Soul Top Gladiators, 48-33

Aug. 8,2015
CLEVELAND – The Philadelphia Soul (15-3) defeated the Cleveland Gladiators (8-10), 48-33, in front of 12,474 fans at Quicken Loans Arena to close out the regular season Saturday night.
A Gladiators turnover on downs to open the game led to Philadelphia posting the game’s first points, as Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh found Shaun Kauleinamoku for a 46-yard touchdown pass 5:20 into the opening frame.  On the ensuing kickoff return, Amarri Jackson ran the ball 55 yards before he was stripped at the one-yard line.  Philadelphia took over possession, but the Gladiators defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs and keeping the Philadelphia lead at just seven points.
Shane Austin found Collin Taylor for his first touchdown pass of the game with 5:46 left in the opening quarter to help the Gladiators tie the game at 7-7.  Austin sent a quick pass to the right for Taylor, who carried defenders with him en route to his 42nd touchdown catch of the season.  Taylor finished the game with a pair of scores and led the Gladiators with eight receptions and 74 yards.  After Cleveland tied the game at 7-7, Philadelphia managed to regain the lead, 14-7, on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Raudabaugh to fullback Tommy Taggart with 1:39 left in the first quarter.
The back-and-forth scoring continued into the second quarter when Austin barreled into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run- the first of his two rushing touchdowns in the game- with 12:12 left in the second quarter.  A missed extra point attempt led to Philadelphia scoring back-to-back touchdowns, including a one-yard rushing touchdown from Taggart in the half’s final seconds, and the Soul led 28-13 at halftime.
The Gladiators outscored Philadelphia 13-7 in the third quarter; the lone quarter in which the Gladiators outscored the Soul.  History was made with 1:08 left in the third quarter and the Gladiators trailing 35-20.  Austin looked to his right and spotted an open Thyron Lewis, and Austin found Lewis for a 16-yard touchdown pass.  The pass was Austin’s 101st of the season, setting a new single-season franchise record, and the total is a new career-high for Austin.  Austin finished the game completing 16 of 33 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
Philadelphia outscored the Gladiators 13-7 in the fourth quarter to secure the win, topping Cleveland 48-33.  The Soul swept the Gladiators 3-0 in the regular season. The two teams will square off again next week in the AFL Quarterfinals.