Soul Win 20th Straight Home Game
April 28, 2018 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia Soul (3-0) won their 20th straight home game in front of 10,164 fans at the Wells Fargo Center with a victory over the Washington Valor (0-2) by the score of 67-51. The Soul remain undefeated on the road to a "3-peat" for the 2018 season.
The Soul got the game started quickly when QB Dan Raudabaugh connected with Soul WR Darius Prince for 12 yards. These two players have been off to a great start in 2018 as Prince is leading the league in the most receptions (19) entering Week 3 and Raudabaugh is leading in passing yards (557) passing and touchdowns (12).
The first drive continued with receptions from WR Darius "Money" Reynolds and rookie WR Aaron Wascha, both for five yards each. Raudabaugh connected with Money Reynolds for a 20-yard touchdown, giving the Soul a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with 11:14 still left on the clock.
Just when the Valor thought they could gain some momentum, Valor's WR Chris Duvalt, and former Soul player, was tripped up by Prince inside their own five-yard line. The Valor attempted redemption with a 17-yard touchdown from QB Nick Davila to WR Josh Reese, tying the game at 7 all.
With the ball back in the Soul's possession Raudabaugh found Wascha in the end zone for his first Soul touchdown of 44 yards. The Soul took the lead once again with a score of 14-7.
The Valor looked to gain back momentum, but instead the Soul forced a turnover on downs. The drive ended with a three-yard scamper by Adrian Ferns, his first Soul touchdown of the season. The Valor blocked the extra point and returned it for two points, making the score Soul 20 - Valor 9 at the end of the first quarter.
On the Valor's ensuing drive, Davila threw completions to both WR Rod Windsor and WR Reggie Gray to position the Valor at 1st and goal. Windsor took this opportunity and scored a seven-yard touchdown, bringing the Valor within four at a score of 20 - 16.
With 11:20 remaining in the second quarter, Raudabaugh connected with Wascha for a 10-yard reception. Ferns continued his dominant play with a 21-yard run, his longest of the game, to bring the Soul to the Valor eight-yard line. On second and goal, Wascha completed an eight-yard touchdown, giving the Soul a lead of 27-16.
The Valor, looking to lesson the gap in score, responded with 56-yard kick-return for a touchdown by WR Chris Duvalt. With 6:26 left in the half, the Soul still led 27-23.
The Soul recovered an onside kick at the Valor five yard line and wasted no time with a Ferns walk-in touchdown, making the score Soul 34 - Valor 23.
Just when the Valor thought they would have their chance to pick up momentum, the kickoff bounced off the receiving team net, resulting in a live ball in the field of play which was then recovered by Soul DB Bryce Peila at the seven-yard line and taken in for a touchdown.
The Soul lead deemed too much for the Valor's liking, as Davila sneaked in the end zone, making the score Soul 41 - Valor 30.
With a minute left in the half, Soul's Ferns had two consecutive carries, followed by back-to-back receptions by Wascha to set a field goal of 34 yards, allowing the Soul to lead 44 - 30.
At the start of the third quarter, Duvalt fielded the Soul's kickoff. However, he was met quickly by the Soul's Aaron Wascha in coverage who forced a fumble on the play. The fumble was recovered by Valor's WR Gray in the end zone, resulting in a safety, putting the score at Soul 46 - Valor 30.
With the Soul back in possession, KR Poppy Livers returned the Valor's kickoff to the 16-yard line. Raudabaugh kept the movement down the field going with a long completion to WR Darius Prince to the Valor one-yard line to set up a touchdown by Ferns, his third of the game, giving the Soul a comfortable lead at 53 - 30.
The Valor started the next drive of the third quarter on their 13-yard-line with a reception by Reese for a 10-yard gain. On second down, Soul DB James Romain broke up a pass to bring the Valor to third and one. Valor's Davila connected with Gray for an 11-yard pickup and a first and goal. Davila then completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Reese, making the score Soul 53 - Valor 36.
On the next Soul possession, Ferns ran for 12 yards. Raudabaugh connected with Prince for back-to-back receptions with 13 and 25 yards respectively, leading to another Soul touchdown with a score of Soul 60 - Valor 37.
The Valor were ready to decrease the Soul's lead on the next drive. A pass interference was called on Soul DB James Romain, putting the ball at the Soul 19-yard line. The Valor used this opportunity to gain momentum, as Davila found Reese in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown, making the score Soul 60 - Valor 44.
With the Soul back in possession, DB LaRico Stevenson returned the kickoff for 32 yards, the longest return of the game for the Soul thus far, putting the Soul at the Valor 18-yard line. After penalties called on the Valor, the Soul found themselves at first and goal. The Soul capitalized on this prime field position with a four-yard completion by Raudabaugh to OL PhillipKeith Manley, giving the Soul a larger lead of 67 - 44.
On the next drive, the Valor started at the three-yard line and after two incompletions, Soul FB/LB Jeramie Richardson sacked Valor's Davila. On fourth down, Valor's Windsor completed a reception for 21 yards and a first down. Valor's Reese caught a pass for a third down conversion to keep the drive alive. On the next set of downs, Valor QB Warren Smith connected with Windsor for an 18-yard touchdown, making the score Soul 67 - Valor 51.
After the Soul's final drive, the Soul kept their home-field winning streak alive with a 67-51 victory over the Valor, giving them a 3-0 record for the season.
Coming up in Week 4, the Soul are on the road and face the Baltimore Brigade at the Royal Farms Arena on Friday, May 4. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
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Arena Football League Stories from April 28, 2018
- Soul Win 20th Straight Home Game - Philadelphia Soul
- Valor Fall, 67-51, to Defending-Champion Soul - Washington Valor
- Brigade Defeat Empire, 52-49, in Teams' First-Ever Meeting - Baltimore Brigade
- Brigade Defeats Empire 52-49 In Albany's First Road Game - Albany Empire
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