the Desperados were the only team in the League to have a trio of receivers that eclipsed the 1,000-receiving yard mark and only one of two trios to each record at least 75 receptions.

MAY DAY
Last week's 51-48 win against the Desperados was the first Soul win ever in the month of May. Until last week's win at home, the Soul were 0-7 in the month.

FIRST EVER
OL/DL E.J. Burt caught his first ever touchdown in his career this past week. In the second quarter with 2:09 on the clock, Graziani connected with Burt for the score. This is Burt's fourth year in the AFL.

REMEMBER ME?
Tony Graziani was original drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft (204th selection). He played in 18 games in three seasons for the Falcons while starting five. He completed 85-of-174 passes for 999 yards with two touchdowns.

DEFEND THIS
Eddie Moten was named the Defensive Player of the Game this past week. This is fifth time this he's received those honors. He was also named the Defensive Player of the League for the first time in his career and was the first Soul player to ever win the honor.

SMITH IS SOARING
Soul OS Steve Smith is 22 yards shy of reaching the 4,000 receiving yard plateau for his career. This season he has caught 83 passes for 953 yards with 14 touchdowns.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE
Dallas has suffered only three losses this season and two of them came against the Soul. Since the Blue and Grey defeated the Desperados in Week 9, Dallas won five straight games until they came to the Wachovia Spectrum last Saturday.

DEFENSIVELY GETTER DONE
The Soul have picked off the most passes in the League with 25 through 15 weeks. They are second in the League in sacks with 21 (Nashville-23).

1000+
With the end of regular season at hand, the Soul's WR trio of Mike Brown, Steve Smith and Sean Scott have put up impressive numbers throughout the year. All three receivers are approaching 1,000 yards receiving for the season (Smith - 953, Scott - 919 and Brown - 917).
GOING-GOING BACK-BACK
OL/DL Mike Mabry will return to Atlanta this week after going through training camp with the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2005 NFL season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 9, 2006


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