Brigade Drop One-Point Game in Philadelphia
Saturday June 30, 2018
Baltimore enters final week of regular season in three-way tie for first place
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Baltimore Brigade (7-4) lost, 49-48, to the Philadelphia Soul (7-4) Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center. Brigade quarterback Randy Hippeard threw five touchdowns to four different receivers and added his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for his seven-touchdown performance.
Philadelphia took an early 7-0 lead when Raudabaugh, who missed the last five games due to injury, found wideout Aaron Wascha for a four-yard touchdown pass. Baltimore answered with two consecutive scores, both short-yardage touchdown passes from Hippeard, to take a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter. The remainder of the second quarter was a back-and-forth affair as neither defense managed a stop. Raudabaugh tossed a trio of touchdowns in the quarter – two to wideout Darius Reynolds and another to Wascha – while Baltimore found the end zone both through the air and on the ground. With the game tied at 21 with under a minute to play in the first half, Brigade wideout Brandon Thompkins tallied his second rushing touchdown of the season, giving Baltimore a seven-point lead. After Philadelphia tied the game at 28, Baltimore worked their way back into scoring position, but missed a field goal a time expired in the first half.
Brigade wide receiver Demetres Stephens, playing in his third game with the team, caught his first of two second half touchdowns with 7:41 left in the third quarter, giving Baltimore a 35-28 lead. Philadelphia tied the game at 35 on the following possession when Reynolds caught his third touchdown of the night – a four-yard score from Raudabaugh. Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Stephens hauled in a 14-yard pass from Hippeard to give Baltimore a 42-35 lead. Philadelphia managed consecutive touchdowns, both Raudabaugh-to-Wascha connections, after Baltimore tuned the ball over on downs, giving the Soul a 49-42 lead with 1:45 remaining. Baltimore quickly made their way down the field, scoring on a one-yard Hippeard rush with 10 seconds remaining, to bring the game within one point. Philadelphia clinched the win when Hippeard’s pass on the two-point attempt was batted away in the end zone.
MVP: PHI QB Dan Raudabaugh – 22/27 passing and seven touchdowns
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: PHI WR Aaron Wascha – 10 receptions, 108 yards and four touchdowns
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: PHI DB Torez Jones – 7.5 total tackles (seven solo)
The Brigade play their final home game of the regular season next Saturday, July 7 at 3 p.m. at Capital One Arena. The game will be broadcast live on Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports Washington, AFL Now and Facebook Watch.
The Brigade will take their team photo on Monday, July 2, at noon outside Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (301 Light St Suite 1405, Baltimore, MD 21202) in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. After taking their team photo, all Brigade players and coaches will be available to the media. Lunch will be provided for all attendees.
The event, located in the heart of the Baltimore Inner Harbor, will provide a great opportunity for photos and videos. All players will be wearing their home blue jerseys and all coaches will be in team attire.
Media interested in attending must RSVP by emailing aflcredentials@monumentalsports.com.
ABOUT THE BALTIMORE BRIGADE
The AFL’s Baltimore Brigade is 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. The company also owns and operates the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, the NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, the AFL’s Washington Valor, NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, as well as Capital One Arena, the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex--the training facility for the Washington Capitals--and the Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University.