Philadelphia Soul at Atlantic City Blackjacks: Week 11 Recap

The Philadelphia Soul took a ride down the shore this weekend to visit the Atlantic City Blackjacks in what was the first road game of two to finish the Arena Football League regular season. The Soul already clinched a playoff spot after their win against the Albany Empire last week and the Blackjacks still had slim playoff hopes. Philadelphia had never lost to Atlantic City this season, so the Blackjacks had an opportunity to get one back at the Soul this year. Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City featured 7104 in attendance to watch a game that went down to the wire. Philadelphia defeated the Blackjacks, 50-45 with thirteen seconds left to play.

Since the last time these two teams met and Warren Smith took over at quarterback for the Atlantic City Blackjacks, I think that the Blackjacks have become more dangerous on offense. Smith threw for five touchdowns and for three hundred and six yards. The fatal errors that kept the Philadelphia Soul in the game were the two interceptions, one to James Romain and the other returned for a touchdown by Dwayne Hollis. Smith was also sacked two times but did not have a terrible day. Take all the good that Smith had for the Blackjacks and understand the fact that Dan Raudabaugh played a cleaner, more efficient game. Raudabaugh threw for only three touchdowns in comparison with two hundred and twenty-one yards passing. He also was not sacked and did not throw any interceptions. The play between two players and how it affects the flow of an offense can tell the outcome of a game.

While Dan Raudabaugh didn't throw for a ton of touchdowns, the Philadelphia Soul were very effective on the ground, running the football. This is a strength that the Soul has had in their arsenal on their way to securing a playoff spot. Adrian Ferns had rushed for two touchdowns and BJ Bunn rushed for one for Philadelphia. The Atlantic City Blackjacks also featured a rushing touchdown in their offensive production from Warren Smith. Smith was the offensive player of the game because of how large of a contribution he made towards Atlantic City scoring 45 points. However, the Soul offensive line needs to be treated after keeping Dan Raudabaugh upright all night and also powering Ferns and Bunn into the endzone on rushing plays.

The Philadelphia Soul gave themselves a chance because of the play of their defense, which is playing white hot right now. Thomas Dover and Jameer Outsey both had a sack on Warren Smith while James Romain and Dwayne Hollis had an interception. Hollis returned him for a touchdown to shut down the Atlantic City Blackjacks directly after a successful onside kick. On Outsey's sack, it should be noted that he forced a fumble. Many opportunities to get the ball back were created by the Soul defense, but, it was the defensive player of the game, Hollis, who created the biggest impact.

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Game Analysis

At the flip of the coin, the Atlantic City Blackjacks decided to defer so the Philadelphia Soul received the football to begin the game on offense. On their first possession, Dan Raudabaugh completed a thirty-one-yard pass to Darius Prince to take an early lead. Patrick O'Brien completed a pass to Adrian Ferns for the two-point conversion as the Soul got off to a hot start against the Blackjacks. Warren Smith took the field with the Atlantic City offense and James Romain sent them packing when he intercepted a pass intended for Lamark Brown. The Soul would take back over on offense and finish their drive with a one-yard rush from Adrian Ferns. Following the score, a failed rush to get into the endzone on a two-point conversion left Philadelphia leading 14-0. In an attempt to score before the end of the first quarter, the Blackjacks offense came back onto the field with an opportunity to get on the scoreboard. Smith launched a forty-yard touchdown to Brown followed by an extra point conversion from Mark Lewis. The Soul lead Atlantic City at the end of the first quarter, 14-7.

At the start of the second quarter, the Philadelphia Soul began with the ball after Lonnie Outlaw recovered the Atlantic City Blackjacks attempt at an onside kick. The Soul would finish the drive with a BJ Bunn rushing touchdown, but Kenny Spencer would miss the extra point. The Blackjacks would finish their first drive of the second quarter with a Warren Smith rushing touchdown, however, Mark Lewis would miss the extra point. The score is 20-13, and Philadelphia would take back over on offense. In range to score, the Soul would turn the ball over on downs after Dan Raudabaugh failed to complete a fourth and goal pass to BJ Bunn. With an opportunity to tie the game, Atlantic City came back on the field. However, the Soul's defense would hold the Blackjacks out of the endzone, forcing a twenty-five-yard field goal from Mark Lewis, which was good. At halftime, Philadelphia led Atlantic City, 20-16.

