VooDoo Take Advantage of Soul Mistakes
Craig T. Mackey
Monday February 9, 2004
Whether it was the emotion of playing in front of sold-out crowd of rowdy Philadelphia fans or just the normal jitters that come with season openers, the Soul looked sloppy on both sides of the ball. The ugliest statistic was that they were called for 12 penalties. They also committed the only two turnovers of the game.
The defense really let the yellow flag dictate the game. Of the 12 penalties, nine were called on the defense, mostly for offsides. Penalties will kill you no matter what league you are in, but on a field that is just 50 yards, 5-yard penalties will make the field even shorter and make the job of the defense much tougher.
Temple product Keita Crespina, who was named Ironman of the Game and was part of that defense, was disappointed in the performance of the team.
“We had too many penalties and did not force enough turnovers to win the game,” Crespina said after the game. “We looked juvenile and we are supposed to be professionals. It is unacceptable.”
Philadelphia quarterback Nick Browder played decently, but he did not get much help from some of his receivers. The receivers dropped at least three passes, but he still finished the game well, completing 23 of 37 for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He also had an interception and a 1-yard touchdown scamper.
All was not that bad as the Soul did get off to a good start. Browder took the Soul on a 5-play drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tyronne Jones. The Soul’s defense would then force the VooDoo into a missed field goal attempt on the next drive.
However, the Soul could not capitalize on the missed field goal as their own field goal attempt was blocked at the other end. The VooDoo then scored on a 4-yard run by their bruising fullback Dan Curran. Ken Hinsley missed the extra point and the Soul’s lead stood at 7-6.
On the Soul’s next drive, Philadelphia got a glimpse of what makes Arena Football different. At their own 12-yard line and facing a fourth-and-three, coach Michael Trigg elected to go for a first down. They were unsuccessful, but the defense would hold once more. Jones then caught his second touchdown pass of the game to put the Soul up by eight
The VooDoo cut the lead to 14-13 with 44 seconds left in the first half. The Soul took the ensuing drive down to New Orleans 13-yard line, where the drive would end after Browder was intercepted in the end zone by former Philadelphia Eagle Monty Montgomery.
The interception would prove to be a game changing play since any points would have given the Soul some momentum going into the half. Instead, the VooDoo took their first lead of the game on the opening drive of the second half, a lead they would never relinquish.
The Soul came right back and answered the VooDoo touchdown with a 10-yard pass to the speedy Ricky Ross, but Brian Schmitz missed the extra point. New Orleans then went right back up 35-27 on Curran’s second touchdown run.
The Soul’s second turnover came on the next drive when Jones fumbled into the end zone after carrying the ball on a reverse. The Soul had a nice drive going as they had marched all the way to the New Orleans six. Both turnovers were inside the red zone and were both back-breakers.
In a game that would go back and forth, it was important for the Soul to take advantage of their defensive stops and limit turnovers.
“We did not put the ball in the end zone enough,” Browder told reporters. “The defense made the stops that they had to, but we just did not take advantage.”
The VooDoo then put the nail in the coffin with a 29-yard touchdown catch by Aaron Bailey. Bailey was named the game’s MVP after catching nine passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
The Soul still gave the fans some excitement in the closing minutes. After Chris “Soul Train” Ryan’s 2-yard touchdown, the Soul recovered an onside kick with 15 seconds left. The Soul had just enough time get four plays off, but the final one was a Hail Mary that sailed out of bounds.
They may have seen their team lose, but the fans in the packed house at the Wachovia Center seemed to be entertained. They were into the game for the entire 60 minutes and the players appreciated the excitement, but they were upset they could not capitalize on it.
“I just hope that they will come out to the next game and show just as much excitement ,and that we can give them a better outcome,” said Ross, who led the Soul offense with nine catches for 95 yards.
The Soul missed a great opportunity to start the season on the right foot, at home and playing against another expansion team.
“It is very disappointing losing to a team that is starting out at the same time,” coach Trigg said.
Now they have to travel to Dallas and play the Desperados at the American Airlines Center. Dallas won their division last year, but they are not the same team. Head coach Joe Avezzano resigned last week to take a job with the Oakland Raiders and quarterback Jim Kubiak is gone for the season.
It will still be a tough game and the Soul need to play with more discipline and cut back on their mistakes. The way they jumped offsides, it may be a good thing that they are going on the road. They seemed tense playing in front of their home fans for the first time. Let’s hope that they get rid of their nerves and return to Philadelphia 1-1 and give the fans just as much excitement the next time out.
Craig T Mackey is a an engineer in Philadelphia. He is a huge philadelphia sports fan. He has worked for NFL Films in the past and is a 1999 graduate of Penn State University with a bachelors degree in journalism.
