PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Matt D'Orazio threw eight touchdown passes to lead the Philadelphia Soul to its first ever appearance in the Arena Bowl with a 70-35 win over the Cleveland Gladiators on Saturday.
D'Orazio completed 17 of 25 passes for 184 yards. Larry Brackins and Brent Holmes each caught three touchdown passes.
Robert Redd's 16-yard scoring catch cut the Soul's lead to 45-28 early in the third, but Mike Brown's highlight-reel kick return during which he hurdled over kicker Jason Ball on his way to the endzone gave Philadelphia a 52-28 lead and they never looked back.
D'Orazio found Arena League offensive player of the year Chris Jackson twice in the endzone and Wes Ours added a rushing touchdown.
Raymond Philyaw was shaky for Cleveland, going 25-for-49 for 303 yards with four scores and two interceptions.
Redd was Philyaw's favorite target, finishing with 11 receptions for 152 yards and two scores.
Philyaw's 17-yard touchdown pass to Otis Amey at 6:28 in the first made it 7-7, but the Soul scored 28 of the next 42 points and led 35-21 at the half.
Brackins led Philadelphia with seven catches for 92 yards to go along with his three scores.
Marlion Jackson ran for a touchdown for the Gladiators.
The Soul will play the winner of Saturday's American Conference title game between Grand Rapids and San Jose in Arena Bowl XXII in New Orleans on July 27.
