Business Finished: Empire Defeats Soul in ArenaBowl, 45-27
Ryan McCarthy
Tuesday August 13, 2019
Defense dominates as Grady throws 5 TDs
All season long, the mantra for the Albany Empire has been, "Unfinished Business." After Sunday evening, consider it done.
The Albany Empire defeated the Philadelphia Soul, 45-27, at ArenaBowl 32 in front of 12,042 at the Times Union Center. Empire QB Tommy Grady was named the game's MVP as he went 16-for-26 for 200 yards and 5 TDs, 4 to WR Quentin Sims. FB Mykel Benson also caught a touchdown in the win.
The game was predicted by many to be a high-scoring affair as the league's two hottest offenses matched up in this game. But it was a question of which defense could create the most difficulty and early, it proved to be Philadelphia's when Soul DB James Romain punched the ball out of WR Malachi Jones' hand on what would have been a third down conversion. The ball was recovered by Jack LB Tyrell Robinson, but the recovery came at a cost as Robinson twisted his ankle on the ensuing recovery and was out for the remainder of the game.
The Soul had the chance to go up by two scores, but on first down, Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh threw an ill-advised pass into the Empire end zone and was picked off by Empire CB Maurice Leggett, who danced all the way to the opposite end zone for the touchdown. Leggett's 54-yard Pick Six was the longest interception return in ArenaBowl history.
Both teams traded scores and with the score tied at 21, Soul K Kenny Spencer’s onside kick attempt was muffed by Empire WR Collin Taylor and recovered by Soul DB Kyle Chandler. But on the first play from scrimmage, Raudabaugh completed a pass to WR Darius Prince, who was stripped by Empire Jack LB Terrence Moore. The fumble was recovered by Leggett and the Empire took advantage immediately with Grady connecting with Sims for their third touchdown of the half.
With the Empire up a touchdown and time running out in the half, Empire head coach Rob Keefe called for an onside kick. K Adrian Trevino chipped the ball and Moore went skyward over a Soul defender to take possession and the Empire were awarded the ball. Grady surgically picked apart the Soul secondary and then found Sims for the fourth time from 11 yards to make it a two-possession game at the half.
In the third quarter, Grady continued his handiwork and on a third down inside the red zone, he found Benson on a screen play and Benson rumbled in from 8 yards to put the Empire up by 21. Following the score, the Soul drove down the field inside the Empire's 1-yard line. Raudabaugh attempted a run option on 4th-and-1, but it was snuffed out by Empire Mack LB Jeramie Richardson and the drive stalled.
The Empire offense turned the ball over on downs and the Soul would score a touchdown to get within 15 with a Raudabaugh pass to WR Lonnie Outlaw. An onside kick attempt by the Soul was recovered by Empire DB Arkeith Brown. The offense stalled again and Keefe sent Trevino to attempt a 31-yard field goal. The Empire were 0-for-4 on attempts all time, but Trevino connected to put the Empire up by 18.
The Soul drove inside of the Empire red zone one more time, but the Empire defense again held the Soul scoreless when DB Tevin Homer tackled Prince on a short pass. This would be Philadelphia's last possession as the Empire ran out the clock to capture their first ArenaBowl championship in team history.
Notes and Numbers: Empire DB Tevin Homer led all defensive starters with 11.5 tackles, tying Cedrick Benson for second all-time in total tackles in an ArenaBowl game… Soul WR BJ Bunn led all receivers with 10 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown… The Soul running offense, which finished third in the league in rushing touchdowns, was rendered ineffective by the Empire defense, finishing with 3 yards on 7 rushes and no scores.
