Watch CBS News

AFL Showdown Saturday As Soul Host Undefeated Predators

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For a second straight week, it will be a showdown of two top Arena Football League teams at the Center.

Last week, the Philadelphia Soul beat Arizona for the first time in franchise history. Now on Saturday, Philadelphia will welcome an undefeated Orlando Predators team to the Center.

Philadelphia beat Arizona, 65-58, this past Saturday. The win improved the Soul to 6-1 and it made head coach Clint Dolezel a happy man.

"To get that win, it was only a seven-point win, but it felt a lot bigger than that," Dolezel tells KYW Newsradio.

Listen to the entire interview with Soul head coach Clint Dolezel:

 

The Soul got a lot of great performances in the win over the Rattlers, including from defensive lineman Sean Daniels. Picked up the week before the game, Daniels, a Temple product, contributed key big plays to help seize and keep the momentum with Philadelphia.

"After the game, I didn't even realize some of the things he had done," Dolezel says. "Making the big play, really his first week in with us, on the first drive as far as causing a fumble. We have a play in called 'rattler' and we go shooting off and we blow the offensive lineman up, blocks him right back into the running back, he fumbles it and (Daniels) picks it up. Then on special teams, kind of blind luck there (recovering an onside kick and returning it for a touchdown), but it was pretty impressive once he got the ball in his hands. He was telling us about what a great running back he was and he looked pretty darn good."

Orlando is the lone undefeated team left in the AFL at 7-0. Last week the Predators slipped past Tampa Bay, 42-40. Dolezel says it isn't hard to see why they are so good.

"They're the spitting image of us," he says. "They are. They mirror us in pretty much every category. Their defensive backs are fast, small, just like us. Their recievers have big and tall guys, like us. Defensive line, great pass rush. I think the game will come down to, honestly, who protects the quarterback. Quarterbacks are pretty darn even as well. So we've got to get after their quarterback and we've got to protect Dan (Raudabaugh)."

This will actually be the last true home game for the Soul at the Center. Because of the Democratic National Convention, being held at the Center in July, the Soul schedule is back loaded with road games and "home" games in Trenton and Allentown.

Philadelphia and Orlando will kick-off at 7:30pm.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.