Soul Weekly Update
June 9, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
SOUL RESPOND IN MUST-WIN GAME AGAINST DALLAS
Matt D'Orazio continued his impressive play stepping in for injured starter Tony Graziani late in the first half and leading the Soul to a much-needed 71-64 victory against archrival Dallas. Graziani left the game with a concussion and did not return. Chris Jackson caught his sixth touchdown pass of the game with 55 seconds remaining to give the Soul a 69-64 lead. D'Orazio then converted the two-point conversion on foot to give the Soul a seven-point lead. Brent Holmes then caused a fumble on the following kickoff. The Soul recovered and ran out the clock.
SWEEP OF DALLAS GIVES SOUL CONTROL IN EASTERN DIVISION RACE
The Soul now control their own destiny in the race for the Eastern Division and national Conference title with just two weeks left. Philadelphia won both regular season meetings between the Soul and Desperados giving them the tiebreaker if they finish with identical records of 11-3. The Soul's remaining games are in Philadelphia June 14 against Cleveland (8-6) and at New York (8-6) on June 22. The Desperados will play a home game against New York on June 14, then finish the regular season at Chicago (10-4) on June 22. Entering Saturday's game, the Desperados could have clinched the Eastern Division with a win over the Soul by at least 30 points. Whoever wins the Eastern Division will have home-field advantage on the road to the ArenaBowl XXII.
JACKSON CONTINUES RECORD BREAKING SEASON
Chris Jackson continues to prove why he is among the best players in the Arena Football League. Jackson was superb the entire game in Dallas, notching 10 receptions for 128 yards and 6 touchdowns. Six touchdowns tied the franchise and personal record for a single game, set earlier this season against the Los Angeles Avengers. Jackson also passed the Soul single-season franchise record for receiving yards, passing Charles Pauley's mark of 1,473 yards in 2007. Jackson now holds the Soul single-season records for receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns (receiving and total), and points. A couple of milestones are in site for Jackson next week too: With 8 more points, Jackson will join Barry Wagner and Eddie Brown as only the third player in AFL history to score 2,000 career points. Jackson is also only three touchdowns shy of his personal record for receiving touchdowns in a season. With 131 all-purpose yards Jackson may also move into fourth on the all-time list, passing Eddie Brown (16,437 yards).
SOUL LOOK FOR FIRST WIN VERSUS GLADIATORS JUNE 14
This Saturday's match-up with the Cleveland will be the second time this season the Soul play the Gladiators following an emotional victory versus Dallas. The first meeting this season was Week 10 when the Gladiators handed the Soul their first loss of the season, 67-55 at Cleveland. Former Soul Marlion Jackson ran for 50 yards and 4 touchdowns for Cleveland. A win would give the Soul their first-ever victory versus the Gladiators, against whom they are 0-4 all-time. The first three losses came when the Gladiators called Las Vegas home.
AROUND THE LEAGUE Former Dallas Cowboys QB Quincy Carter made his AFL debut Saturday for Kansas City in a 73-34 loss to Arizona. Carter went 23-of-43 for 279 yards, 4 TDs and 2 interceptions... Former Ohio State Buckeye QB Justin Zwick will make his AFL debut for Columbus on Saturday against Kansas City... Grand Rapids QB James MacPherson threw 10 TD passes in an 84-65 victory over the Colorado Crush... Tampa Bay WR Lawrence Samuels upped his career total for receptions to 998 on Saturday. No one in AFL history has ever reached the 1,000 career receptions.
GAME NOTES
The Soul's weekly game notes can be attained early through aflmedia.com. Call the Soul's communications department for username and password.
AIR WAVES
All 16 regular-season Soul games and any playoff games will be broadcast on 950 ESPN, which will also air all the games live on the web at www.950ESPN.com. This week's game will also be televised on Comcast Sportsnet.
SOUL.COM
Keep up with all the daily news on the Soul at www.philadelphiasoul.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 9, 2008
- Crush set to visit Denver veterans hospital - Colorado Crush
- Former Buckeye Zwick to make AFL QB debut in Destroyers' final home game of 2008 - Columbus Destroyers
- Soul Weekly Update - Philadelphia Soul
- Destroyers To Offer Fathers Day Package - Columbus Destroyers
- Former Buckeye Justin Zwick To Make AFL Debut With Columbus Destroyers - Columbus Destroyers
- Avengers face red hot Blaze tonight on ESPN2 - Utah Blaze
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