Valor Defeats Soul, 48-41
Sunday June 9, 2019
Nelson scores seven touchdowns, Johnson forces a pair of turnovers as Washington moves into second place
PHILADELPHIA, PA. – The Washington Valor (4-3) topped the Philadelphia Soul (3-4), 48-41, Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Valor scored three times in the fourth quarter, including a one-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Arvell Nelson with 20 seconds remaining to seal the victory. With the win, Washington is now tied with Baltimore for the second-best record in the league.
VALOR NOTES & QUOTES
- Nelson threw for six passing touchdowns, his fourth game this season with 5+ passing touchdowns, including both games against Philadelphia.
- Valor wide receiver Douglas McNeill III caught four passes for 27 yards and three touchdowns, his third consecutive game with multiple receiving touchdowns.
- Valor wideout Reggie Gray caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns, including a pivotal score with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Gray has now scored 2+ touchdowns in four games this season.
- Nelson accounted for all seven of Washington’s touchdowns against Philadelphia (six passing, one rushing) and has now accounted for 41 of the Valor’s 42 touchdowns scored this season.
- Valor defensive back Jadar Johnson registered a forced fumble and an interception to go along with three tackles (all solo). Defensive back Svante Davenport led the team with six tackles (all solo).
- Late in the fourth quarter, linebacker Jimmy Gordon recorded his second sack of the season which doubled as his 50th career solo tackle. The sack was the first given up by Philadelphia this season.
VALOR HEAD COACH BENJI MCDOWELL
On the game:
“Being able to score on all three possessions in the fourth quarter is what made the difference. We managed to run down the clock and find the end zone when we needed to. We have to continue to be consistent be consistent of offense.”
On the defense:
“The defense played great today. Getting to the quarterback and creating turnovers were crucial. We are starting to find and identity defensively, so we just have to stick to that, and good things will happen.”
On defensive back Jadar Johnson:
“Jadar just always finds a way to be around the ball. Teams go at him because he’s a rookie, but whenever he has a chance to make a play, he’s going to. He creates plays. That’s just who he is.”
NEXT TIME OUT
Next weekend, the Valor return to Capital One Arena for their first home game in nearly a month, hosting the Albany Empire on Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m. Saturday will be the teams’ first meeting in Washington, D.C. this season.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON VALOR
The AFL’s Washington Valor, 2018 ArenaBowl Champions, are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. MSE owns and operates seven professional sports teams: the Valor, AFL’s Baltimore Brigade, NBA's Washington Wizards, NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, WNBA’s Washington Mystics and the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and owns and operates Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also manages MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and EagleBank Arena on George Mason University's campus. In conjunction with the District of Columbia and Events DC, MSE is a partner in a new sports and entertainment facility in Southeast DC on the St. Elizabeth’s East campus that opened in September 2018.
