RECAP: Soul Fall for Their First Loss of the Season, 57-48
by Mike Kruce
The Philadelphia Soul and the Albany Empire walked into Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night, undefeated. We all knew one team had to lose. Unfortunately, the winning team is on its way back home to Albany, still undefeated at 3-0.
Albany Empire’s Malachi Jones all smiles after finishing the night with six catches for 137yrds, and two TDs.
Credit: Mike Kruce
If there was a silver lining, the Philadelphia Soul’s offensive line kept the AFL’s all-time sack leader Joe Sykes at bay, not allowing him to get his hands on Dan Raudabaugh all night. At the same time, Soul’s defense was just as quiet.
The Albany Empire opened the game with the ball. Each team scored on their first two possessions. The difference maker was when Soul’s kicker, Kenneth Spencer, missed the extra point after their second touchdown. The Soul never really recovered after that.
The teams traded touchdowns all night long, but that one missed field goal kept them behind. Soul did try a two-point conversion early in the 4th quarter but were unable to convert. Albany tried all they could to keep the Soul in the game, with a total of eight penalties to the Soul’s two, but the Soul just couldn’t seem to catch up, always coming within one point. With 3:56 left in the game, the Soul scored to come within one point (49-48). Trying the onside kick, Albany recovered. One play, touchdown with 3:04 left, and that was all she wrote.
D.J Stephens taking a kickoff out of the end zone.
Credit: Mike Kruce
Looking at the Numbers
If you look at the numbers and ignore the score, it looks like the Soul should have had this win.
Time of Possession 38:55 vs Albany 21:05.
Offensive yards 319 vs Albany 258.
Net Passing Yards 309 vs Albany 256.
Raudabaugh was 21-34 with one INT, while Tommy Grady was 14-17.
Grady threw one more TD than Raudabaugh, 7 to 6.
Lonnie Outlaw even had a career-high 191 receiving yards, with three touchdowns.
With all these numbers, it was the one extra TD Grady threw and the one missed PAT by Spencer that were the difference makers.
Philadelphia Soul’s Lonnie Outlaw sprinting towards the end zone for one of his three TDs.
Credit: Mike Kruce
Looking Ahead
Next week, the Soul will travel to Washington to take on the defending Arena Bowl Champs – who just won their first game defeating newcomers Atlantic City Blackjacks, in Washington. They raised their Championship Banner and took care of business, but if you look at the stats, it wasn’t very impressive.
Albany’s Malachi Jones catching one of his two TDs of the night.
Credit: Mike Kruce
After last night’s tough loss, the Philadelphia Soul look to go down to Washington, and get things back on track, and knock the champs down another notch.
Next week’s game is Saturday 5/18 @ 3:30pm.
Photo Credits: Mike Kruce
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