Coming off a crucial Eastern Division win over Dallas 4 nights earlier, the Soul was ripe for the picking last night and the Cleveland Gladiators picked. Cleveland scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns and took advantage of a late fumble to hand Philadelphia its first loss, 67-55, in an Arena Football League matchup front of 13,721 fans at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Soul (9-1) has a one-game lead over Dallas, which plays Columbus tonight. Cleveland improved to 5-4.

"It could be that," Soul coach Bret Munsey said of the notion that it was a trap game. "We had a little bit of a short week. But the bottom line is we just didn't come out and play as well as we could and they did, and that was the difference."

The Soul, which led for much of the game, took its last lead, 48-47, heading into the final quarter. The teams traded touchdowns to start the final period and were tied at 55-55 with 4 minutes, 2 seconds left.

The Gladiators took a 61-55 lead on their next possession after Raymond Philyaw's 5-yard pass to Joe Minucci, a Delaware grad. The extra-point attempt was blocked, giving the Soul an opening.

They failed to take advantage, though. Five plays into the ensuing possession, quarterback Tony Graziani fumbled the snap. Cleveland's Ramon Richardson recovered with a minute left.

"I just tried to come out too quick and I fumbled it," said Graziani, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns in relief of Matt D'Orazio, who was injured in the second half.

"It's awful wet in there. For whatever reason, it was a little muggy. My arm was wet, but I pulled out too soon. I've got to secure the snap. It's the most basic thing. I haven't done that in years."

The Gladiators took advantage of the snap-fu, scoring on Philyaw's 23-yard pass to Otis Arney, who made a diving, one-handed grab while smashing awkwardly into the boards at the back of the end zone.

The Soul had a final possession, but didn't threaten to score.

Graziani took over for D'Orazio early in the second half after he left with what initially looked like a serious leg injury.

"He looked better in the locker room," Munsey said. "They thought he broke his ankle, but he's actually walking around pretty well. That was good news."

The Soul, which put starting defensive backs Mike Brown and Brian Mance on injured reserve earlier this week, lost defensive lineman Bryan Save to a torn triceps.

The Soul now has 9 days off before traveling to Georgia on Monday, May 12. It couldn't come at a better time.

"We're real banged up," Graziani said. "The rest is going to do us some good. It's a little bit of a mini-bye week. We've got to get in that treatment room and get ready." *