Soul win second straight; defeat Rampage 64-41
March 26, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA â The Philadelphia Soul improved to 4-5 on the season with a convincing 64-41 win over the Grand Rapids Rampage on Saturday at the Wachovia Center. The win was the Soul's second straight, as the team was led by the spectacular play of quarterback Tony Graziani and wide receiver/linebacker Marcus Knight. Knight, a rookie wide receiver/linebacker from the University of Michigan, snared a game and career-high five scores in just his fourth game of the season, while Graziani tossed his eight touchdowns for the second straight game.
Graziani, who picked up his second straight Offensive Player of the Game award, finished 21-for-34 for 297 yards and no interceptions while his counterpart Michael Bishop threw three touchdowns and ran for two more. The Grand Rapids (1-7) quarterback, who was the 1998 Heisman Trophy runner up to Ricky Williams, hit on 18-of-32 passes for 272 yards and two interceptions. He also ran for a game-high 65 yards. Knight, the US Army Ironman of the Game, finished with a game-best 11 catches for 142 yards. His five touchdowns tied a franchise mark set by wide receiver/linebacker Sean Scott and offensive specialist Steve Smith earlier this season.
Knight said he is pleased that Soul interim Head Coach James Fuller has given him the chance to showcase his skills.
"It's all about taking the opportunities you have," he said. "The first five games were not within my control. All I can do right now is get on the field and do everything that I possibly can to stay there."
Fuller, who earned his second victory as the Soul's coach, said the team is beginning to come into its own, as it moves into the second half of the season.
"Anytime you beat a team like Tampa and then come back and win back-to-back, that's big," he said. "Our team is slowly gathering momentum as we move forward but we still have a lot of work to do."
The Soul took a 35-20 lead into halftime after Graziani connected on five first half touchdowns. The Philadelphia offense converted two turnovers into scores after a fumble recovery by Soul wide receiver/defensive back Keita Crespina and an interception by Calvin Coleman. Coleman, the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, picked off Bishop after the Grand Rapids signal caller tossed an ill-advised pass off the end zone net.
Philadelphia took a commanding 48-20 lead in the third quarter after Chris "Soul Train" Ryan blocked his second kick of the season. Scott picked up the loose ball and returned it 11 yards for the score.
A 25-yard field goal by newly acquired kicker Tim Seder with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter iced Philadelphia's fourth win of the season.
The Soul will take to the road next weekend just one win away from the .500 mark. Philadelphia will take on the division rival Columbus Destroyers on Sunday, April 3rd at 12 p.m. (ET). The game will be televised live on NBC Sports (WCAU-10 Philadelphia) and can be heard on Philadelphia's NewsTalk 990 AM and at www.philadelphiasoul.com.
Notes: The attendance was 14,308...The teams combined for 24 penalties (the Soul had 13)...Steve Smith caught five passes for 95 yards and had 139 all purpose yards...Eddie Moten had an interception in his second straight game... The Sou'sl defense forced three turnovers...Sean Scott had two receiving touchdowns and added a special teams score...Rampage offensive specialist Chris Jackson caught six passes for 81 yards.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 26, 2005
- Rattlers defeat Kats - Arizona Rattlers
- Destroyers drop 56-55 decision to New York at Nationwide Arena - Columbus Destroyers
- Soul win second straight; defeat Rampage 64-41 - Philadelphia Soul
- Dragons win in Harding's homecoming - New York Dragons
- Preds wallop Austin, 51-21 - Orlando Predators
- Hamilton, Predators outgun Wranglers 51-21 - Austin Wranglers
- Crush Wins Duel of Division Leaders - Colorado Crush
- Desperados Crushed In Final Seconds, 66-58 - Dallas Desperados
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