Philadelphia Soul win ArenaBowl XXII
Joe Kauffman
Sunday July 27, 2008
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0:17 4Q
Mark Grieb completes a 14 yard touchdown pass to Jason Geathers, his fifith of the game. Geathers also runs in the two-point conversion as the SaberCats pull within a field goal 59-56.
0:28 4Q
San Jose's Rodney Wright breaks the single-game reception mark as he scores a 26 yard touchdown on his 13th catch of the game. The two-point attempt fails and the SaberCats continue to trail 59-48. The SaberCats recovered the ensuing onside kick.
0:39 4Q
Matt D'Orazio's 2-yard pass to Phil Bogle for a touchdown has put the game out of reach, as the Soul takesa 59-42 lead with 0:39 remaining in ArenaBowl XXII.
1:34 4Q
Mark Grieb hit Brian Johnson on a three yard touchdown pass and added a two-point conversion to pull the SaberCats within 10 to make it 52-42 with 1:34 remaining in the game.
6:04 4Q
The third replay in ArenaBowl history overturns a San Jose defensive stop, and the Soul go on to score a touchdown two plays later to extend their lead 52-34 with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter.
End 3Q
San Jose finally scores a touchdown to end the second half on a pass from Mark Grieb to Jason Geathers. Grieb tied Jay Gruden for first place with 17 career touchdown passes as the SaberCats pulled to within 46-34.
3:48 3Q
Mark Grieb fumbles in the end zone and San Jose's Gant recovers, resulting in a safety, extending Philadelphia's lead to 46-27. This is the first safety ina championship game since ArenaBowl XIV.
7:10 3Q
The second replay in ArenaBowl history is upheld as the Philadelphia Soul gain possession on a Mark Grieb sack and fumble. One play later, Matt D'Orazio hit Chris Jackson for a 32 yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 44-27.
10:56 3Q
The San Jose SaberCats start the second half strong when Clevan Thomas breaks up a fourth down pass to get their first defensive stop of the game, preventing the Soul from taking a three score lead.
HALF
Through 30 minutes in ArenaBowl XXII, the Philadelphia Soul lead the San Jose SaberCats 37-27. The offensive explosion was the highest scoring first half in ArenaBowl history. There were some very impressive numbers, as Matt D'Orazio threw for 13 of 20 for 185 yards and four touchdowns, while Mark Grieb completed 17 of 26 passes for 199 yards and four touchdowns. Rodney Wright led the SaberCats with nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Chris Jackson paced the Soul with six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. The SaberCats had a chance to recover a fumble with 0:11 remaining in the half, but the ruling on the field was a Philly recovery. San Jose challenged the ruling on the field, but the first challenge in ArenaBowl history was upheld.
0:29 2Q
Jeason Geathers scored a 23-yard touchdwon to pull the SaberCats back within seven at 34-27 with 0:29 remaining in the first half.
0:54 2Q
Matt D'Orazio ran 8 yards into the end zone to extend the Philadelphia Soul lead over the San Jose SaberCats to 34-20. The score is D'Orazio's third ArenaBowl rushing touchdown.
4:50 2Q
Pressure by Gabe Nyenhuis forced an errant throw by Mark Grieb on forth down. One play later Matt D'Orazio hit Larry Brackins for a 20 yard touchdown to give the Soul their first lead of the game.
8:22 2Q
After a fourth down pass interference penalty gave the Soul new life, Matt D'Orazio hit Chris Jackson for 12 yards to tie the game at 20. Connor Hughes missed the PAT that would have given the Soul the lead.
14:22 2Q
The SaberCats took a 20-14 lead on a Jason Geathers 22-yard touchdown catch. AFK Kicker of the Year A.J. Haglund missed the extra point.
End 1Q
San Jose's Rodney Wright leads all receivers with 7 receptions for 68 yards and 1 TD as the 1st quarter comes to a close, only 5 catchesw shy of the ArenaBowl receptions record. The Philadelphia Soul and San Jose SaberCats are tied at 14, with the SaberCats inside Soul territory at the 23 yard line.
2:14 1Q
Two plays after being sacked by SaberCats LB Frank Carter, Soul Matt D'Orazio hit Chris Jackson on a 34-yard touchdown pass. D'Orazio's second touchdown pass of the game tied the score at 14:14.
4:52 1Q
A wide open Jason Geathers walked into the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown catch to give the SaberCats a 14-7 lead with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter. The SaberCats move 45 yards on 6 plays in 3:26. Mark Grieb moved into 2nd all-time in passing touchdowns in ArenaBowl history with the score, tying Sherdrick Bonner.
8:56 1Q
The Philadelphia Soul pulled even at 7-7 on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Matt D'Orazio to Brent Holmes. The drive was just two plays spanning 42 yards.
10:43 1Q
The Philadelphia Soul took chose to put their defense on the field after winning the coin toss. After the opening kickoff caught in the slack net, quarterback Mark Grieb led the San Jose SaberCats on a 7 play 45 yard drive, hitting Rodney Wright for an 8-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead at 10:43 of the first quarter.
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
