The VooDoo took the opening drive of the second half and scored on their very first play from scrimmage with a 33-yard touchdown strike to WR Josh Bush. Bush took the opening kickoff to the VooDoo's 17-yard line which set up his own touchdown score on the very next play. The Soul were left only leading by 1 after the VooDoo made it a 28-27 ball game.
Penalties continued to hurt the Soul as they were called for a block in the back on the ensuing kickoff putting them at their own 3-yard line. Two consecutive strikes to Hughley and Jones respectively put the Soul at the VooDoo 18-yard line, but a loss of 5 yards on a Ross rushing attempt pushed the Soul back further. Raudabaugh was able to connect with a wide-open Hughley on a crossing pattern to give the Soul another 8-point lead with 10:09 left in the 3rd quarter after the 23-yard strike.
Again the VooDoo struck right back with Alajajian's third touchdown run of the game with a 3-yard score putting the game's margin back to 1 at 35-34 in favor of the Soul. Rocca marched the VooDoo down the field as he utilized the short passing game to set up the deep pass keeping the Soul off-balanced in their coverage.
KR Jeff Hughley took the ensuing kickoff high off the left net 4-yards deep into the end zone and broke it wide open for the 54-yard score putting the Soul back up 42-34. Hughley, a consecutive 2-time All-Ironman Team selection, notched his first kick return touchdown of the season with that effort.
Rocco connected with another wide-open VooDoo receiver for the 26-yard score, this time it was Bush for his second of the game, but again K Shene wasn't able to convert the PAT putting the score at 42-40.
The Soul committed their second turnover of the game when Hughley, after taking the previous kickoff to the cleaners, fumbled the ball away to the VooDoo who recovered it at the Soul 16. VooDoo DL Brian Coulter forced the fumble which ended the 3rd quarter after that play.
The VooDoo this time turned a Soul turnover into points when Rocca hit the outstretched hands of WR L.J. Castile for the touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone. The VooDoo were forced to attempt the 2-point conversion of Soul LB Dusty Bear was penalized for running into the kicker. The converted the 2-point conversion after another Soul penalty by handing the ball off to Alajajian. The VooDoo took their first lead of the game with the 48-42 advantage.
After a 15-yard connection with Morgan, Raudabaugh hit Hughley for 26 yards resulting in his second receiving touchdown of the game. The Soul took back the lead at 49-48.
The VooDoo converted on their 7 play 38 yard drive for their second lead of the game after Payne caught the 9-yard Rocco pass for the touchdown. 55-48 VooDoo.
Hughley ran the ensuing kickoff 46 yards all the way to the VooDoo's 9-yard line to give the Soul excellent field position. After two straight incompletions to Jones, Raudabaugh finally connected with Jones for an 8-yard gain just out of the end zone. The Soul challenged the position of the play, but lost the challenge and a timeout in the process. Ross then took the 4th-and-1 play and ran it into the end zone giving the Soul back the lead for the second consecutive drive.
The VooDoo retook the lead after Payne collected his third touchdown reception of the game with the 16-yard grab giving the VooDoo the 62-56 advantage with 2:41 left to play. Payne caught a 10-yard pass from Rocco to set up his touchdown on the previous play.
A pass interference call on Payne's touchdown placed the Soul at their own 1 and a half-yard line after Hughley failed to take the kickoff out of the end zone resulting in a touch back. On 1st-and-10 Raudabaugh was sacked for a 3-yard loss by VooDoo LB Andre Mathis for the game's first sack. Two consecutive incompletions forced the Soul into a 4th-and-13 situation, but Raudabuagh came through in the clutch by connecting with Jones for the 14-yard reception and the 1st down. The Soul ran the clock down to just 17 seconds left to play when they scored their final touchdown of the game. Morgan caught the 2-yard pass for the Soul score and K Phi Marfuggi converted his 9th straight PAT's to give the Soul a 1-point lead at 63-62.
The VooDoo started their last drive with just 15 seconds to play and at their own 6-yard line. Rocca connected with WR Jeremy Kellem for 20 yards putting the VooDoo at the Soul 24. Then Rocca connected with Payne in the back of the end zone for the apparent go-ahead score, but Payne hit the back wall hard and wasn't able to hold onto the football. Then with 3 seconds left the VooDoo were forced to try a game winning field goal attempt, but the 40-yard attempt didn't have a chance as Soul DL Dustin Barno busted through the line and blocked the attempt which sealed the Soul's hard fought 63-62 season opening victory.
FINAL: Soul 63 VooDoo 62
GAME STATS:
OFFENSE:
Soul -> QB Raudabaugh 22/30 310 yards 7 TD's
VooDoo -> QB Rocco 25/39 314 yards 6 TD's
Soul -> WR Morgan 3 rushes for 24 yards
FB Ross 5 rushes for 6 yards and 1 TD
VooDoo -> FB Alajajian 5 rushes for 3 yards and 3 TD's
Soul -> WR Jones 10 receptions for 132 yards and 3 TD's
WR Morgan 8 receptions for 86 yards and 2 TD's
WR Hughley 4 receptions for 92 yards and 2 TD's
VooDoo -> WR Payne 10 receptions for 130 yards and 3 TD's
WR Bush 7 receptions for 95 yards and 2 TD's
WR Castile 4 receptions for 45 yards and 1 TD
DEFENSE:
Soul -> LB Goosby 5 UT / 1 AT
VooDoo -> DB Calvin 9 UT / 1 AT
LB Mathis 1 UT and 1 sack
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