Another season of Arena Football is in the books, and we have our new League Champion. After 6+ weeks of bragging, strutting, posturing and assurances, the highest scoring team in Arena history had hubris bite them right in the ACL.
Coming into this game, Philly looked to be in the driver seat. Although they had a comparatively soft schedule compared to Arizona, the Soul had rolled the whole season, holding an impressive average margin of victory and scoring more than 60 points a game. Receiver depth that barely even hiccuped by the loss of Tiger Jones and a quarterback that seemed unflappable. However, it was all for naught, as Philly seemed to not show up for the Arena Bowl.
Right from the get-go, the Rattlers put the Soul on notice when they deferred and gave them the ball first...only to quickly pick it off and give them the chance to score first in both halves. Sure enough, they quickly reached the end zone and put 7 up on the board. Things just went downhill from there.
Normally, takeaways are Philly's thing. However, in this game, the Rattlers defense came up with all three of the game, leaving Davila perfect on the night. Final stats were 23/30, 266 yards , 9 touchdowns and zero picks. Dirty Dan, on the other hand, became the only QB in Arena history to throw 3 picks in a single half.
Another point of interest was the kicker, Scaccia. Last week, I expected him to be a mess due to lack of recent experience and the fact that he wasn't that great to begin with. However, he proved me wrong by drilling his kicks all night. However, he struggled a lot more in the Arena Bowl, and it cost his team.
By the second half, the Soul threw caution to the wind. With Scaccia floundering, Raudabaugh unable to get things going and the Soul down 27-13, they changed tactics. They started on-siding it almost every kickoff and going for two on every touchdown. It was a bold strategy, and one that can work, but in this case didn't.
In the end, the Soul came up short, and Coach Plank goes 0-5 in Arena Bowls. On the other hand, Nick Davila got redemption for coming up short in the final seconds of last year's game. Also, the Rattlers got their first ring since 1997, after losing four appearances in the intervening years. Finally, Maurice Purify set a new AB record with seven touchdowns, putting the Ratts firmly in the winners circle.
Seriously - is there anything sadder than a pouting Jaws and two angry nuns?
So what the heck happened to the greatest team in Arena History? I really think that it just came down to nerves and inexperience. The Soul hadn't faced the crucible that the Rattlers did to get to the Arena Bowl. Instead, they faced a fairly soft schedule that allowed them to believe that they couldn't be beat when it counts. Don't get me wrong - their ability, talent, coaching and players were a step above, but they didn't have the humility that Arizona was forced to swallow this season and last. They arrived in New Orleans thinking that it was their destiny to win. When the Ratts took the ball away from them on their first play, I think it got in their heads, they lost a step and never got it back.
If Philly secured the core of this team again for next year, then I think they have a good shot of not only going back, but pulling it off. After all, losing a hard one can be just what you need to go back and take it for yourself.
Just ask Arizona.
Thank you for reading my columns this season, and I look forward to getting back to it again in the spring. In the meantime, stay tuned for ongoing NFL coverage from Mister Keller as the outdoor league kicks into gear. In the meantime, I will sit in my easy chair saying, "The field...it's too frickin' big!!!"
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