Soul continues push to the playoffs

THERE'S ONE team in Philadelphia without a quarterback controversy at the moment. They have the top-ranked offense in their league and a serious shot at bringing a title home to the city.

The Soul now sits atop the East Division at 12-3 for the season after defeating the Tampa Bay Storm, 64-42, last night at the Wells Fargo Center. Head coach Clint Dolezel's team appears primed to finish as the top seed in the American Conference and its high-powered offense will look to tear through the playoffs.

The Soul fell behind the Storm, 7-0, early, but answered on its opening possession when quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, who leads the AFL in passing yards and touchdown passes, found 320-pound offensive lineman Adam "Big Country" Smith streaking down the middle for a score to tie things up in the first quarter, his first of two scores on the evening.

The Storm, which entered yesterday just a game out of the division lead in the South and in the playoff hunt, took a 21-7 lead in the second quarter after Jason Boltus threw for three scores to three different receivers as Tampa Bay opened up a 14-point advantage. But, the Soul would come storming back.

Raudabaugh found a wide-open Harvey Binford for a score and then the Soul's defense held up on the goal line against the Storm passing attack and their own pass interference penalties. However, Carlos Martinez missed a field goal as the first half ended for the Soul and the top team in the American Conference trailed the Storm, 21-14.

The Soul, benefitting from a pass-interference penalty, drove down the field to start the third quarter before Raudabaugh found wide receiver Ryan McDaniel on a swing to cap the scoring drive and tie the game at 21. On the ensuing Storm possession, defensive lineman Bryan Robinson took down Botus in the Storm end zone for a safety and the first Soul lead of the game.

They never looked back.

Robinson scooped up a fumble and scored after the Soul forced a loose ball with 48 seconds remaining in regulation to cap the victory.

Dolezel's team scored 16 straight points to start the second half en route to its 12th victory of the season, locking up a playoff spot. If Cleveland loses tonight at Jacksonville, the Soul will have the East Division wrapped up and a home playoff game secured.

Wideout Marco "Polo" Thomas is the AFL's top end-zone threat and entered last night's game with a league-leading 31 touchdown receptions and added to that total, torching the Storm for 116 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Raudabaugh now has 3,985 passing yards and 93 touchdowns through 14 games of the AFL season, making a strong case for AFL MVP honors.

The Soul next takes on Cleveland at home on July 11 at 1 p.m.