Soul comeback falls short, 65-58, to New York Dragons
April 30, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
The Philadelphia Soul's (7-7) second half comeback attempt fell short as they fell to the New York Dragons (9-5) 65-58 in front of a sold out crowd of 12,063 at Nassau Coliseum. Soul back-up quarterback Connell Maynor was stopped inches short of the goal line on a quarterback sneak as time expired. Philadelphia trailed by as much as 26 points in the second half before taking a lead early in the fourth quarter.
Maynor replaced starting QB Matt Sauk to start the third quarter. Sauk's quarterback center exchange problems continued as he fumbled three snaps including one for a safety. The Soul lost four exchanges in all which led to 30 Dragons points.
New York started the scoring with Maurice Brown running back the opening kickoff 58 yards for a touchdown. On Philadelphia's first possession, Sauk fumbled the snap and New York recovered the ball on the Soul's 17 yard line. New York scored on the ensuing play when former Soul QB Nick Browder found Mike Horacek for his 200th career receiving touchdown.
With 12:30 still left in the first quarter, the Soul started a four-play scoring drive that featured a 28-yard pass to Smith and was capped off by a 1-yard run by FB/LB Wes Ours. The Soul held the Dragons on their next possession and forced a 56 yard field goal attempt. After falling wide right, Steve Smith returned the ball 41 yards to the Dragons' 12 yard line where the Soul took over. France kicked a 26 yard field goal to bring them within 4 points of the lead with New York still leading the game 14-10.
After a New York touchdown with a failed PAT due to a fumbled snap, Philadelphia capitalized on the change of momentum. The Soul cut the lead to three points when Sauk found Sean Scott for a 10-yard touchdown pass and the Soul trailed, 20-17.
Philadelphia's defense fed off the offensive momentum on the ensuing drive with an E.J. Burt sack of Browder for a loss of three yards followed by a 28-yard interception return by Eddie Moten giving the Soul their first lead of the game 24-20.
Three plays later the Dragons took the lead back and retained it throughout the half. Philadelphia's next drive ended after a single play with a safety when Sauk was tackled in the endzone after fumbling the snap. New York scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive and Philadelphia could not respond by the end of the half as Sauk finished a 6-play drive losing another fumble to the Dragons defense and trailing going into the half, 43-24.
The Soul started the second half with Maynor at quarterback and his game started just as Sauk's ended with a fumbled snap and recovery by the Dragons. On their second drive of the half the Soul rallied when Maynor found Ours in the endzone giving Philadelphia a much-needed boost but still trailing the Dragons 50-31.
Soul DS Kevin Gaines captured the second Browder interception of the day, returning the ball 30 yards to the Dragons seven yard line. Philadelphia scored on fourth and goal when Maynor flipped the ball towards the endzone as the play fell apart and Reggie Doster came up with the grab, closing the lead to 12, 50-38.
The Soul stopped the Dragons for another wave of momentum swinging in their direction as Chad Dukes recovered a Browder fumble caused by a Dwayne Missouri sack in the endzone for a touchdown.
Despite a New York touchdown, the Soul continued to carry the momentum as Maynor completed a 39-yard pass to Mike Brown placing the team on the Dragons five yard line. The next play forced the Soul back to the NY 15 with a Maynor sacked, but the team held on, charging into the fourth quarter with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Rob Milanese.
The Soul line play started crushing New York's offense, keeping Browder on his toes as the game turned into a shootout. The Philly defense picked up where the offense left off, sacking Browder again and pressing in the secondary forcing three incomplete passes, forcing the Dragons to turn over the ball on downs. The Soul offense took over on the Dragons' six yard line and the Soul scored with a scrambling Maynor finding Milanese again in the back corner of the endzone. A two-point conversion attempt was no good, but the Soul regained the lead, 58-57.
On the last drive of the game, the Soul offense captured a critical first down with a 14-yard Maynor pass to Scott giving the Soul the ball on the Dragons' 13 yard line. Maynor ran the ball to the NY two for a first down but Soul could not wrap the game as Maynor cam up a foot short on the final offensive push to the endzone as time expired giving the Dragons the win, 63-58.
The Soul return home for their last regular season home game of the season this Saturday, May 6 when they host the Dallas Desperados at the Wachovia Spectrum. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on OLN. The game can be heard on the New SportsTalk 950 AM and via the web at www.philadelphiasoul.com. Tickets for the game are still on sale by calling 888-PHIL-AFL or by visiting www.philadelphiasoul.com.
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