Soul defeat 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 snapped their four-game losing streak before a crowd of 9,761 at the Wells Fargo Center.

 "I think we've always played with a purpose. It's just that sometimes we had lapses in these other games," said Soul coach Mike Hohensee. "Our guys got after it, and we tackled well." 

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 was placed on what is called the "other league exemption list" by the Soul.

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. With 4 minutes, 59 seconds remaining in the first, Brackins scored on a 4-yard slant after defensive back Chris Martin made an end-zone interception to give the Soul possession.

 "That's all I needed was a shot," said Brackins, who finished with nine catches for 133 yards and three scores. "I'm good. I just went out and showed my talent tonight." 

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 Syvelle Newton touchdown run and a pair of field goals from Jon Striefsky 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.

"This just gives us another page to turn to start over next year," Brackins said.