ArenaBowl XXII
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena
in New Orleans, Louisiana
(the host of ArenaBowl XXI
). It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana. It was the last ArenaBowl before the AFL's economic suspension, until 2010 when the AFL was reformed, continuing on with ArenaBowl XXIII
.
, who were making their fourth, and second consecutive, appearance in the title game (they have won in all of their previous trips), against the National Conference Champions Philadelphia Soul
, who were making their first appearance in the franchise's history in the ArenaBowl.
The Soul, along with division rival Dallas, were undefeated at week 9. They preceded to beat them in that week, however when travelling to Cleveland for the following game, they lost their first game of the season. They continued to sputter, dropping two of their last three, however these ultimately were their only three losses on the season. They were the top seed in their conference, clinching home field advantage
throughout the playoffs until the actual ArenaBowl.
The SaberCats finished the season with a record of 11-5, yet, unlike the Soul, were not undefeated for one week of the season, due to their loss in week one to the Chicago Rush. However after losing four of their first seven games, and five out of their first ten, they continued on to finish with six consecutive wins to have a total of eleven during the season. They finished well enough to have the second best record in the conference, and best in their division. They were the number two seed in the playoffs.
In the playoffs, the Soul first beat the sixth-seeded New York Dragons
48-49 in the Divisional round of the tournament on a controversial call. The Soul appeared to have scored the game-winning touchdown as time expires. The play was reviewed, and even though the replays seemed to indicate a knee down before the ball crossed the goal line, the score was confirmed and the Soul won the game. In the Eastern Conference Championship they proceeded to beat the fourth-seeded Cleveland Gladiators by a score of 35-70.
The SaberCats had a similar playoff schedule. They also had a first-round bye but unlike the Soul, failed to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They beat the fifth-seeded Colorado Crush
(51-64) in the Divisional round and the sixth-seeded Grand Rapids Rampage
(55-81), who previously beat top-seeded Chicago Rush
, in the Western Conference Championship.
It was 20-20 when the Soul took control. Philadelphia scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to go up 34-20 and led 37-27 at halftime. In the second half, Philadelphia scored on its opening drive and added a safety to up its lead to 46-27.
San Jose responded to close the game to 46-34 on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Mark Grieb to Jason Geathers. But the Soul was able to match each SaberCat score. With 39 seconds left in the game, a two yard touchdown pass from Matt D'Orazio to Phil Bogle gave the Soul a seemingly comfortable 59-42 lead. San Jose scored in 11 seconds and recovered an onside kick, and scored again with just 17 second left.
Suddenly it was 59-56, but the Soul recovered the ensuing onside kick and was finally able to run out the clock.
Philadelphia defeated San Jose 59-56, and Soul quarterback Matt D'Orazio
was named the Mitsubishi Motors ArenaBowl XXII MVP.
D'Orazio was 26 for 43 for 302 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading receiver was Chris Jackson
with 11 catches for 146 yards and three scores.
Grieb finished with 299 passing yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. Rodney Wright caught 13 passes for 144 yards and two scores. Geathers had five touchdonwns and 101 receiving yards.
New Orleans Arena
New Orleans Arena is an indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located in the city's Central Business District, adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome....
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
(the host of ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI
ArenaBowl XXI was the 2007 championship game of the Arena Football League and was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, July 29, 2007. It was the third-ever neutral site title game in league's history and the first held in the state of Louisiana...
). It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana. It was the last ArenaBowl before the AFL's economic suspension, until 2010 when the AFL was reformed, continuing on with ArenaBowl XXIII
ArenaBowl XXIII
NAPA Auto Parts ArenaBowl XXIII was an arena football game between the National Conference champion, Spokane Shock and the American Conference Champion, Tampa Bay Storm. The Spokane Shock won the game successfully defending ArenaCup X of the former af2...
.
Background
The game was played between the American Conference Champions San Jose SaberCatsSan Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
, who were making their fourth, and second consecutive, appearance in the title game (they have won in all of their previous trips), against the National Conference Champions Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
, who were making their first appearance in the franchise's history in the ArenaBowl.
Philadelphia Soul
| Week | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 1 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Home | W 77-56 |
| 2 | March 9 | Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
Away | W 60-49 |
| 3 | March 16 | New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded... |
Home | W 63-42 |
| 4 | March 20 | Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:... |
Away | W 71-34 |
| 5 | March 29 | Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.... |
Home | W 59-51 |
| 6 | April 5 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Home | W 64-56 |
| 7 | April 12 | San Jose SaberCats San Jose SaberCats The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the... |
Away | W 58-57 |
| 8 | April 21 | Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of... |
Away | W 76-55 |
| 9 | April 28 | Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
Home | W 57-28 |
| 10 | May 2 | Cleveland Gladiators | Away | L 55-67 |
| 11 | May 12 | Georgia Force Georgia Force The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings... |
Away | L 62-63 |
| 12 | May 17 | Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of... |
Home | W 51-43 |
| 13 | May 22 | Kansas City Brigade Kansas City Brigade The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach... |
Home | L 47-54 |
| 14 | Bye | Week | ||
| 15 | June 7 | Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
Away | W 71-64 |
| 16 | June 14 | Cleveland Gladiators | Home | W 62-61 |
| 17 | June 22 | New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded... |
Away | W 59-30 |
The Soul, along with division rival Dallas, were undefeated at week 9. They preceded to beat them in that week, however when travelling to Cleveland for the following game, they lost their first game of the season. They continued to sputter, dropping two of their last three, however these ultimately were their only three losses on the season. They were the top seed in their conference, clinching home field advantage
Home Field Advantage
Home Field Advantage is a 2000 independent film starring Tony Award-winning actor Dan Fogler in the role of Charlie....
