Soul, Rattlers will decide AFL championship

Doug Plank watched just about every Arizona Rattlers home game from the stands last year. Kevin Guy watched in agony as his Rattlers lost the Arena Football League championship on the final play. The coaches will be on opposite benches tonight in New Orleans as Plank guides the Philadelphia Soul against Guy’s Rattlers in the AFL’s 25th ArenaBowl ( 7:30 p.m., NFL Network). Plank, a former Rattlers assistant coach and broadcaster, calls Arizona home in the offseason. He returned to the league with Philadelphia this season. Arizona, which defeated the Spokane Shock twice during the regular season, has not won the ArenaBowl since 1997. – Associated Press