RECAP: Soul Pushed to Brink in Loss to Valor, 48-41
PHILADELPHIA – Missing throws, dropping balls, a lack of discipline and overall just not making plays, Sunday’s match-up between the Soul and Washington Valor held big playoff implications for Philadelphia.
However, instead of leaping into a tie with Baltimore for second place behind the Albany Empire, the Soul dropped into a tie with Atlantic City for the fourth and final playoff spot. Everyone is beginning to feel the heat.
“I don’t put anything on our young guys; overall, I thought they played well,” Head Coach
Clint Dolezel looks on as his team falls to 3-4. Mike Kruce Photography.
Clint Dolezel said. “Our veterans – Dan and Prince – they were a little off tonight to say the least. We have to get out of our own way right now.”
Entering the contest, Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh had thrown 31 touchdowns’ in five career games against the Valor while completing 70% of his passes. On Sunday, the nine-year veteran connected on just 50% of his passes – including an ugly sequence in the second quarter that led to four straight in-completions and a turnover on downs — and found little success in developing a rapport with his wide receiver corps. This undoubtedly put pressure on pass protection and timing throughout the duration of a frustrating afternoon.
“I haven’t seen anyone have 100% completions so credit to Washington for playing hard on defense, but this is gut check time,” Raudabaugh said. “This is all about self-reflection and what we can do to get better because our feeling isn’t so much that they beat us. We have to put the shovel down and stop digging.”
Dan Raudabaugh looks for the open man. Mike Kruce Photography.
No one took the self-reflection angle more personally then Raudabaugh’s teammate Darius Prince. Prince finished his day with a gaudy stat line, as the second-year pro out of Penn State-Beaver hauled in five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. However, a couple of key drops in the first and third quarters, in addition to getting flagged for an offensive pass interference call, and an overall lack of chemistry with Raudabaugh stuck out in a big way.
Darius Prince looks to the crowd after one of his two touchdowns. Mike Kruce Photography.
“I’ll take the majority of this loss on me and I feel like I cost my team tonight,” Prince said. “I hope this is a wake-up call because we need it bad. Everyone in that Locker-room needs to check themselves. You need to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and pull your own card sometimes. I would never disrespect Washington because they won the Arena Bowl last year, but they got away with one tonight.”
Not to be outdone, defensive leader James Romain could relate to the same frustrations from his side of the ball as Prince but did so in a way that only he can.
“Every game from here on out is a must win,” the outspoken Romain said. “I don’t care how we have to do it. From scratching, crawling, punching, spitting, eye-gouging, fishing-hooking whatever we got to do to win, I’m for it.”
With the loss, the Soul fell to 3-4 on the season and 7-3 all-time against Washington.
The loss also sets up a big showdown next week with Atlantic City, as the loser will be pushed to the brink of playoff contention.
Coach Dolezel on PhillipKeith Manley and Dan Raudabaugh’s botched snap on the goal-line: “These things frustrate me. Your first day of seventh grade practice, you work on snaps and if you can’t find synergy with your Quarterback not much else will be good for you.”
Dan Raudabaugh on the Soul’s last attempt to tie the game: “It was a post and go route and they played a sky coverage where the safety is down low, and I tried to rocket it over his head. It shouldn’t have come down to fourth and ten and minus whatever, but you can never give up. “
Darius Prince on Philadelphia’s 3-4 record: “For this franchise, 3-4 is just unacceptable. I don’t care what guys have to do to get prepared for next week at four o’clock against AC, we’re walking away with a victory.”
James Romain on the defense believing in themselves: “I don’t think everyone wants to believe. It’s a team sport and I just feel like we’re trying to make our own plays instead of coming together.
Featured Image: Mike Kruce Photography
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