SAN JOSE, Calif.—Mark Grieb threw eight touchdown passes, five of them to Cleannord Saintil, and the San Jose Sabercats advanced to Arena Bowl XXII with an 81-55 win over Grand Rapids on Saturday.

Omarr Smith intercepted a team playoff-record three passes that led to touchdowns and the defending champion Sabercats (11-5, 2-0) advanced to play in the Arena Bowl against first-time participant Philadelphia Soul, who beat the Cleveland Gladiators 70-35 earlier in the day. The game will take place in two weeks at New Orleans.



Soul 70, Gladiators 35

PHILADELPHIA—Matt D’Orazio threw eight touchdown passes to lead the Philadelphia Soul to its first ever appearance in the Arena Bowl.

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 early in the third, but Mike Brown’s highlight-reel kick return 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.

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.