In the second half, the Atlantic City Blackjacks received the football after deferring at the pre-game coin toss. Warren Smith threw a thirty-four-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Grant followed by a good extra point from Mark Lewis. The Blackjacks would take their first lead of the game, 23-20. The Philadelphia Soul took a long, calculated drive down the field to the one-yard line where Adrian Ferns would score a touchdown. The Soul would take the lead back and at the end of the third quarter, 27-23.

In the final quarter, the Atlantic City Blackjacks continued their offensive drive over from the third quarter. Starting in scoring range, Warren Smith completed a six-yard pass to Frederick Ruff. As the fuse began to burn, the Philadelphia Soul found themselves in a back and forth battle for the final lead. Dan Raudabaugh completed one pass on the next drive to BJ Bunn for forty-five yards for a touchdown. The Soul, with 11:38 remaining to play, played tough to keep Smith from going downfield. Jameer Outsey forced a fumble off a strip sack on Warren, sending the football into the endzone to be recovered by Ruff, but he was downed by Keith Newell. After all of the madness, Philadelphia added two to the scoreboard from the Newell safety, leading 36-30. The Blackjacks came back out on offense and Smith threw a thirty-one-yard touchdown to Lamark Brown. Following a Mark Lewis extra point, Atlantic City went up by one, 37-36.

Atlantic City then recovered another onside kick, pressing the Soul against the ropes. Dwayne Hollis would then intercept and return an interception for a touchdown against Warren Smith and the Blackjacks, giving Philadelphia the lead again. Licking his wounds, Smith had the opportunity to take a late, walk off lead and did connect with Antwane Grant for twenty-one yards. Atlantic City held a one-point lead, 45-44, with thirty seconds left to play against the Soul. However, Dan Raudabaugh would have something to say about that, connecting with the player of the game, Darius Prince, on a twenty-eight-yard touchdown pass. Philadelphia took the lead with thirteen seconds to play, 50-45. That would be enough heroics to lead the Soul past the Blackjacks for the third time this season and earn another win on the way to their bye week.

Notes

In doing what they can to play for playoff seeding and gaining momentum into the AFL playoffs, the Philadelphia Soul have played this perfectly with four straight wins headed into their bye week. A week from the field can be what the Soul needs to rest a couple of players, but they will have to keep in sync with each other in Albany on July 20th. This season, Philadelphia and the Albany Empire have played each other twice, splitting the games to one win and one loss apiece. If the Columbus Destroyers are able to play spoiler to the Empire next week and the Soul defeats Albany on the road on July 20th, there is a possibility that Philadelphia becomes the top seed in the AFL playoffs.

Darius Prince had one hundred and twenty-four yards receiving against the Atlantic City Blackjacks along with two touchdowns from Dan Raudabaugh. However, his most important was for twenty-eight yards for the game-winner when it looked like the Blackjacks may steal a win from the Soul. Winning with thirteen seconds left to play shows just how tough Atlantic City can be with Warren Smith at quarterback, but shows just how in touch Raudabaugh and Prince have been with each other all season long.

The Philadelphia Soul defense has not stopped playing at an alarming level. Forcing turnovers and creating offense while giving Raudabaugh and company a rest has been big for the Soul defense. James Romain, Dwayne Hollis, Keith Newell, Thomas Dover, and Jameer Outsey came up big for Philadelphia, terrorizing Smith all day at the trenches as well as in the secondary. For the most part, most of those players had a hand in taking away points from the Atlantic City Blackjacks and putting them back on the scoreboard for the Soul.

If you don't know what to do with yourself this week because the Philadelphia Soul is on a bye week, here is what I would suggest. Watch the Columbus Destroyers host the Albany Empire on NBCSP+ or ESPN3 on Sunday, July 14th at 3pm. Root for the underdog and let's hope the Soul get a little bit of help from the Destroyers. With a Columbus win, playoff implications are up in the air for the number one seed in the postseason once the Soul faces the Empire on July 20th at 7pm. This week, a win for the Destroyers is a win for Philadelphia.