Philadelphia Soul



Years of Existence: 2004-2008, 2011-
Venues: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Accomplishments
2004 -
2005 -
2006 - Quarterfinal appearance
2007 - Quarterfinal appearance
2008 - AFL Champions
2011 -
2012 - Arena Bowl appearance, East Division champions
2013 - Arena Bowl appearance, East Division champions
2014 - Playoff appearance
2015 - East Division champions, semifinal appearance
2016 - AFL Champions
2017 - AFL Champions
2018 - Playoff appearance
2019 - Arena Bowl appearance
Lifetime Record: 155-95
Home: 89-36
Away: 65-58
Neutral: 1-1
Playoffs: 17-9
Average Attendance: 11,485

The Philadelphia Soul, so far, have been known for having Jon Bon Jovi as an owner, not for their winning. This is mainly because there has been little winning by the Soul. Despite a very large fanbase, the team�s best record to date is 6-10 in 2005. In 2004, the team went 5-11, beating New York, Columbus, Chicago, and Dallas. In 2005, the Soul put together a three-game winning streak, but it would not be enough to get the proverbial ball rolling. In 2006, the team went 9-7 and finally earned a playoff spot. After pulling an upset at Austin, the Soul lost at Orlando, 31-27. In the game, quarterback Tony Graziani was hit 24 times and fumbled in the final seconds to end Philadelphia's season. The 2007 Soul began 4-0 before losing six consecutive games. All six losses came by at least eight points. After winning four of their final six, the Soul entered the playoffs for the second year in a row and faced Orlando for the second week in a row. The Predators were held to just six second half points and the Soul advanced to play at Georgia. The Force proved to be too much, dropping the Soul by a count of 65-39. The Soul has the best average attendance among active teams and is the only team to never have a home crowd lower than 14,000. The Philadelphia Soul entered the 2008 season with Tony Graziani at the helm. After an injury, however, Matt D'Orazio took over and the team ended up going 13-3 in the regular season, clinching the Eastern Division. Chris Jackson and Larry Brackins led the team in receiving with a combined 3,104 yards and 78 touchdowns. The Soul played New York in the first round of the playoffs and won on an extremely controversial touchdown call as time ran out. It appeared that the ball was short of the enzone, but even after replay, the call stood and Philadelphia advanced with a 49-48 win. The Soul then ended the Cleveland Gladiators miraculous season by doubling them 70-35 to advance to Arena Bowl XXII. In the chamionship game against San Jose, The Soul took a 46-34 lead after three quarters and a 52-34 lead with under seven minutes to go. Despite a late rally in the final minute, the Soul hung on to win the city's first professional sports title since 1983 by a final count of 59-56. The Soul returned to the AFL in 2011. The team was forced to play six of its first seven contests on the road, going 2-5. The lone victory was the season opener at Pittsburgh, on a pick six in overtime. The team compiled just two wins against playoff teams: Cleveland and Georgia. Ryan Vena and Justin Allgood, former af2 rivals at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Tulsa, both spent time at quarterback for the Soul. Vena threw for 70 touchdowns, 22 picks and 3,840 yards, also running for 20 scores. Allgood added 1,016 yards and 14 scores before returning to Tulsa. Donovan Morgan led all wide receivers with 1,959 yards and 37 scores, while Syvelle Newton amassed 1,286 yards and 21 scores. A Vena to Morgan pass as time expired lifted the Soul to a 39-37 victory over Milwaukee. Dan Raudabaugh quarterbacked the Soul, throwing for 4,790 yards, 115 touchdowns and 18 picks. Tiger Jones was the only 2,000 yard receiver during the regular season, catching 2,010 yards and 47 scores. Donovan Morgan and Jeff Hughley were both 1,000 yard receivers, as well. On defense, Kent Richardson picked 11 passes, while Rayshaun Kizer picked ten of his own. Both returned two for touchdowns. Derrick Ross led the league in rushing, with 645 yards and 32 scores. The Soul offense put up 1,228 points, averaging 68.2 per game, the best in any brand of arena or indoor football history. The offense cracked the 80 point mark four times during the regular season. The offensive line was the