Extended Coverage

For the first time since 1997, the Foster Trophy is headed back to Arizona, as the Rattlers defeated the Philadelphia Soul, 72-54, to win AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans on Friday night.

NEW ORLEANS -- The mood was somber last year for the Arizona Rattlers, as they lost the ArenaBowl on the final play of the game against the Jacksonville Sharks. From the very start of the season through the very last play of the season, the Rattlers did what they had to do to erase those hard feelings, and they did just that on Friday night, beating the Philadelphia Soul 72-54 to win ArenaBowl XXV.

ArenaFan.com's Adam Markowitz will be joining Dave Isaac on Breakthrough Sports, a radio broadcast based in Phoenix, discussing all things related to the Rattlers and ArenaBowl XXV

NEW ORLEANS -- We are just about 12 hours away from the kickoff of ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans, as the Arizona Rattlers take on the Philadelphia Soul for the right to win the Foster Trophy in the Silver Anniversary season of the Arena Football League. As a part of our unrivaled continuing coverage from the ArenaBowl, we asked our staff, some experts from across the league, and you, the fans who would win the championship. Here are our staff picks for ArenaBowl XXV!

NEW ORLEANS -- The day of ArenaBowl XXV is here. For the Arizona Rattlers and the Philadelphia Soul, this day was always one where destiny will be determined. For the Soul, anything short of a championship, and the We Got This slogan for the year will almost certainly become the butt of any joke for years to come. For the Rattlers, getting this close without winning a championship would be the most bitter pill to swallow of all. These two will kick it off on Friday night at New Orleans Arena at 9:30 p.m. (CT).

0:00 4Q: The Rattlers wound down the clock and won ArenaBowl XXV over the Soul 72-54 to win their third championship in franchise history.

NEW ORLEANS -- When you look into the eyes of Philadelphia Soul DL Bryan Robinson on the field, you have to see a man that is full of intensity. He's always out to work harder than you, and virtually 100% of the time, he does just that. When I had the chance to look into his eyes at Media Day on Wednesday, just 48 hours before ArenaBowl XXV, I saw a man that knows that he is on the verge of something special. And he's enjoying every single minute of it.

NEW ORLEANS -- Pretty much every single team that loses a championship game at any level comes into the next season with a chip on its shoulder. For the Arizona Rattlers, the chip is a whole heck of a lot bigger this year. Not only are the Rats coming into this one trying to erase the memories of a brutal 73-70 loss on the last play of the game against the Jacksonville Sharks in ArenaBowl XXIV, but they are trying to prove that they are the superior team in this game against the Philadelphia Soul.

NEW ORLEANS -- Last year, the Arizona Rattlers learned a crushing lesson. You can come within just inches of winning a championship, but in the end, even if you fall a few inches short, you've ended your season falling short of your ultimate goal. This year marks their return to the ArenaBowl, but for the coach of the Philadelphia Soul, Doug Plank, falling short of a championship is nothing that is all that new.

NEW ORLEANS -- This year the Philadelphia Soul went out and signed Clint Dolezel, one of the four men to throw for over 40,000 yards in a career and one of the three to throw for at least 900 TDs, to be their offensive coordinator. Yet it is the rushing game with Derrick Rose that really gave Philadelphia the edge in 2012.

On Wednesday, August 8th, the Arena Football League hosted ArenaBowl XXV Media Day at the New Orleans Arena. The head coaches of both teams and Commissioner Jerry Kurz addressed the media.

Last year, the Jacksonville Sharks and the Arizona Rattlers combined to score 143 points in a 73-70 game. It was the highest scoring ArenaBowl in league history, and it is the second highest scoring playoff game that the AFL has ever seen as well. The Rattlers are back, but this time around, it is the Philadelphia Soul that they are playing for the Foster Trophy this weekend, and the fireworks could be flying if both of these offenses play up to their potential.

Anthony Herron and Ari Wolfe will be in the NFL Network broadcast booth for AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans on Friday, August 10.

With the AFL's 25th regular season in the books, it's time to honor the best of the best from 2012. Here's my take on who should receive the league's top honors.