Second Time a Charm
30 Jun 07
Last season it was the Rumble in the Jungle. This season the... Attack in the Wach? The Dilly in Philly? The Broadstreet Brawl? Yeah, I got nothin'. This season the Soul and Predators post season contest was a home game for Philadelphia. If it made a difference it wasn't because the house was packed (though it was rockin').
Having just played 8 days before, the Soul's victory last week and the Preds having to travel back to the 215 area code was enough to warrant an extra point to the oddsmakers line. That supposed Soul momentum and Orlando weariness wasn't readily apparent.
The Soul had turned the ball over on downs on their first possession and Orlando needed just one Shane Stafford to Ron Johnson pass for 49 yards to go up 7 nothing.
Philadelphia started the next drive from their 8. On the second play of the drive Soul QB Tony Graziani was sacked by a blitzing Kevin Nagle for a loss of 4. An Illegal Defense call on Orlando negated the sack. Graziani would connect with WR Charles Pauley to get into Pred territory and a first down but the Soul could not convert. Kicker Todd France's 24 yard field goal put the Soul on the board with just under three and a half minutes left in the first quarter.
Tamps Bay's Orlando's T.T. "I quit" Tolliver fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Soul WR/LB Jerrian James recovered for the score and the lead (7-10).
The two teams would trade touchdowns and field goals for the remainder of the half with another France field goal (from 38 yards out) tying the game. Since the Soul have never won when trailing at the half it was good to see the kick sail through the uprights.
A sack by Soul DL Gabe Nyenhuis forced Orlando to settle for three to open the second half. A touchdown by Soul WR J.J. McElvey put the Soul on top (23-27). The Soul would not relenquish the lead for the remainder of the game. The next Orlando possession ended on rookie DL (and All-Rookie Team member) Bryan Save's sack of Shane Stafford on 4th and 8. Charles Pauley's score put the Soul up 23-34 with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter began like the third, with Orlando again settling for a field goal and the Soul then scoring a touchdown extending their lead 21-46. Soul DB Eddie Moten then grabbed the only interception of the night and returned it 22 yards. Soul WR/LB Sean Scott's fumble at the Orlando 2 gave the Predators hope. False hope as it turns out. After a short pass to Ron Johnson, Stafford fired three incomplete passes in the direction of WR Jimmy Fryzel. The Soul would take over on downs with under a minute to play and run the ball to the Orlando 1 and the clock to 0.
Before the game someone asked me for a prediction. I predicted a Soul victory by an even greater margin than last week. So for the record, the week 17 win was by 14 points and this one was by 15. Maybe not Karnac but still correct \o/.
While the Soul offense had a few misfires the defense played very well. They held Orlando to a season low 26 points and took it to a very physical team. As an aside Tampa Bay Bucs coach John Gruden, brother of Preds coach Jay Gruden, was onhand for the game. His presence helped Orlando win about as much as it's helped Tampa Bay. And John if you read this, TRock would like to continue his coversation with you at your earliest convenience.
Next up for the Soul, another trip to Hotlanta to face the Georgia Force for the divisional round of the playoffs.
