ArenaBowl XXV

ArenaBowl XXV was the 25th edition of the championship in the Arena Football League. The National Conference champion, Arizona Rattlers, defeated the American Conference champion, Philadelphia Soul, 72–54.[1][2] The game was played on August 10, 2012. It was the first ArenaBowl at a neutral site since ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, also played in New Orleans. ArenaBowl XXV was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of the New Orleans VooDoo.[3][4]

ArenaBowl XXV
Arizona Rattlers
(National)		 Philadelphia Soul
(American)
72 54
1234 Total
ARI 14132718 72
PHI 672120 54
DateAugust 10, 2012
ArenaNew Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
MVPNick Davila, Arizona
Attendance13,648
Winning coachKevin Guy, Arizona
Losing coachDoug Plank, Philadelphia
TV in the United States
NetworkNFL Network
AnnouncersAri Wolfe, Anthony Herron, and Sherdrick Bonner

Venue

ArenaBowl XXV was played at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the first ArenaBowl at a neutral site since 2008. From 2005 to 2008, the ArenaBowl were hosted at neutral sites (Las Vegas and New Orleans). In 2010 and 2011, the games went to the highest seed in the game, which were Spokane, Washington and Phoenix, Arizona. The last two ArenaBowls at a neutral site (ArenaBowl XXI and ArenaBowl XXII) were also played in New Orleans in 2007 and 2008.[5]

Television

ArenaBowl XXV was televised on NFL Network after the AFL and NFL Network agreed on a third straight contract to carry games. The game was pushed back to a kickoff at 10:30 pm ET. NFL Network bumped the ArenaBowl back and instead broadcast Tim Tebow's preseason debut with the New York Jets, who faced the Cincinnati Bengals in the preseason.[6] [7]

Background

Arizona Rattlers
See also: 2012 Arizona Rattlers season

In the previous season, the Rattlers lost ArenaBowl XXIV to the Jacksonville Sharks on the final play of the game. In 2012, they won a tightly contested West division with a 13–5 record for their third consecutive division title. They defeated division rivals San Jose and Utah, respectively, to win the National Conference championship. They returned to the ArenaBowl for the seventh time in their franchise's history, looking for their first league championship since ArenaBowl XI in 1997.

Week Date Opponent Result
1 March 10 at San Jose L 70–71 (OT)
2 March 17 Milwaukee W 71–65
3 Bye
4 March 29 at Kansas City W 56–28
5 April 6 Spokane W 57–53
6 April 14 at Iowa L 54–56
7 April 22 San Antonio W 68–34
8 April 29 at Georgia W 60–27
9 May 5 San Jose L 70–77
10 May 12 Chicago W 77–43
11 May 19 at Utah W 86–70
12 May 26 at New Orleans W 69–45
13 June 2 Pittsburgh W 55–45
14 June 9 Iowa W 55–48
15 Bye
16 June 22 Milwaukee W 52–37
17 June 29 at Spokane W 61–35
18 July 6 Utah L 49–62
19 July 14 San Antonio L 61–62
20 July 21 Kansas City W 47–22
– July 28 San Jose W 51–48
– August 4 Utah W 75–68

Philadelphia Soul
See also: 2012 Philadelphia Soul season

After missing the playoffs in the prior season, the Soul compiled a league-best 15–3 record. They averaged 68.2 points per game, the most by one team in a single season. They beat the New Orleans VooDoo in the conference semifinals, then blew out the defending champion Jacksonville Sharks in the American Conference championship 89–34, the most one-sided victory in AFL postseason history.[8] For Philadelphia, it was their second ArenaBowl appearance in franchise history, and their second in three seasons of play. Their prior ArenaBowl appearance occurred in 2008 when they won ArenaBowl XXII against the San Jose SaberCats 59–56. Following that season, the league suspended operations, and the Soul would not field a team again until 2011.

Week Date Opponent Result
1 Bye
2 March 18 at New Orleans W 63–62
3 March 23 at Pittsburgh W 84–59
4 April 1 Cleveland L 62–68
5 April 7 at Georgia W 92–42
6 April 15 San Jose W 61–55
7 April 20 Tampa Bay W 83–48
8 April 28 at Orlando W 69–53
9 May 5 Milwaukee L 63–64
10 May 12 Jacksonville W 56–38
11 May 18 at Spokane L 47–65
12 May 27 at Cleveland W 55–33
13 June 2 Orlando W 79–48
14 June 8 at Milwaukee W 69–62
15 June 16 at Jacksonville W 62–27
16 June 24 Pittsburgh W 69–34
17 June 30 at Tampa Bay W 83–79
18 July 8 Spokane W 62–48
19 Bye
20 July 22 Utah W 69–34
– July 28 New Orleans W 66–53
– August 3 Jacksonville W 89–34

Box score
Period 1 2 34Total
Rattlers (NC) 14 13 271872
Soul (AC) 6 7 212054

at New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: August 10, 2012
  • Game time: 10:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 13,648
  • Referee: Joe Pester

References
  1. "Game Statistics". Official Site. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  2. "Rattlers Win AFL Silver Anniversary Championship". Official Site. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  3. "Arizona Rattlers capture third title, win ArenaBowl XXV". Azcentral.com. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  4. "Rattlers dominate Soul in ArenaBowl XXV". Kansascity Star. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  5. "New Orleans to Host ArenaBowl XXV (NewsGraphic-ABXXV.jpg)". www.arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  6. "AFL to Air on NFL Network for Third Consecutive Year". www.arenafootball.com. 2011-08-08. Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  7. "ArenaBowl XXIV on NFL Network Sets Record Rating". www.arenafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  8. Markowitz, Adam (August 3, 2012). "Soul Smash Sharks, Record Books To Move On To ArenaBowl XXV". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
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