Steel Suffer First Loss of the Season to Rattlers
Saturday April 2, 2016
Portland, Ore. – The Portland Steel (0-1) drop their first game of the season to the Arizona Rattlers (1-0), 80-28 in front of 6,782 fans at Moda Center.
Key turnovers by the Steel and the hot hand of Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila, led to the difference in scoring. The Rattlers scored on nine of 10 drives in the game. Three Portland turnovers were converted to three touchdowns for the Rattlers defense.
The Steel jumped out to a quick lead as quarterback Danny Southwick was able to find newcomer Nick Truesdell for a streaking 38-yard touchdown. Kicker Ernesto Lacayo tacked on the extra point and Portland was on the board 7-0.
Following a Rattlers touchdown, the Steel’s second drive of the contest resulted in a interception return for touchdown as Arizona defensive back Arkeith Brown returned mishandled pass. Arizona took a 12-7 lead after another missed point after attempt.
With the score 19-7 in favor of the Rattlers, Southwick found former Oregon Duck tight end Colt Lyerla for a six-yard score. The catch marked Lyerla’s first touchdown reception in the Arena Football League. On the night, Lyerla caught two passes for eight yards and one score.
After the Rattlers fourth touchdown of the night and their third missed point after attempt, Riddell Defensive Player of the Game Arizona’s Damien Borel, stripped Southwick of the football and recovered the ball in the end zone for the Rattlers second defensive touchdown of the game giving them a 32-14 lead.
Southwick would answer to try to keep the Steel’s hopes alive by finding a wide-open Jared Perry downfield for a 48-yard touchdown.
Pulling to within an 11-point margin, 32-21, Rattlers QB and Under Armour Offensive Player of the Game Nick Davila gave Arizona a 39-21 advantage when he found wide receiver Rod Windsor for an eight-yard touchdown. Windsor would go on to take Cutters Catch of the Game and J Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors with his seven catch, 84 yards and four touchdown performance.
Before the half, the Rattlers would force their fourth turnover of the game as Borel stripped Southwick and recover the football on the one-yard line. The Arizona offense would immediately capitalize scoring on the very next play to give them a 46-21 at the half.
Kasey Peters would come on to relieve Southwick in the fourth quarter. On his first completion of the game he found a wide open Tom Gilson streaking to the end zone from 35 yards out. The Steel’s only score of the second half rendered a 67-28 Rattlers advantage.
Southwick would finish the night completing 20 of his 38 passes for 225 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Peters followed up completing four of his 13 attempts for 52 yards and one touchdown.
On the other side of the field, Nick Davila finished the game completing ten of 16 attempts for 124 yards and five touchdowns adding one touchdown on the ground. The Rattlers tacked on four rushing touchdowns in the game, three by fullback Mykel Benson.
The Steel return to action next Saturday night in Orlando against the Predators. The game at Amway Center will kickoff at 4 p.m. (PST) and can be heard on 750AM The Game. The stretch is critical for Portland as their next three games are on the road. Portland returns to the friendly confines of Moda Center on May 7 when they take on the LA Kiss.
