Portland Steel Lose 76-49 To the Arizona Rattlers

Sunday June 12, 2016

 PHOENIX - The Portland Steel lost the Arizona Rattlers, 76-49, in front of 14,401 fans in attendance at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday night. The Steel (1-9) drop their second to last contest on the road before heading home to Moda Center for four straight games.

Quarterback Shane Austin got the start under center for Portland and completed 24-of-43 passes for 351 yards, seven touchdowns and added one rushing touchdown. Rattlers (8-3) quarterback Nick Davila was named Under Armour Offensive Player of the Game after his 24-of-33 for 270 yards and eight touchdown performance.

Austin found Tom Gilson deep for a 41-yard touchdown to open the scoring for the game. The Rattlers were able to capitalize on a Steel turnover on downs and led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Just as the first quarter started, Austin found Gilson wide open for a 43-yard touchdown to start the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, a special teams breakdown aided a 54-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Rattlers returner Anthony Amos. Arizona jumped out to a 20-13 lead. After stopping Portland in the red zone for the second-time, the Rattlers took advantage by way of a Rod Windsor touchdown catch from 14 yard, Arizona led by 14.

Gilson added his third touchdown of the evening on a 34-yard bench route, cutting into the Arizona lead 27-19. With the score 34-19, both teams were unsuccessful on four consecutive onside kick attempts and both teams traded four touchdowns, two apiece, to end the half. The Rattlers led 48-31 at the break.

Arizona was able to tack on two touchdowns to their lead in the 3rd quarter as Windsor caught his third touchdown of the night and fullback Mykel Benson ran a touchdown in from seven yards out. The Steel were held scoreless in the third quarter and trailed 62-31 heading to the fourth.

Austin opened the fourth quarter scoring with a four-yard touchdown run. Davila followed with his eighth touchdown pass to Maurice Purify. Austin would come right back and answer as he found Gilson for the fourth-time in the game for a touchdown. The four touchdown effort gave Gilson a personal record. On the night Gilson hauled in nine passes for 174 yards, a Steel season game-high. Jared Perry would get into the mix as he would catch the game’s final touchdown to give the Rattlers a 76-49 victory.

The Steel will return to Moda Center on Saturday, June 18 to face the Cleveland Gladiators. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m