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Soul Close Out Regular Season Saturday In Cleveland

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It is the final game of the regular season for the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday night as they visit the 8-9 Cleveland Gladiators.

The Soul, champions of the Eastern Division, have already clinched the top record in the American Conference. They will be home for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs. They improved to 14-3 last week with a 61-28 dismantling of New Orleans at the Center.

"We played well in all three phases," Soul head coach Clint Dolezel tells KYW Newsradio, "which was the reason for the margin of victory. They haven't played well most of the season, they don't have much to play for. So it was nice to go in and take care of business against them."

Listen to the entire interview with Soul head coach Clint Dolezel:

Now the Soul can't enhance their playoff positioning at all and they actually are scheduled to open up the playoffs against this same Cleveland team on Saturday, August 15th, at the Center. But Dolezel expects this game to be pretty much business as usual as far as approach and personnel go.

"With a limited roster, you take 21 guys into a game, so those 21 are going to have to play," Dolezel says. "You protect your quarterback (Dan Raudabaugh), he'll play some. I want to make sure we keep our rhythm. And I say some, I'd say we'll probably play our starters at least three quarters. Now you've got three or four guys that can come off the bench and maybe fill in some spots, that can keep our key spots healthy, which is your quarterback, maybe your safety and linebacker, Beau Bell. We'll play it by ear."

Philadelphia has already beaten Cleveland twice this season.

Saturday's game will get underway at 7:00pm.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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