Predators fall to Philadelphia in regular season finale

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Predators (12-4) fell to the Philadelphia Soul (13-3) in the finale of the 2016 regular season, 67-59. Orlando finishes the season as the No. 2 seed in the American Conference and will host the Jacksonville Sharks in the opening round of the postseason on Aug. 6.

Bernard Morris threw for 333 yards and six touchdowns with one interception on the night, adding 17 yards and another score on the ground. Larry Brackins hauled in a game-high 11 passes for 114 yards and four touchdowns, while Brandon Thompkins snared six receptions for 139 yards and another score. LaMark Brown also caught a 28-yard touchdown pass as he totaled five receptions for 67 yards.

The Predators battled to a 14-14 tie midway through the second quarter as the two teams traded scores. Morris eluded a defender on his way to a six-yard touchdown run before tossing a seven-yard score to Brackins. Dan Raudabaugh threw two touchdown passes for the Soul, connecting with Chris Duvalt from 32 yards out and Lonnie Outlaw on an eight-yard throw.

Orlando would take its first lead of the night midway through the second quarter. Defensive end Monte Lewis blocked Philadelphia’s PAT attempt following a 17-yard scoring reception by Shaun Kauleinamoku and the Predators went ahead 21-20 as Brackins hauled in a two-yard touchdown pass a series later.

Duvalt caught a 32-yard score to regain the lead for Philadelphia but the PAT resulted in another miss. The Soul attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and after bouncing off of multiple players, Calvin Fance recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give the Predators a 28-26 lead.

Fance wasn’t done making his presence felt on special teams, however. Moments later, the veteran defensive end recovered the Predators’ onside kick attempt to regain possession and set up a 25-yard field goal by Mark Lewis to increase the lead, 31-26. The Soul would take a 33-31 lead at halftime following a 14-yard touchdown reception by Darius Reynolds with seven seconds remaining on the clock.

Morris was intercepted on the opening drive of the third frame and the Soul went ahead 40-31 on the resulting series off a 27-yard touchdown catch by Duvalt. Morris shook off the pick and tossed an 18-yard touchdown to Brackins before Raudabaugh responded with a 27-yard scoring completion to Kauleinamoku to give the Soul a 47-38 lead at the end of the third.

Morris cut the deficit early in the fourth quarter, hooking up with Brackins for a fourth time on a 12-yard touchdown. Philadelphia answered with a 35-yard scoring reception by Duvalt, but Terrance Taylor blocked the PAT attempt for Orlando. On the next play from scrimmage, Morris launched a deep 40-yard score to Brandon Thompkins and the Predators tied it 53-53 after recording a safety on the two-point conversion.

Kauleinamoku caught a 31-yard touchdown a drive later and the Predators matched the score as LaMark Brown broke through a would-be tackler on his way to a 28-yard score. However, a miss on the PAT left the Predators trailing 60-59 at the one-minute warning. Philadelphia would score a final time off a 14-yard reception by Reynolds as the Predators fell, 67-59.