Soul to Arenabowl After Defeating Sharks, 89-34
Published on August 3, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA - The newly-crowned American Conference Champions, Philadelphia Soul (17-3), with a huge night by Larry Brackins, defeated the Jacksonville Sharks (11-9), 89-34, in front of 12,332 fans at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night. This win sends the Soul to New Orleans for Avitae ArenaBowl XXV, their first ArenaBowl appearance since their victory in 2008.
"The guys knew what was on the line tonight, and they played like it," said Soul head coach Doug Plank. "I know we're all excited for New Orleans. This is what we've been working for all season."
Brackins recorded a franchise-record total of eight touchdowns. He had seven receptions for 72 yards and five touchdowns, three carries for seven yards and two touchdowns and three kick returns for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh finished the game by connecting on 15-of-21 passes for 196 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Derrick Ross finished with five carries for 23 yards and two touchdowns, plus one reception for 11 yards. Melik Brown added four carries for 14 yards and a touchdown. Donovan Morgan had four receptions for 75 yards and Emery Sammons added four receptions for 65 yards.
Defensively, LaRico Stevenson recorded 7.0 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown. Rayshaun Kizer added 6.5 tackles and two interceptions and Justin Warren added 4.0 tackles, including a sack.
The first points of the game came on a 9-yard touchdown pass from QB Bernard Morris to Jeron Harvey, but those six points were the extent of Jacksonville's first quarter scoring. Brackins scored on a 10-yard touchdown reception and, following a forced fumble by Warren and recovered by Stevenson. Ross rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to end the quarter with Philadelphia leading 14-6.
The second quarter scoring consisted of four more touchdowns by Brackins, and a 22-yard field goal by Soul kicker Fabrizio Scaccio. With 34 seconds remaining in the quarter, the Sharks scored their second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard reception by Harvey. Brackins' final touchdown of the quarter ended the first half with the Soul leading 45-12.
Harvey started off the third quarter scoring with a 42-yard touchdown reception. Philadelphia answered with a 4-yard touchdown run by Ross, an interception return for a touchdown by Stevenson, and a safety by Bryan Robinson. Jacksonville's Terrance Smith had a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown and Brackins responded with his sixth touchdown of the game, a 12-yard kickoff return. Morris rushed 29 yards for a touchdown to end the quarter with the Soul leading 68-34.
The Soul maintained their lead in the fourth quarter with two more touchdowns by Brackins and a touchdown run by Brown.
The Soul head to New Orleans for Avitae ArenaBowl XXV on Friday, August 10 at 10:30 p.m. EST to face the winner of Saturday's Utah-Arizona National Conference Championship.
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