Report From Philadelphia Soul
PHILADELPHIA (May 10, 2014) – The Philadelphia Soul (4-4) took control of the game early and never looked back. The team scored a season high 79 points in their 79-60 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (1-6) in front of 6,080 fans. The team was lead by veteran QB Dan Raudabaugh and James Romain added big defensive plays to keep the lead throughout the entire game.
“We played a more complete game this week,” said Soul head coach Clint Dolezel. “Our defense forced four turnovers and allowed us to build off of that. This is the type of win we needed for the next few games.”
Ryan McDaniel finished with seven catches for 90 yards and one touchdown. Tiger Jones added six catches for 98 yards and one touchdown. V’Keon Lacey had four receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns, while Adam Smith added one reception for 16 yards. Ross also had nine yards rushing with one touchdown on the ground.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, Dan Raudabaugh finished the night by completing 19-of-26 passes for 271 yards and five touchdowns and no interceptions.
Riddell Defensive Player, James Romain led the team with 6.0 total tackles, two pass breakups and one interception. LaRico Stevenson had 6.0 total tackles and Rayshaun Kizer had 2.0 total tackles and two interceptions, one of them being the Spalding Highlight of the Game.
The Soul got off to a quick start with McDaniel scoring the first touchdown under a minute into the game. The Voodoo quickly answered with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Rocco to Beavers with 7:58 left in the first quarter. Lacey’s 28-yard touchdown reception put the Soul back up 14-7. Eley’s 18-yard touchdown reception finished the quarter off with the VooDoo down 14-13.
Ross scored his first touchdown of the game with 13:13 left in the second quarter. The Soul scored back- to-back touchdowns with Raudabaugh’s 29-yard touchdown completion to McDaniel. Castile’s 20-yard touchdown reception made the score 28-20 with under a minute to go in the first half. Martinez’s field goal added to the Soul’s lead making the halftime score 31-20.
Lacey kicked off the third quarter with a touchdown fumble recovery. Castile scored his second touchdown of the game with 9:58 left to make the score 38-27. A few minutes later Ross responded back with a 1-yard touchdown run. Beaver’s 4-yard touchdown reception from Rocco made the score 45-34 with 3:35 left to play in the third quarter. Ross scored his second touchdown of the quarter with a 9-yard pass from Raudabaugh. The third quarter finished excitingly with a 10-yard touchdown interception by Romain.
The VooDoo scored the first two touchdowns of the fourth quarter with Beavers 56-yard kickoff return followed by Castile’s 19-yard touchdown reception. Raudabaugh’s 13-yard completion to Jones with 11:45 left to put the Soul up 66-47. Kizer’s 24-yard interception return was voted SpaldingHighlight of the Gameand made the score 72-47. A few moments later Castile had a 27-yard touchdown reception. Lacey scored the Soul’s last touchdown of the game with a 9-yard completion from Raudabaugh. Castile made an outstanding one-handed catch with 4:50 left in the game to make the final score 79-60.
The Philadelphia Soul will remain home next week looking for redemption against the Tampa Bay Storm in Week 10 on Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player: Philadelphia’s Dan Raudabaugh
Riddell Defensive Player: Philadelphia’s James Romain
J Lewis Small AFL Playmaker: Philadelphia’s Derrick Ross
Cutter’s Catch of the Game: New Orleans’ LJ Castile one-hand touchdown catch in the 4th quarter
Spalding Highlight of the Game: Philadelphia’s Rayshaun Kizer’s 24-yard interception return for TD