Throughout training camp, Morgan promised his teammates he'd take them to the best place for crawfish, go on a swamp tour, and that his mother would cook some of the best food they'd ever eaten if they made it to the title game.
Morgan has spent the last three days making good on those promises.
"We're going back to where we started," Morgan said, referring to the season opener. "This has been the goal all season. Now it's finally time."
Morgan has helped the Soul offense avoid a hiccup after the league's best wide receiver, Tiger Jones, signed a contract with the Eagles a month ago. Morgan has filled in as the team's go-to receiving target, and quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has spread the ball around efficiently.
Running back Derrick Ross set the single-season rushing record (breaking his own record in the process). His 645 regular-season rushing yards are more than the second- and third-best rushers combined.
"The balance that we have is huge," Raudabaugh said. "Ross gives us an advantage that no other team in this league has."
But it's the turnover margin that sets the Soul apart. Head coach Doug Plank has talked about creating turnovers on defense and limiting them on offense since he took over after the 2011 season.
"Everybody talks about toughness and hitting each other," Plank said. "I like to talk about hitting the ball and forcing it free."
The Soul finished with a plus-24 turnover margin, nine better than the second-best team.
As Plank puts it, turnovers lead to momentum. And momentum leads to points.
"In this league, momentum is huge," Plank said. "Momentum is huge in outdoor football but even more so in our league."
Morgan will have dozens of friends and family in attendance. He's been playing host to his teammates since the Soul flew down Monday night.
ArenaBowl XXV: Soul vs. Rattlers
Who: Soul (17-3) vs. Arizona Rattlers (15-5)
What: Arena Football League championship
When/where: Friday, 10:30 p.m.; New Orleans Arena
TV: NFL Network
About the Soul: They've won 10 straight games, during which only two games have been decided by seven points or fewer. . . . Head coach Doug Plank spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Rattlers, going to the ArenaBowl all three seasons but winning none of them. . . . The last time the ArenaBowl was held in New Orleans was 2008, when the Soul won their first and only AFL championship. . . . The Soul won their two playoff games by a combined 68 points.
Fast facts about the Rattlers: Arizona lost the 2011 ArenaBowl, 73-70, to the Jacksonville Sharks. . . . The Rattlers have appeared in four of the last nine ArenaBowls, losing all of them. . . . The Rattlers gave up fewer points this season than all but one team.
Last time they met: The Rattlers won, 55-54, in 2011.
Friday night's game will likely end too late for Inquirer editions. Go to www.philly.com for results.
- Chad Graff
Contact Chad Graff
at cgraff@philly.com, or follow on Twitter @ChadGraff.
