SAN JOSE -– The San Jose SaberCats (12-5) saw their five-game winning streak snapped as they fell to the Philadelphia Soul (9-8), 42-20, on Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in front of 10,471 fans.
Soul fullback Derrick Ross carried the home team, posting 14 carries for 63 yards with three scores on the ground, while adding two catches for 46 yards and one touchdown receiving. Defensive back Rayshaun Kizer helped keep the SaberCats offense in check, notching nine tackles and two interceptions.
Starting with the ball, the SaberCats offense couldn’t find the end zone, eventually turning the ball over on downs after a slew of penalties littered the first drive. Returning the favor, the Soul offense went four and out to give the ball right back to San Jose. The offense would finally dent the scoreboard at the 4:33 mark of the first quarter, as fullback Odie Armstrong went untouched into the end zone from one-yard out to put the SaberCats up 6-0.
On a drive the extended over the quarter break, Ross pounded his way into the end zone from four-yards out to give Philadelphia their first lead of the night at 7-6. The San Jose offense would drive down inside the Soul 15-yard line, but a bad snap on a field goal attempt gave the ball back to Philadelphia. On the next play, Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh connected on a 27-yard deep pass to wide receiver Markee White to give the home team the 14-6 lead.
After SaberCats quarterback Nathan Stanley was intercepted on the next possession, Philadelphia threw a screen pass to Ross and he carried the San Jose defense 32-yards into the end zone for a 21-6 lead. With 16 seconds left in the half, Stanley connected with Philadelphia born wide receiver Dominique Curry for a six-yard touchdown to close the deficit to 21-13.
Out of the break, SaberCats defensive lineman Joe Sykes stepped in front of a screen pass to notch his third career interception. Taking advantage of the extra possession, Armstrong reached the end zone from one-yard out for the second time on the night, trimming the Soul lead to 21-20. On the ensuing drive, Philadelphia continued to put the ball in the hands of Derrick Ross, and he delivered with a seven-yard rushing score to put the Soul back up by eight.
After Stanley was intercepted for the second time near the end of the third quarter, Raudabuagh connected with White on the first play of the fourth quarter to put Philadelphia up 35-20. The San Jose offense would stall out at the Soul ten-yard line, turning the ball over on downs for the second time. Philadelphia would continue to execute, cashing in with another Ross rushing touchdown to put the lead to 22.
After a long pass to Curry brought the SaberCats to the Soul door step, Stanley was intercepted by Kizer in the back of the end zone, his third pick thrown on the night. The Soul would turn the ball over on downs late, but ran off enough clock to shut down any hopes of a SaberCats comeback.
Courtesy San Jose Sabercats media services
