LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Quarterback Tony Graziani is the face of the Philadelphia Soul, but continued injury problems forced him to the sideline and Matt D'Orazio onto the field.

D'Orazio

D'Orazio more than responded, leading the Soul to Saturday's National Conference championship game and being selected the Arena Football League Writers Association Player of the Year.

He beat out teammate and wide receiver Chris Jackson in a close vote. San Jose SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb was third.

"I'm extremely humbled," D'Orazio said. "It was just about a year ago that I was having back surgery, and now to be mentioned in the same sentence as Chris and Mark Grieb is very humbling."

D'Orazio quarterbacked the Chicago Rush to the AFL championship two years ago, but back surgery pushed him into free agency last year when he hooked on the Soul.

He was supposed to back up Graziani, but injuries to the starter put D'Orazio in the starting lineup for 11 games. He passed for 72 touchdowns and four interceptions.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.

Previous winners:
2007: Chris Greisen, Quarterback, Georgia Force
2006: Clint Dolezel, Quarterback, Dallas Desperados
2005: Siaha Burley, Offensive Specialist, Arizona Rattlers
2004: Marcus Nash, Offensive Specialist, Las Vegas Gladiators