Thunder Host Las Vegas in Home Finale
Wednesday July 29, 2015
PORTLAND – The Portland Thunder host the expansion Las Vegas Outlaws in their 2015 home finale this Saturday at Moda Center. Kickoff is set for 7:00PM. Fans can listen on 750 AM The GAME starting at 6:30pm, and also watch live on CSNNW, or stream via ESPN3 and the WatchESPN.com app.
A difficult, last minute, 42-40 loss to the Spokane Shock last Saturday evening has left the Thunder with a difficult row to hoe in order to secure National Conference playoff qualification. Thunder WR/KR Duane Brooks returned a fourth quarter kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown, tying the AFL single-season kick return touchdown record, but that wasn’t enough to overcome a scoreless third quarter as Portland narrowly fell to their Pacific Division rivals.
“We came out and executed the way we prepared to all week in practice,” Brooks said after the loss. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hold that momentum. We did some good things in the first half, but we couldn’t put our foot on the neck, and finish the game.”
Portland now needs wins over both the Outlaws and the Arizona Rattlers in their final two games of the 2015 AFL season for a shot at the No. 4 seed in the National Conference. A loss by either the LA KISS or another by the Outlaws during that time may also be needed for the chance to qualify.
“We got to win,” head coach Mike Hohensee says. “We got to win at home against Vegas, we got to go and get one in Arizona, and then we’ll probably still need a little bit of help, but we still have a chance. We’re going to work hard at it, just like we have the last few weeks.”
The last few weeks truly have seen the Thunder turn a corner. Despite posting a 1-2 record over the last three weeks, Portland has seen several marked improvements in critical areas of the game that bode well for a potential playoff run. While the first 13 weeks of the season were generally marked with slow starts, with the offense averaging just 19.85 first half points per game, the Thunder have ballooned that median 29.0 points in the first two frames over their last three outings.
Coinciding with that increase is an increased protection of the football. The Thunder held the AFL’s worst turnover ratio across the first 13 weeks of the season at -15, but with the defense forcing five takeaways in the last three weeks, they can boast a +3 ratio over that span.
Las Vegas enters the matchup on the heels of an unexpected bye. Originally scheduled to face the New Orleans VooDoo on July 25th, the Outlaws game was cancelled by the AFL due to both clubs currently operating under League control. The Outlaws lost a low scoring affair, 37-27, to the LA KISS their last time out. Vegas QB J.J. Raterink passed for 90 yards and a touchdown before being relieved by back-up Dennis Havrilla, who found success against the Thunder in his AFL debut back in Week 14. Havrilla finished 6-of-16 for 68 yards and a score in the loss.
Record Watch
Thunder WR/KR Duane Brooks tied the single season kick return touchdown record with a 57 yard run back against the Shock last weekend. Duane continues to lead the League in both return yardage and return touchdowns, with 1818 yards and those seven scores respectively.
About the Portland Thunder
The Portland Thunder are back with a BOOM this 2015 AFL Season. Tickets and sponsorships are now available. For more information, email us at info@portlandthunder.com or call 503-773-4235. For all the latest news and discussion on the Portland Thunder, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@pdxthunder).
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