The Philadelphia Soul continued defeating all of the Arena Football league Saturday afternoon, sending us into the holiday weekend happy with a 48-47 win over the Washington Valore.
After a series of crazy events in the final three quarters, it turned into a special teams battle in the closing minutes.
Washington had the opportunity to tie the game 42-42 in the closing minutes, but Valore kicker T.C. Stevens couldn’t make an extra point attempt to tie the game.
Philly responded with a Darius Reynolds touchdown with just under a minute left in the game, when Dolezel opted to go for two instead of kicking the extra point.
The attempt failed, but after the Valore tied the game 20 seconds later, the Valore special teams failed a potential game tying touchdown, this time fumbling the snap and not even giving the kicker a chance, solidifying the win for the soul.
Here are a few points that highlight Philly’s seventh win of the season:
EARLY DOMINANCE:
Five weeks ago, Washington’s announcers deemed their squad the “best team in the league” five minutes into the match, before the Soul ended up running away with the win.
Even though injuries have plagued the Valore since then, it was clear early in today’s match the Soul are on a different level than their new rival.
It took Washington over five minutes and a series of penalties committed by Philly on the opening drive for the Valore to grab a 7-0 lead.
But when Dan Raudabaugh and company got the ball for the first time, it took just four snaps for the Soul to tie the game, and Philly would go on to score 21 straight points to dominate early.
OUTRAGE:
An interesting rule change put in place last offseason was showcased midway through the first quarter, when the Valore had the ball backed deep into their own territory.
Brackett was under deep pressure in his own endzone, and with a clear sack coming the quarterback purposely fumbled the ball into the field of play. In almost every other league, this would have been a safety and Soul possession, but with the recent change this past offseason, it was considered a “forward pass” (Brady tuck rule esqu?) and a loss of down, allowing the Valore to keep the ball.
KARMA
On a Soul kick off midway through the second quarter, Washington’s Charles McClain was upset with a special team stop by Philadelphia, and proceeded to lay out one of the biggest flops you will see in sports to try and draw a flag on McDaniel.
Moments later on offense, McClain dropped a wide open touchdown with no defender within 10 yards around him, bringing the karma full circle.
SERIES OF MISSED CALLS:
Josh Reese’s touchdown with 3:30 left in the game was clearly missed interference as James Romain was laying on the ground when the ball reached the end zone, but it was earlier in the game when the officials let the game get out of hand.
After Washington made it a one score game with a touchdown with four minutes remaining in the first half, Philly’s Chris Duvalt was slapped in the back at the one yard line after the kick bounced off the bar and landed in the field, which even Washington’s announcers agreed should have been flagged and possession would have been given to Philly.
Instead, Washington’s Josh reese recovered the ball and returned it for a tying touchdown, swinging momentum to Washington.
On Philly’s fourth down during the next drive, SK was interfered with on what should have been a touchdown, and no flag was thrown.
The refs kept the flags in their pockets on the next drive once again, when Washington’s Greg Carr interfered with a Soul defender and caught a touchdown, putting the Valore up 28-21.
Luckily, Duvalt returned the kickoff for a tying touchdown before the half to somewhat lighten the blow on the officiating first half mistakes.
TURNING POINT:
With four minutes left in the third quarter and up a touchdown, Philly’s Sean Daniels and Trye Glasper sandwiched Brackett, forcing a fumble which was recovered by Joe Goosby for the first turnover of the game.
The very next play, Raudabaugh found Darius Reynolds for a wide open touchdown, giving the Soul a two score game once again.
The Soul head into the bye week 7-0, with Tampa Bay just behind them at 5-1 and in the midst of their own bye week.
Philly is also halfway through their schedule, and are already close to securing home field advantage in the one-game playoff to reach the Arena Bowl
Enjoy the holiday weekend.