best in the league, allowing just five sacks all year long. In contrast, opposing quarterbacks were sacked 33 times. The team's most impressive win was a 92-42 bludgeoning of Georgia. However, the Soul were criticized as having a weak schedule in a weaker conference. A 15-3 regular season record made the Soul the top seed in the playoffs. The Soul stumbled slightly in a 66-53 win over New Orleans in the first round, trailing 39-38 late and needing a 22 point fourth quarter to win. The Soul destroyed defending champions Jacksonville in round two, 89-34. The score at halftime was 45-12. Philadelphia advanced to the Arena Bowl to face Arizona. Philadelphia had gone 4-2 against the National Conference during the regular season, a far more competitive conference during 2012. This bore out to be true, as three early interceptions helped Arizona build a 24-6 lead that they wouldn't look back on. The Soul rallied late but would fall 72-54. Daniel Raudabaugh again led the Soul in 2014, passing for 4,328 yards, 85 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His top targets were Anthony Jones and Ryan McDaniel, who both went over the 1,000 yard mark. Rayshaun Kizer picked nine passes, returning two for scores. The offensive line only allowed seven sacks on the year. The team survived three game losing streaks twice, including one to start the year and finished the regular season with a 9-9 record. The Soul won three of their last four to sneak into the playoffs and play at Cleveland. Rayshaun Kizer picked four passes, but in a defensive struggle, Cleveland would come away with a 39-37 victory with a field goal on the final play of the game. The Soul went 1-7 against teams that made the playoffs in the regular season. Dan Raudabaugh quarterbacked the 2015 Soul to a 15-3 regular season, throwing for 4,992 yards, 119 touchdowns and twelve interceptions. Marco Thomas, Ryan McDaniel, and Kauleinamoku were all 1,000 yard receivers with at least 21 touchdowns. The Philadelphia defense allowed just ten sacks on the year. The Soul qualified for the playoffs as division champions and defeated Cleveland 47-35 before falling at home to Jacksonville 61-56. Dan Raudabaugh quarterbacked the team again in 2016, leading the Soul to an Arena Bowl championship. He pased for 101 scores, 4,303 yards, and was picked just thirteen times. Chris Duvalt, Ryan McDaniel, Shaun Kauleinamoku, and Darius Reynolds all brought in double digit numbers of touchdowns, with the latter three all going above 1,000 yards receiving. The Soul split a regular season series with Arizona, but after racing through the playoffs, defeated the Rattlers in Glendale 56-42 for the league title. The Soul would successfully defend their title in 2017 in a five team league. Dan Raudabaugh returned, passing for 82 touchdowns to just ten interceptions and 3,175 yards. Darius "Money" Reynolds led all receivers with 1,272 yards and 35 touchdowns. Ryan McDaniel caught 20 touchdowns and Shaun Kauleinamoku brought in 23 more. Raudabaugh was sacked just seven times, while opposing quarterbacks went down 32 times to the Soul's swarming defense. The only thing that kept Philadelphia from an unblemished season was a 49-42 loss at Baltimore, one of the Brigade's four victories. The Soul hosted Baltimore in the first round of the postseason and defeated them 69-54 to advance and host Tampa Bay for Arena Bowl XXX. After trailing for much of the game, including not scoring at all in the first quarter, the Soul came back and secured a 44-40 victory and second consecutive title. Raudabaugh returned in 2018 and played most of the season. However, he did suffer a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the latter portion of the season. Dan passed for 36 touchdowns, six picks, and 1,728 yards. Shane Austin and Greg McGhee also spent time at quarterback, combingin for 29 scores and six interceptions. Darius Prince caught 24 scores, while Darius Reynolds hauled in 13. The Soul made the playoffs and fell in consecutive games to Baltimore, 57-45 and 53-41. The team returned a final season in 2019 and made the playoffs with a 7-5 regular season record. Philadelphia won four of its last five games for the playoff push and then crushed Washington in two semifinal games, qualifying for the final Arena Bowl. The Soul fell at Albany, however, 45-27.