throughout the playoffs until the actual ArenaBowl.
San Jose SaberCats
| Week | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 3 | Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
Away | L 47-70 |
| 2 | March 10 | Grand Rapids Rampage Grand Rapids Rampage The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:... |
Away | W 66-58 |
| 3 | March 15 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Home | W 63-43 |
| 4 | March 22 | Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
Home | L 56-59 |
| 5 | March 29 | Kansas City Brigade Kansas City Brigade The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach... |
Away | W 44-36 |
| 6 | April 5 | New Orleans VooDoo New Orleans VooDoo The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena.... |
Away | L 43-72 |
| 7 | April 12 | Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia Soul The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII... |
Home | L 57-58 |
| 8 | April 18 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Away | W 61-40 |
| 9 | April 26 | Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:... |
Home | W 70-42 |
| 10 | May 3 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Away | L 35-61 |
| 11 | May 9 | Arizona Rattlers Arizona Rattlers The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center... |
Away | W 63-42 |
| 12 | May 17 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Home | W 74-64 |
| 13 | May 24 | Colorado Crush Colorado Crush Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009... |
Home | W 59-42 |
| 14 | May 31 | Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:... |
Away | W 66-56 |
| 15 | Bye | Week | ||
| 16 | June 14 | Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.... |
Home | W 73-70 |
| 17 | June 21 | Georgia Force Georgia Force The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings... |
Home | W 68-62 |
The SaberCats finished the season with a record of 11-5, yet, unlike the Soul, were not undefeated for one week of the season, due to their loss in week one to the Chicago Rush. However after losing four of their first seven games, and five out of their first ten, they continued on to finish with six consecutive wins to have a total of eleven during the season. They finished well enough to have the second best record in the conference, and best in their division. They were the number two seed in the playoffs.
Playoffs
One odd fact noted throughout the playoffs was that both lowest seeded teams making the playoffs won in the first round.In the playoffs, the Soul first beat the sixth-seeded New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
48-49 in the Divisional round of the tournament on a controversial call. The Soul appeared to have scored the game-winning touchdown as time expires. The play was reviewed, and even though the replays seemed to indicate a knee down before the ball crossed the goal line, the score was confirmed and the Soul won the game. In the Eastern Conference Championship they proceeded to beat the fourth-seeded Cleveland Gladiators by a score of 35-70.
The SaberCats had a similar playoff schedule. They also had a first-round bye but unlike the Soul, failed to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They beat the fifth-seeded Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
(51-64) in the Divisional round and the sixth-seeded Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
(55-81), who previously beat top-seeded Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
, in the Western Conference Championship.
Game summary
The SaberCats received the opening kickoff, and teams exchanged touchdowns through the first quarter, tying the game three times.It was 20-20 when the Soul took control. Philadelphia scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to go up 34-20 and led 37-27 at halftime. In the second half, Philadelphia scored on its opening drive and added a safety to up its lead to 46-27.
San Jose responded to close the game to 46-34 on a 12 yard touchdown pass from Mark Grieb to Jason Geathers. But the Soul was able to match each SaberCat score. With 39 seconds left in the game, a two yard touchdown pass from Matt D'Orazio to Phil Bogle gave the Soul a seemingly comfortable 59-42 lead. San Jose scored in 11 seconds and recovered an onside kick, and scored again with just 17 second left.
Suddenly it was 59-56, but the Soul recovered the ensuing onside kick and was finally able to run out the clock.
Philadelphia defeated San Jose 59-56, and Soul quarterback Matt D'Orazio
Matt D'Orazio
Matthew Louis D’Orazio is a professional American football quarterback Free Agent. He played college football at Otterbein College....
was named the Mitsubishi Motors ArenaBowl XXII MVP.
D'Orazio was 26 for 43 for 302 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading receiver was Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson
Chris Jackson is the name of:* Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf , born Chris Wayne Jackson, American professional basketball player* Chris Jackson , Scottish association football player, see 1998–99 Hibernian F.C...
with 11 catches for 146 yards and three scores.
Grieb finished with 299 passing yards, eight touchdowns and one interception. Rodney Wright caught 13 passes for 144 yards and two scores. Geathers had five touchdonwns and 101 receiving yards.