Soul cruise after late start for Monday night win over Tampa

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Despite a slow start in a matchup dubbed a potential trap game, the Philadelphia Soul weathered the Tampa Bay Storm for a 47-17 win to help their cause toward an American Conference championship.

It’s hard to believe now, but the Storm actually held a two-possession lead right out the jump of Philadelphia’s second-straight Monday night matchup.

Tampa’s Mike Washington returned the game's opening kickoff 37 yards into Soul territory, but the Storm offense showed the struggles and incapabilities they’ve faced all season, going unable to pick up an offensive first down. Kicker Craig Peterson converted just his second field goal completion of the season, this one good for 21-yards to give the storm an early 3-0.

On Philadelphia’s first offensive drive moments later, Dan Raudabaugh threw an uncharacteristic interception in the endzone to Tampa’s James Harrell, who returned his gift 40-yards to the Soul red zone.

Phillip Barnette contributed to his Storm team’s stunning start with a diving catch over the boards to extend Tampa’s lead to 10-0 with 7:31 remaining in the first frame.

A lengthy drive brought the Soul knocking on the doorstep of Tampa’s end zone once again on the next drive, and this time Raudabaugh took a more conservative approach handing the ball off to Jeramie Richardson, the league's leading rusher, who punched in a three-yard touchdown to get the Soul on the board.

Tommy Frevert couldn’t complete the score however, hitting the right upright on the extra point attempt to kick Tampa ontop 10-6.

Tampa had the opportunity to go back up by two scores, marching down to the Soul’s red zone and challenging the Soul defensive line on a fourth-and-goal rush from James Gordon.

Philly’s line proved to be the tougher end in the battle, bringing down all 275 pounds of Gordon short of the goal line and giving the Soul the ball back.

The turnover proved to be a dramatic turn in momentum in favor of the Soul, who went on to score 26 unanswered points.

Moments after the turnover, Raudabaugh found Ryan McDaniel in the corner of the endzone for a wide open touchdown, five yards away from any defender. However, Frevert soured the mood once again with another missed PAT, keeping Philadelphia’s lead to 12-10.

Tampa constructed a drive lasting over nine minutes the next time they touched the ball, and when trying to finding a receiver in the endzone on fourth down, Philly’s Dwayne Hollis hauled in his fifth interception of the season, sprinting 40-yards around defenders for his second touchdown of the year. Freevert even converted his first extra point of the game, putting the Soul on top two scores, 19-10 with 1:44 remaining in the first half.

Hollis’ heroics were not done before heading into the locker room, as Freevert made up for his missed extra points with a successful onside kick that was recovered by Hollis.

A few passes to Darius Reynolds, McDaniel and Shaun Kauleinamoku helped the Soul milk the clock and burn the Storm’s in the final minute, but it was Jake Metz at tight end who ran a seam route and earned an open touchdown as the horn sounded to end the first half. Philadelphia took a 26-10 lead into the locker room, and they never looked back.

It was not a perfect game for the Soul by any means. The second half started out just as disastrous as the first, with both teams turning the ball over on downs and Raudabaugh fumbling a pass that resulted in a Storm touchdown.

But Philadelphia’s firepower on both sides of the ball proved to be too much for the winless Storm.

Hollis brought in his interception, while James Romain brought in his second interception of the season for his first touchdown.

After the Soul made that key stop on Gordon in the second quarter, the Soul went on to score 47 of the final 54 points.

Raudabaugh finished the game completing 24 of his 37 passes, throwing for 186 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Kauleinamoku caught two touchdowns with 58 yards.

Jonathan Bane threw for 119 yards and two touchdowns, and completed just 13 of his 34 passes for the Storm.

The Soul will need a better performance to start both halves their next few weeks, as the boys will be separated from the men with matchups against the Arizona Rattlers, Orlando Predators, Cleveland Gladiators and Jacksonville Sharks over the next month.

The win advanced the Soul to 5-1, keeping them in second place in the American conference, one game behind the 6-0 Orlando Predators and two games ahead of the 2-3 Jacksonville Sharks. Philly has the chance to distance themselves from both of those teams in the next few weeks.

Philadelphia might have been looking ahead on their schedule a bit when they entered the Wells Fargo Center Monday night. But there’s no reason for them to repeat that action this weekend, when they face an Arizona Rattlers team they have never beaten in franchise history.

There’s a difference between the last-place team in the American conference, and Nick Davila’s Arizona Rattlers. It will be a quick turnaround, as the Soul have less than five days off before one of their biggest games of the year. Philly can’t afford to have the same flat starts they had Monday, and they know all of that. We’ll find out how they stack up against one of the league’s premier teams soon enough.