AFL Conference Championship Matchups Set

Aug. 16,2015

LAS VEGAS – Four teams remain on the Road to ArenaBowl XXVIII, as the San Jose Sabercats (18-1), Philadelphia Soul (16-3), Arizona Rattlers (15-4), and Jacksonville Sharks (11-8) have advanced to this year’s AFL Conference Championships.
The No. 1-seeded SaberCats became the first team to qualify when they defeated the Portland Thunder, 55-28, on Friday night. The top seed in the American Conference, the Philadelphia Soul, punched their ticket to the penultimate game of the season late Saturday afternoon with a 47-35 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators. The Jacksonville Sharks, seeded third in the American Conference, upset the South Division champion Orlando Predators, 55-33, on the road in the AFL Quarterfinals to move on to the Conference Championship, while the Arizona Rattlers advanced following a 72-41 win over the Spokane Shock.
For the second consecutive year, the SaberCats and Rattlers will square off in the National Conference title game. The Rattlers – who have now reached five straight Conference Championships – have knocked the SaberCats out of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. However, San Jose has bested Arizona in both matchups between the storied rivals this year. The SaberCats hold a 25-22 overall lead in the series, though the teams are a split 4-4 in postseason meetings. Kickoff for the 2015 National Conference Championship game from the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif. is set for 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday, August 22 on ESPNEWS.
On the other side of the bracket, the Soul and Sharks will matchup in the American Conference Championship Game for the third time in the last four years. Philadelphia previously defeated Jacksonville to advance to the ArenaBowl in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013, the only prior playoff meetings between the two franchises. However, the Sharks have had the Soul’s number so far in 2015, handing Philadelphia two of the team’s three losses this year. Philadelphia maintains a 6-4 overall lead in the series. Kickoff for the American Conference Championship Game from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is set for 5:00 p.m. ET Sunday, August 23 on CBS Sports Network.