Philly Downed by Pittsburgh in Keystone Collision â Part II
Published on July 22, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (July 22, 2011) - The Philadelphia Soul (6-12) were unable to shutdown the offense of the cross-state rival Pittsburgh Power (9-9) as the Soul closed out their 2011 season in front of 16,429 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night.
"I am proud of the way our guy's battled tonight with all of the injuries that occurred throughout the game," said Soul head coach Mike Hohensee. "We are a high character team, and our player's left everything out on the field tonight. We competed at a high level all year, and I am looking forward to the 2012 season."
Soul quarterback Ryan Vena completed 19-of-34 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, with his prime target Donovan Morgan catching six passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Keith Stokes contributed with six catches for 75 yards, while Larry Brackins added five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. Fullback, and Ironman of the Game, Darnell Whitley added 13 yards and two touchdowns on three carries.
Vena and Morgan rekindled the connection they have had all season by getting the Soul on the board first with an 18-yard touchdown at 9:05 in the first quarter. The Power knotted the contest with a fourth down, eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bill Stull to receiver Mike Washington. A nine-yard touchdown run by Whitely closed out the first with Philadelphia leading 14-7.
The teams continued to trade blows, with Pittsburgh adding a touchdown on the ground and one through the air, while Newton recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score. At 3:10, kicker Paul Edinger and the Power received a gratuitous bounce off the iron on a kickoff to set up a two-yard touchdown run by receiver Eddie Thompson. After a Vena interception the following drive, the Soul defense held strong to enter halftime behind 27-21.
The Power opened the second half with a 28-yard touchdown reception by Washington, their third consecutive trip to the end zone. A Newton three-yard touchdown run on the following drive cut the Power lead to 34-28 at 9:47. Pittsburgh finished the third quarter just as it began, with Washington adding a 10-yard touchdown reception to give the Power a 40-28 edge.
The rivals again traded scores with a two-yard run by Whitley, a 21-yard reception by Power receiver Bernard Morris, and a four-yard catch by Soul tight end Ty Nsekhe, trimming the Power lead to 47-42 at 2:25. In the final minute, Washington hauled in another touchdown reception, yet the Soul again fought back, adding a 15-yard touchdown catch by Brackins with 0:14 remaining. The following onside kick attempt by the Soul was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Power receiver Jason Willis, which capped the scoring and gave Pittsburgh the road victory.
The Soul had a total of four players taken off the field due to injury. Defensive back Mike Brown and defensive lineman Darrell Campbell left in the first half with lower body injuries, with Campbell later returning. Defensive back James Sadler and Morgan left in the second half, with Sadler coming back a few plays later.
Stull received National Guard MVP honors by completing 24-of-40 passes for 260 yards and six touchdowns in his first start for the Power this season. Washington received Russell Offensive Player of the Game honors, catching 11 passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns, while Willis added six receptions for 55 yards.
The Soul end their 2011 season at (5-6) in the American Conference, (3-3) in Eastern Division play, and (4-5) at home. The Power finish (5-6) in the Conference, (4-2) in the Division, and (4-5) on the road, with both teams out of the playoffs. The Soul would like to thank their fans as the organization looks forward to the 2012 season.
Arena Football League Stories from July 22, 2011
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- Utah Outlasts Cleveland, 76-69 - Utah Blaze
- Pittsburgh beats Philadelphia, 61-48, in season finale. - Pittsburgh Power
- Philly Downed by Pittsburgh in Keystone Collision â Part II - Philadelphia Soul
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- Beat the Heat with the Soul at Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia Soul
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