Soul romp over the Rampage, 69-40
Published on March 15, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Philadelphia Soul quarterback Tony Graziani led the way as he threw five touchdown passes to three different receivers in a 69-40 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage at Van Andel Arena in front of 4,917 in attendance.
The Soul started the game behind for the first time this season as the Rampage were able to get on the board early with a 17-yard field goal by kicker Brian Gowins. Each team exchanged scores to end the first quarter as Grand Rapids led 16-14
Beginning the second quarter, Graziani started to heat up as he found J.J. McKelvey on consecutive drives for touchdowns to increase its lead and never looked back as they went ahead 28-16.
Grand Rapids would get on the board one more time in the quarter with a Gowins 38-yard field goal before the Soul scored two more times to end the half up 41-19.
The final play of the first half was one rookie lineman Jason Davis will not forget. After a missed field goal by Gowins from 24 yards out, Mike Brown returned the kick out of the endzone down the left side of the field, pitched it to his left, and found Dwayne Missouri. Missouri would rumble 15 yards before pitching it one more time to Davis who was able to take it all the way in for the score.
To start the second half, Grand Rapids scored a touchdown on a five-yard reception by Jerome Riley after Sean Scott had the ball knocked loose. The Soul would then take advantage on the ground and score on three consecutive drives on the ground. Wes Ours tallied two scores and Idris Price added another.
Graziani finished the game completing 16-of-23 passes for 217 yards to go along with his five touchdowns and no interceptions. He connected with Charles Pauley a game-high six times for 128 yards with two scores.
Rampage quarterback Matt Sauk finished 22-of-40 passing for 225 yards with three touchdowns despite two interceptions.
Defensive Player of the Game Eddie Moten recorded his second interception of the season after picking off Sauk midway through the second quarter. The Soul defense also forced Sauk into another interception later and a forced fumble recovered by Missouri.
Moten's interception turned the tide of the game in the second quarter in the Souls favor and helped Philadelphia start the season 2-0 for the second season under head coach Bret Munsey.
Fun! Family! Football! The Soul come home for their season opener against the Colorado Crush live on ESPN2 next Thursday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Wachovia Center. Season tickets for the Soul's 2007 season are on sale now with tickets starting as low as $96. For more information call (888) PHIL-AFL or log on to www.philadelphiasoul.com. The Soul are entering their fourth season in the AFL and in their three seasons they have sold out 93% of the venue while drawing a League best 387,491 fans combined.
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