Soul

The Soul announced their 2012 Arena Football League schedule on Thursday. They will play at the Wells Fargo Center and be in the American Conference Eastern Division with the Cleveland Gladiators, Milwaukee Mustangs, and Pittsburgh Power. Home games in bold   BYE March 18 at New Orleans, TBD March 23 at Pittsburgh, 8* April 1 Cleveland, 6:05 April 7 at Georgia, TBD April 15 San Jose, 6:05 April 20 Tampa Bay, 8* April 28 at Orlando, TBD May 5 Milwaukee, 7:05 May 12 Jacksonville, 7:05 May 18 at Spokane, TBD May 27 at Cleveland, TBD June 2 Orlando, 7:05 June 8 at Milwaukee, TBD June 16 at Jacksonville, TBD June 24 Pittsburgh, 6:05 June 30 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 July 8 Spokane, 6:05 BYE July 22 Utah, 6:05 p.m. Times subject to change * NFL Network

With the unrestricted free-agent season beginning today, the Soul made sure their most prized possession didn't hit the open market. The Soul agreed to a 1-year deal with wide receiver Donovan Morgan for the 2012 season, sources told the Daily News . Morgan had 37 touchdown catches last season and his 122.4 receiving yards per game led the AFL. The Soul will turn its attention to adding a quarterback to help reverse last year's underperforming...

The Soul are expected to sign kicker Fabrizio Scaccia on Wednesday to fill the void left when Remy Hamilton was injured last week. Scaccia kicked for runner-up Arizona last year. His brother, Massimo, spent time with the Soul in 2011. Hamilton's injury forced the Soul to use wide receiver Emery Sammons and defensive back LaRico Stevenson to handle kickoffs. In other news, Soul kick returner/wide receiver Jeff Hughley was named to the AFL's all-Ironman team. It's the third consecutive nod for Hughley, who is in his first season with the Soul.

The Soul beat the Orlando Predators for the second time this season with a 61-51 victory on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Two touchdowns by Derrick Ross, one rushing and one receiving, highlighted a 14-0 second quarter for the Soul (4-4), who led by 28-19 at halftime. Orlando (2-6) pulled within 42-39 late in the third quarter on a 12-yard TD pass from Aaron Garcia to T.T. Tolliver. But the Soul extended their advantage when quarterback Dan Raudabaugh found Tiger Jones for a 38-yard scoring pass, and James Romain returned an interception 50 yards for a TD, giving the Soul a 55-39 cushion.

THE SOUL announced the signings of offensive linemen Zipp Duncan (6-5, 315 pounds) and Christian Johnson (6-4, 330). The two, who were teammates at Kentucky, were members of the AFL's Dallas Vigilantes last season, which were coached by Clint Dolezel, the Soul's new assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. "Zipp and Christian are both big bodies that will keep our quarterbacks off the turf," said head coach Doug Plank, also in his first year with the Soul. "Their familiarity with and understanding of their blocking schemes in Clint's offensive system will be a major plus for us. " The Soul's season begins March 18.  

THE SOUL scored 34 unanswered points and rolled host Orlando, 61-33, on Saturday night. Quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw for 250 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Soul (1-1) to an emphatic victory over their former coach. Fullback Derrick Ross also rumbled for a 44-yard touchdown, a significant distance for the 50-yard field. Orlando got two defensive touchdowns from linebacker Marcus Everett to jump out to a 14-0 lead before the Soul got rolling. Ross' TD capped the 34-point run. Ryan McDaniel led the Soul receivers with seven catches for 103 yards and a score.

The Colorado Crush have moved their scheduled Arena Football League game against the Soul to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The game, originally scheduled for Sunday, was moved to accommodate a potential Game 6 Sunday in the Denver Nuggets' first-round NBA playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Soul game will be broadcast on WNJC-AM (1360) but will not be televised by Channel 10. This is the second meeting this season between the two teams.

Cleveland Gladiators (9-6) at Soul (5-11) When: 8 o'clock Where: Wells Fargo Center (17,652) TV: NFL Network Radio: None Internet: www.PhiladelphiaSoul.com or www.NiftyTV.com . About the Gladiators: Cleveland has won three of its last four to take a one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the East Division with three to go . . . The Gladiators beat the Soul, 59-41, on May 21 behind four touchdown catches by wide receiver Robert...

Agenda Who: Soul (14-3) vs. Utah (12-5) When: Sunday, 6:05 p.m. Where: Wells Fargo Center TV: None. Internet: www.UStream.tv/PhiladelphiaSoul About the Blaze: Needs a win to clinch the West Division, the toughest in the AFL?…?Offensive coordinator Matt Sauk and defensive coordinator Rob Keefe each once played for the Soul. Keefe was the head coach for Spokane's championship team in 2010?…?Quarterback Tommy Grady is a leading MVP candidate.

THE SOUL have changed their uniforms. After last year's miserable season, they probably ought to burn the old ones. How the team performs with a new coaching staff and an overhauled roster remains to be seen. But at least they'll look snazzy. Dan Raudabaugh (No. 5) is the new quarterback, and he largely will be responsible for putting the 6-12 record the Soul posted in 2011 well into the rearview mirror. New coach Doug Plank and the Soul open the new season on Sunday at New Orleans.