Steel lose in overtime to the Gladiators. 55-48

Monday May 16, 2016

 QB Shane Austin sets Portland AFL game-high records; late INT gives Cleveland the win

CLEVELAND - The Portland Steel lost a heartbreaking overtime game to the Cleveland Gladiators, 55-48, in front of 6,733 fans at Quicken Loans Arena on Monday night. Down 48-28 to open the 4th quarter, the Steel (0-6) score 20 unanswered points in the final quarter to force overtime.

Quarterback Shane Austin got the start under center for the Steel and completed Portland AFL game-highs completing 36-of-56 passes for 363 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. None more costly than the final interception which occurred in the Steel end zone in overtime as Austin was trying to find wide receiver Tyrone Goard for the game-tying score.

The two teams traded two touchdowns apiece in the first quarter. Austin found wide receiver Tom Gilson to open the scoring on a 21-yard strike. The two would hook up later in the quarter on a 13-yard touchdown. Gilson would finish the game with 16 receptions for 160 yards setting career-gme highs and Portland AFL game highs. The score was tied at 14 at the end of the 1st.

Trailing by seven, Austin would find Goard for their first-touchdown of the night from eight yards out. With 4:24 left before the half, fullback Kevin Myers would rumble for a gain of nine yards before fumbling into the end zone where it was recovered by Steel center John Collins for the touchdown. Portland trailed 34-28 at halftime.

A Steel scoreless quarter gave Cleveland a 48-28 edge at the end of the 3rd quarter. Austin and the Steel offense would mount a tremendous comeback. Goard would catch his second touchdown of the night as Portland pulled to within 13 points. Christian Wise, who normally lines up on the defensive side of the ball for the Steel, would catch his first-touchdown as a member of the team on an 11-yard scoring strike. Goard, who finished with career-game highs with 14 receptions for 136 yards, would then tie the ballgame with his third touchdown of the night (tied a career-game high) as Austin found him in corner of the end zone from five yards out and no time left on the clock.

A costly unsportsmanlike penalty levied against Goard for taking off his helmet in the field of play would push back the point after attempt to the 12-yard line that kicker Ernesto Lacayo would fail to make, his only missed extra point attempt of the game.

Cleveland (3-4) would score the only touchdown of the overtime period when Arvill Nelson would find Collin Taylor for a 10-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone. That would eventually lead up to the drama of the final Steel drive.

The Portland Steel will continue their seven game road trip as they take on the Jacksonville Sharks at Sea Best Field at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday, May 21 with kickoff set for 4 p.m. (PST). The game can be streamed online to any mobile device or smart TV on ESPN3 and can be heard on the home of Portland Steel football, 750AM/102.9FM The Game with Ron Callan and Brian Perkins.

The Steel will return to Moda Center on Friday, June 3 to face the Tampa Bay Storm. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. For all ticket information and for the most updated information on the Portland Steel, head to www.pdxsteel.com.

Under Armour Offensive Player of the Game – CLE QB #2 Avrell Nelson
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game - #3 DeMarcus Robinson
J. Small Playmaker of the Game - #17 Collin Taylor
Cutters Catch of the Game - #4 Marvin Ross OT INT
AFL Highlight of the Game - #17 Collin Taylor OT TD