Soul rout Cleveland Gladiators, 49-21

With two games left in their season, and a berth in the Arena Football League playoffs beyond their reach, the Soul went out Friday night against the visiting Cleveland Gladiators and played as if the game meant something.

The visitors, who arrived in Philadelphia in first place in the East Division of the AFL's American Conference, took a 49-21 thumping as the Soul (6-11) snapped their four-game losing streak before a crowd of 9,761 at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Soul, who had a 20-point lead at intermission, are now 6-11 on the season. They enjoyed their biggest margin of victory of the season, surpassing the 21-point win they achieved against New Orleans in May.

Idle next week, the Soul will complete their season with a July 22 matchup against the visiting Pittsburgh Power that could impact the division race. The Power, who will visit Cleveland (9-7) next week, are 8-7 going into their home game against the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday.

The Soul were ahead of Cleveland, 36-7, late in the third period, and by 42-14 with 10 minutes left to play.

The Soul played without star wide receiver Donovan Morgan (115 receptions, 36 touchdowns) and defensive back Tanner Varner, who both left the team to try out for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Morgan, who leads the AFL with 1,847 yards receiving, was placed on what is called the "other league exemption list" by the Soul.

"I have truly been blessed to play in the great city of Philadelphia," Morgan said in a statement. "I cherish the opportunity that the entire Soul organization has given me. This city has embraced me, and there's no better place to play in the league. I look forward to coming back next season to bring the title back to the great fans of Philadelphia."

In Morgan's spot, the Soul started Larry Brackins, and all he did was score the first two touchdowns of the game to stake his team to a 14-0 lead.

On the first, quarterback Ryan Vena found Brackins alone in the left corner of the end zone from 15 yards out with about four minutes gone. And with 4 minutes, 59 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Brackins scored on a 4-yard slant after defensive back Chris Martin made an end-zone interception to give the Soul possession.

After Cleveland wide receiver Tony Bergeron caught a 32-yard pass from quarterback Kurt Rocco for a score, the Soul were ahead by 14-7 going into the second quarter.

A 3-yard touchdown run by Syvelle Newton sandwiched by a pair of field goals from the Soul's Jon Striefsky over the next 15 minutes let the hosts take a 27-7 advantage at halftime. The seven Cleveland points set a Soul team record for fewest points allowed in a first half.

And when it was over, the Soul had also established the team record for sacks in a game with seven. The old record of five was set in 2005.