Week 20 Preview: Arizona Rattlers (13-4) vs. Portland Thunder (5-12)

Thursday August 6, 2015

 Phoenix, Ariz. – The Arizona Rattlers (13-4) will be looking to build up some momentum heading into the playoffs when they host the Portland Thunder (4-12) in the last game of the regular season, this Saturday, August 8th at 6:30 PM.

The Rattlers are coming off a back and forth battle with the SaberCats that saw the Rattlers come up short, 56-29. Arizona’s fast starting offense and defense caused some early problems for San Jose and continued to threaten until halfway through the third quarter. The SaberCats, however, scored 27 unanswered points to close out the game.

Quarterback Nick Davila threw for 3 touchdowns in the first half while fullback Mykel Benson ran for a 3-yard touchdown. Kicker Fabrizio Scaccia attempted his first field goal of the season (a 27-yard kick) in the beginning of the third quarter which resulted in three points for the Rattlers. Defensive backs Jeremy Kellem and Marquis Floyd led the team with 5 tackles a piece. Defensive back Ben Wells also recorded 3 tackles of his own.

The Portland Thunder are coming off their fifth win of the season against the Las Vegas Outlaws (5-11-1), 64-33. Thunder wide receiver V’Keon Lacey was awarded the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game as he reeled in four of quarterback Kyle Rowley’s seven total scores. The Portland defensive backfield caught 4 interceptions as the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, defensive back Varmah Sonie, tallied 2 of them.

This will be Arizona’s third time playing Portland this season. They come into this final showdown having won twice over the Thunder. This will be the last game before the postseason begins and the Arizona Rattlers will be looking to end the season on a high note when they host the Thunder.

The game, which takes place at the US Airways Center, will be nationally televised on the CBS Sports Network.