Soul to take on Georgia, which is a force at home

The last time the Soul played Georgia, they were riding high on a four-game winning streak at the start of the season, making them one of the hottest teams in the Arena Football League.

The Soul lost that game to the Force and the drought started - six consecutive losses and significant injuries to star players, including quarterback Tony Graziani.

Now, the Soul insist they are a different team, with rehabilitated players, renewed confidence, and a real chance of beating the Force in the National Conference divisional round in Atlanta tomorrow night.

"I think we've gotten better through the year," Graziani said. "I think the injuries actually helped us out a lot."

A win against the Force (14-2) would launch the Soul (8-8 regular season, 1-0 playoffs) into the National Conference final for the first time in their four years in the AFL.

The Soul are not just facing the task of playing in the second round of the playoffs, when every game gets tougher. They also need to beat a team that appears indestructible in its home, Philips Arena, where the Force are 8-0.

"It's never easy on the road in any league, and Georgia is no different," Soul coach Bret Munsey said. "They're a great football team and only lost two all year."

Munsey said the Soul had to call on their last experience in Georgia.

Last season, the Soul traveled there in a must-win situation to make the playoffs and won, 57-41, in the last week of the regular season.

"We were in a playoff-game atmosphere last year, where we had to win going to Georgia, and we got a big victory," Munsey said. "We've got to have that mind-set."

The good news for the Soul is that through the regular season, they played just as well at home (4-4) as they did on the road (4-4).

"We played, for some reason, a lot better on the road," offensive lineman Phil Bogle said. "I don't know why. I don't know if it's that we get over there and get focused in, or what. When you're on the road, it's a real business trip. It's a serious atmosphere. We're not worried about being on the road or their crowd, because we've got 20 guys who've got to go in and make it happen regardless."

Bogle is one of five Soul players selected to the all-Arena team. Bogle and fellow offensive linemen Martin Bibla and Bryan Save were all-rookie selections. Fullback Idris Price was named to the all-Ironman team. Bogle and defensive back Eddie Moten were first-team all-Arena picks.

More strong play by Moten would come in handy tomorrow.

The Force boast Chris Greisen, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the AFL. He has thrown a record 117 touchdowns this season and completed 74 percent of his passes.

Force receiver Chris Jackson has 1,915 receiving yards and 47 touchdown catches.

Moten leads the Soul with 10 interceptions and 89 tackles.

"The whole defense [has improved]," Munsey said. "We've got people knocking balls down and we're covering people better. It's all about creating turnovers. If we can win that battle, we can win the football game."

The Soul also are hopeful that receiver Larry Brackins will be ready to play. He practiced all week after sitting out the last three games with a knee injury.

Brackins has 56 receptions for 786 yards and 20 touchdowns in 10 games of an injury-plagued season.

"Getting Larry back is the spark that can possibly take us over the top," Munsey said. "Offensively, we need a guy who can make those game-changing catches, and he can be that guy."

That is one reason the Soul said they were confident.

"You feel the excitement," Bogle said. "You feel the confidence starting to build more with the team. They're a good football team, but so are we. We feel good and feel we have a great chance to go down there and beat those guys."