Arena Bowl XXVI Preview

It's finally here, Arena Bowl XXVI is less than 48 hours away! After all the fun, high-flying action, and parody only two teams earned their tickets to Orlando. For the second year in a row it will be the Arizona Rattlers and the Philadelphia Soul battling for Arena Football's most glamorous prize, the James F. Foster trophy. Will the Soul avenge last year's loss, or will Arizona complete the repeat!?

Arena Bowl XXVI:

Arizona Rattlers vs. Philadelphia Soul - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS

The Rattlers and Soul will do battle on Arena Football's biggest stage for the second consecutive year, with this championship game being held in Orlando. Both teams claimed their 2013 conference crown with dominating performances. The Soul forced a few early turnovers and recovered a key onside kick in the final of the first half which led to a commanding 40-21 halftime lead, that ended up being a 75-59 victory over Jacksonville to win their second straight American Conference title. Arizona hosted and won the National Conference championship for the third season in a row when they scored 37 unanswered points to turn an early 35-21 deficit into a 58-35 fourth quarter lead, and despite a late rally by Spokane held on to get the 65-57 win. This will be the fourth meeting between the two in a thirteen-month span, Arizona has won all three meetings which includes Arena Bowl XXV. Philadelphia and Arizona met two times during the regular season, both resulting in Rattler wins: 66-52 in week one and 64-57 in week eleven. Can the Soul finally break through, or will the Rattlers claim their second straight title, and fourth in team history!?

Keys to the Game:

Arizona:
- Protect Nick Davila, keep the pocket clean and don't allow Bryan Robinson or Brandon Perkins cause any havoc.
- Third Arena Bowl in as many years, use this experience and take the cease the moment.
- The "Big Three" of Virgil Gray, Marquis Floyd, and Arkeith Brown to make a difference and snag one or two of Dan Raudabaugh's passes.
- Jeremy Kellem who has been excellent at the jack all year, and has been a huge factor in these playoffs to pick up were he left off.
- Win in the trenches and don't allow Derrick Ross to get going.
- Avoid the early turnover, when this team has struggled this year, not very often, but when they have its because one turnover multiplies into two or three, play a clean game on offense.

Philadelphia:
- Your offensive line has only allowed seven sacks all season, don't change now.
- Dan Raudabaugh needs to prove on the AFL's big stage that he is an elite quarterback, no interceptions and a high completion percentage will do the trick.
- Derrick "the Boss" Ross needs to have a big day both rushing the ball and catching screen pass, a repeat of his four-touchdown performance in the conference championship would be huge.
- For Rayshaun Kizer, James Romain, and LaRico Stevenson to play their best game of the season and make a case as the AFL's best secondary.
- Bryan Robinson has been one of the top pass rushers in the League the last couple years, he will need to be a one-man wrecking crew up front.
- Force Arizona into an early turnover or stop on downs, another pick-six by Joe Goosby could come in handy (he had one in the week eleven loss).

Tale of the Tape:
Arizona Rattlers: 17-3 (6-2 West)
- West Division Champs
- Defeated San Jose in conference semifinals 59-49
- Defeated Spokane in conference championship 65-57
- 8-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Philadelphia (wks. 1&11), @Jacksonville (wk.7), @Chicago (wk 9), Spokane (wk. 13), and season sweep of Orlando (wks. 6&16)
- Won in Orlando (84-56) in week 16
- 8th Arena Bowl appearance, third straight
- 3-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowls VIII, XI, and XXV)
- 3-4 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Nick Davila 353-541, 4847 yds, 110 TD, 15 Int; 6 rush TD
- Odie Armstrong 72 rush, 171 yds, 25 TD; 13 rec, 190 yds, 2 TD
- Rod Windsor 110 rec, 1590 yds, 42 TD
- Kerry Reed 70 rec, 961 yds, 24 TD
- Maurice Purify 51 rec, 740 yds, 9 TD
- Tysson Poots 45 rec, 533 yds, 18 TD
- Virgil Gray 15 Int, 4 ret-TD, 93 tackles
- Arkeith Brown 8 Int, 4 ret-TD, 79.5 tackles, sack
- Marquis Floyd 9 Int, 1 ret-TD, 81 tackles
- Marcus Pittman leads team with 6.5 sacks
- Garrett Lindholm 7-12 FG, Long (47); 158-168 PAT
Playoff Stats:
- Nick Davila 45-77, 527 yds, 15 TD, Int
- Odie Armstrong 8 rush, 27 yds, TD; 2 rec, 26 yds, TD
- Rod Windsor 16 rec, 191 yds, 5 TD; 41 rush yds
- Tysson Poots 15 rec, 156 yds, 5 TD
- Maurice Purify 12 rec, 154 yds, 4 TD
- Arkeith Brown 6 kick-ret, 152 yds, TD
- Garrett Lindholm 16-17 PAT, 2-5 FG (26)
- Marquis Floyd 13 tackles
- Jeremy Kellem 8.5 tackles, Int, FF, FR
- Virgil Gray 6 tackles, Int
- Cliff Dukes 2 sacks
- Tyre Glasper sack

Philadelphia Soul: 14-6 (2-2 East)
- East Division Champs
- Defeated Orlando 59-55 in conference semifinals
- Defeated Jacksonville 75-59 in conference championship
- 9-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Chicago (wks. 7&16), @ San Jose (wk. 18)
- Won in Orlando (61-33) in week three
- 3rd Arena Bowl appearance, second straight
- 1-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowl XXII)
- 1-1 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 390-573, 4699 yds, 96 TD, 14 Int
- Derrick Ross 153 rush, 506 yds, 35 TD; 13 rec, 669 yds, 4 TD
- Tiger Jones 150 rec, 2121 yds, 37 TD
- Andrae Thurman 117 rec, 1197 yds, 16 TD
- Carlos Martinez 126-140 PAT; 6-7 FG, long 47
- Rayshaun Kizer 82 tackles, 9 Int, 1 ret- TD
- LaRico Stevenson 74 tackles, 7 Int, 2 Fumb-ret TD
- Bryan Robinson 11 sacks, 2 FF, 6 blocked kicks
- Joe Goosby 68.5 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 Int, 2 ret-TD
Playoff Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 42-61, 545 yds, 14 TD, 3 Int
- Derrick Ross 22 rush, 71 yds, 4 TD; 2 rec, 31 yds, 2 TD
- Andrae Thurman 12 rec, 131 yds, 3 TD
- Tiger Jones 11 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
- Ryan McDaniel 7 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD
- Emery Sammons 6 rec, 117 yds, 2 TD
- Larry Brackins 3 rec, 38 yds, 3 TD
- LaRico Stevenson 12 tackles, 5 kick-ret, 91 yds
- Joe Goosby 12 tackles
- James Romain 11.5 tackles, 2 Int, Def TD
- Rayshaun Kizer 10.5 tackles, Int
- Brandon Perkins sack
- Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack
- Carlos Martinez 17-19 PAT, 1-1 FG (25)

Prediction: The final game of the 2013 Arena Football season promises to be a good one. The Soul and Rattlers are in Orlando to fight for the 26th Foster Trophy and the right to be called a champion. I see this year's game being much closer, but having the same result. It will be Arizona raising the trophy once again. Arizona 73, Philadelphia 62. MVP: Nick Davila.

Arena Bowl XXVI - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS!