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Soul sink Destroyers, reach playoffs

Jun 17, 2007 - 4:56 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Tony Graziani's 3-yard touchdown pass to Charles Pauley with 7 seconds to play in regulation lifted the Philadelphia Soul over the Columbus Destroyers, 56-53, on Saturday.

Graziani's seventh touchdown pass of the game allowed the Soul (7-8) to clinch a playoff spot in the National Conference. The Soul also leapfrogged the Destroyers for sole possesion of fifth place in the conference.

The Soul trailed, 53-41, early in the fourth quarter but cut the lead to 53-48 with 10:51 remaining as Graziani found Larry Brackins for a 13-yard score. Todd France converted the extra point.

Both defenses held strong until Graziani finally broke through with the game-winning score, putting the Soul ahead, 54-53. Graziani completed the two-point conversion to Brackins, who also caught four touchdowns.

Graziani finished 24-of-36 for 280 yards with no interceptions. Pauley had two touchdown catches and Jerrian James hauled in the the other. Idris Price scored the Soul's lone rushing touchdown from a yard out.

Columbus quarterback Matt Nagy also threw seven touchdowns and finished 21-of-41 for 204 yards with two interceptions. David Saunders caught three touchdowns for the Destroyers (6-9) and Cole Magner pulled down a pair of scores.