It doesn't matter the time of year, if a professional football team comes to this town sporting a big, blue star on its helmets, you're gonna have some excitement.

Add to that both teams were undefeated and, well, for a couple of hours, 15,426 fans in the Wachovia Spectrum forgot about the Flyers-Canadiens game a few hundred yards away and delighted in the Soul's 57-28 win over the Dallas Desperados.

Dallas (7-1) came into the game as the league's stingiest defense, giving up less than 43 points per game.

The Soul (9-0), which has the Arena Football League's most potent offense, shredded that number. When Larry Brackins caught his third touchdown of the game, a 13-yard strike from quarterback Matt D'Orazio with 9 minutes, 5 seconds left for the final total, it marked the most points given up by Dallas this season.

"I have to take my hat off to our defense," said D'Orazio, who finished with six TD passes and completed 20 of 29 for 194 yards. "They've played tremendous football. We've also got a great offensive line. They continue to be the best in the league week in and week out. It's just a total team effort."

It was the latest point in a season in AFL history that two undefeated teams met. But it was evident early which team would suffer its initial defeat.

"We've got a great offensive unit," Soul coach Bret Munsey said. "We've got great receivers, a good offensive line that gives whichever quarterback is in there time to throw the football. We, all of the sudden, have established a running game and a screen game, which is something we didn't have last year."

The Soul's efficiency was outstanding, as it scored touchdowns on each of its five possessions in the first half, needing only 23 plays combined to do so.

D'Orazio, again filling in for injured starter Tony Graziani, completed 13 of 17 in the first half, for 120 yards and four TDs. He also ran for the team's first score, scampering in from 7 yards out on a QB draw 2 minutes, 23 seconds into the game.

As well as the Soul played in the first 30 minutes, the Desperados were about as spotty as Danny Briere's playoff beard.

Quarterback Clint Dolezel's first pass from scrimmage was picked off by Mike Brown to set up the Soul's first score. Dolezel, who came into the game with only two interceptions in 106 attempts, threw another one early in the second quarter, this one was plucked in the end zone by defensive back Eddie Moten.

When Dallas finally did get into the end zone, the extra point was blocked by Gabe Nyenhuis and returned all the way by Brown, giving the Soul a 23-6 lead with 4:51 remaining in the half.

It got no better for Dolezel, as Soul defensive linemen Bryan Save and Nyenhuis did their best impressions of Reggie White and Jerome Brown, continually harassing the Dallas quarterback. When it was, mercifully, over, Dolezel's numbers were more like those of ex-Cowboy Ryan Leaf - 17-for-36 for 206 yards and four interceptions.

"We were just trying to play good, solid defense for the game," said Moten, who had three interceptions. "The coaches wanted us to play solid and take care of the chances we'd get, and that's what I was able to do."

The two biggest ovations came after Darius Watts' first-half TD gave the team a 21-0 lead and Chris Jackson's score early in the second half gave the Soul a 43-20 lead. After Watts' TD, it was announced the Flyers were leading the Canadiens, 3-0. After Jackson's TD, the 3-2 final score was given.

The fans reacted with a hearty, "Let's go Flyers" chant.

Last night, this was equally a football and hockey town.

And a very happy one.

Soul notes

Tony Graziani did split pregame snaps with Matt D'Orazio, but moved gingerly on his braced left knee . . . Chris Jackson, whose TD gives him 299 for his career, played defensive back for some of the second half after injuries to Mike Brown and Brian Mance left the Soul depleted in the secondary. Mance is out for the season after suffering a broken left ankle . . . Former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil gave the Soul players a pregame pep talk in the locker room. *