Game Preview: Week 3 - Soul go for 20th straight home win this Saturday

Wednesday April 25, 2018

 Soul go for 20th straight home win this Saturday

PHILADELPHIA, PA –The Soul will welcome the Washington Valor (0-1) to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday as they attempt to win their 20th straight home game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. This is the first meeting between the Soul and the Valor this season. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and fans in the Philadelphia area can listen live on 97.5 FM “The Fanatic”.

This week, Soul Quarterback Dan Raudabaugh will face another decorated AFL veteran in Valor Quarterback, Nick Davila. Throughout his career, Davila has totaled 2,632 completions of 3,903 attempts for 32,813 yards and 772 touchdowns and is a three-time League MVP recipient. Raudabaugh has also tallied staggering career totals with 2,549 completions of 3824 attempts for 32,030 yards and 710 touchdowns and is a three-time ArenaBowl Champion.

Two more Valor players to watch this week are Wide Receiver Rod Windsor and Defensive Back Tracy Belton. Windsor currently leads the team in receptions with nine for 87 yards and three touchdowns. Like Davila, Windsor has extensive AFL experience, as he played for the Arizona Rattlers for six total seasons. Windsor has been named First Team All-Arena four times in his career, and Second Team All-Arena twice, after also being named the Spalding Rookie of the Year in 2010. Windsor and Davila currently sit in second place on the all-time scoring list of quarterback/wide receiver duos with 233 touchdowns. Belton, another player with a long history in the AFL, has totaled 4.5 tackles in the 2018 season. Belton has had stints with the Milwaukee Iron, Georgia Force, Jacksonville Sharks, Orlando Predators, New Orleans VooDoo, and Philadelphia Soul. While with the Soul in 2016, Belton led the team with 90 total tackles and was named AFL Defensive Player of the Year.

On the Soul side, keep your eyes on Wide Receiver Darius “Money” Reynolds. In Week 2 against the Brigade, Reynolds caught the game-winning touchdown from Raudabaugh from nine yards out with only 12 seconds left in the game, securing the Soul’s second victory of the season. In total, he finished with 11 receptions for 151 yards and four touchdowns, and now leads the league in both receiving yards (221) and receiving touchdowns (5). Another player to watch this week is Soul Fullback/Linebacker Jeramie Richardson. In last week’s victory, he made an impact on both sides of the ball, tallying six carries for 15 yards and two touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball, and securing a key fourth down sack on the defensive side.

“There is nothing better than winning at home,” said Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel. “We are proud to play in front of incredible Philadelphia fans and we aren’t planning on stopping this streak any time soon.”

Coming Up Next: In Week 4, the Soul are on the road against the Baltimore Brigade at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD. Kickoff is set for Friday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m.

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA SOUL

The back-to-back World Champion Philadelphia Soul are now playing in their 13th season in the Arena Football League. In the previous 12 seasons, the Soul have won four Division Championships, four Conference Championships and three World Championships. Since the inaugural season in 2004, the Soul are the winningest professional sports team in Philadelphia. Season memberships and Group tickets for the Soul’s 2018 season are on sale now. For tickets, contact the Soul sales department at (215) 253-4900 ext. 3, or request contact from a Soul representative by filling out the form on www.philadelphiasoul.com. Additionally, fans and sponsors can follow the Soul on Facebook (Philadelphia Soul), Twitter (@soulfootball) and Instagram (@philadelphia_soul) for up to date news and exclusive content.