After Bye Week, Soul Focus On Cleveland

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Soul will return to action on Saturday afternoon as they welcome the Cleveland Gladiators to the Center.

Philadelphia is 12-2 and they have already clinched the Arena Football League's East Division title. They are also coming off a bye week.

"Yeah, they needed it," Soul head coach Clint Dolezel tells KYW Newsradio. "The guys have played hard and they're beat up, a lot of them are. There's no question. Even coming back, yesterday's practice, I think more of it was just knocking the stiffness out from being off for a week."

Listen: Clint Dolezel with KYW's Matt Leon

With the division title in their back pocket, the Soul can focus on their next goal, top record in the American Conference, which they can clinch with a win on Saturday.

Cleveland will bring a 7-7 record into Saturday's game. This is the same Cleveland team that went 17-1 last season, advancing to the Arena Bowl.

"They're a veteran team," Dolezel says. "They've got most of their guys back from last year. They know how to win. They're not winning right now, but they're been there, done that. They've got a good coaching staff, no question. Coach (Steve) Thonn knows the game in and out. He taught me the game for the most part, as far as on the offensive side. So we know we'll have our hands full. It's always a battle with them, doesn't matter who has the better team."

This will be the second of three meetings between the Soul and Gladiators this season. Philadelphia won the first back on April 18th, 63-48. The third and final meeting will be in the regular season finale on August 8th.

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 1:00pm.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.