Post by DiamondThief on Aug 2, 2016 19:46:57 GMT -8
Conference Semifinals
Portland Steel at Arizona Rattlers
What: The Steel travel to Arizona to face the Rattlers in the first round for the second time.
When: Saturday, August 6 at 7 p.m. (PT).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
Regional Media: Radio - 750/102.9 The Game (click to stream audio).
National Media: TV - CBS Sports Network.
Regular Season: April 1 - Rattlers 80, Steel 28; April 30 - Rattlers 68, Steel 21; June 11 - Rattlers 76, Steel 49.
Steel History vs. Rattlers: 0-9 regular season; 0-1 playoffs.
Note: The Steel were 15 seconds and an underthrown pass away from beating the Rattlers in the first round in 2014.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2016
Portland Steel Schedule 2016
Portland Steel Season Preview 2016
SUMMARY
The Steel finished the regular season 3-13 overall, 0-9 on the road and 1-7 against conference opponents. The are coming off a 48-46 home win over the Los Angeles KISS on August 1. They are averaging 41.9 points per game and are allowing 58.2 points per game. The Steel finished the season in fourth place in the National Conference.
The Rattlers finished the regular season 13-3 overall, 8-0 at home and 8-0 against conference opponents. They are coming off a 68-20 home win over the Cleveland Gladiators on July 24. They are averaging 66.8 points per game and are allowing 47.9. The Rattlers finished the season in first place in the National Conference.
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Steel 18.4; Rattlers 20.8.
Yards per Game - Steel 252.1; Rattlers 289.4.
3rd Down Conversion - Steel 43%; Rattlers 57%.
4th Down Conversion - Steel 40%; Rattlers 56%.
Total Tackles - Steel 404.5; Rattlers 453.
Tackles for Loss - Steel 24; Rattlers 36.
Total Sacks - Steel 15; Rattlers 29.
Fum Rec - Steel 9; Rattlers 16.
Interceptions - Steel 10; Rattlers 19.
Had Intercepted - Steel 30; Rattlers11.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel WR Rashaad Carter (photo courtesy Jon Currier)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Darron Thomas (QB)
2 - Christian Wise (DB)
3 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
5 - Tom Gilson (WR)
6 - Jared Perry (WR)
7 - Jabin Sambrano (WR)
8 - KC Obi (MLB)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
10 - Shane Austin (QB)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
13 - Matt Pierce (DB)
17 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Shaine Boyle (DB)
23 - Reggie Wilson (DE)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG)
59 - Viseisio Salt Jr. (OL)
64 - Leonardo Bates (OL)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB)
77 - Kevin Myers (C)
79 - John Collins (C)
91 - Brandon Sesay (DE)
99 - Robert Hayes (MLB)
Arness Ikner (DB)
Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Payton - Offensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Shane Austin 2,531
Passing TDs - Shane Austin 48
Passing Ints - Shane Austin 19
Rushing Yards - Shane Austin 141
Rushing TDs - Shane Austin 8
Receptions - Tom Gilson 132
Receiving Yards - Tom Gilson 1,303
Receiving TDs - Tom Gilson 14
Tackles - Sergio Gilliam 55
Sacks - Robert Hayes 5
Interceptions - Sergio Gilliam 5
KO Return Ave. - Shaine Boyle 24.6
KO Return TDs - Shaine Boyle 3
* Not on active roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the AFL's official website, which is not updated on a consistent basis. Updates will be provided here as soon as they become available.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers QB Nick Davila (photo courtesy Brian Kreps)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Rod Windsor (WR)
2 - Julius Gregory (WR)
2 - Maurice Purify (WR)
3 - K.J. Morton (DB)
4 - Alex Zendejas (K)
6 - Cliff Dukes (DE)
8 - Shane Boyd (QB)
9 - Mykel Benson (FB)
10 - Nick Davila (QB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
12 - Dan Buckner (WR)
14 - Al Phillips (DB)
17 - Rodney Fritz (DE)
32 - Damien Borel (DE)
36 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
52 - Michael Simons (OL)
70 - Jordan Mudge (OL)
72 - Dionte Savage (OL)
75 - Hayworth Hicks (OL)
88 - Anthony Amos (WR)
94 - Tyre Glasper (MLB)
96 - Dimetrious Tyson (DL)
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Kani Kauahi - Assistant Head Coach
Dave Ewart - Defensive Coordinator
Siaha Burley - Offensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Nick Davila 4,198
Passing TDs - Nick Davila 110
Passing Ints - Nick Davila 11
Rushing Yards - Mykel Benson 199
Rushing TDs - Mykel Benson 20
Receptions - Rod Windsor 145
Receiving Yards - Rod Windsor 1,667
Receiving TDs - Rod Windsor 48
Tackles - Arkeith Brown 49.5
Sacks - Dimetrious Tyson 6
Interceptions - Arkieth Brown
KO Return Ave. - Anthony Amos 17.9
KO Return TDs - 7
* Not on active roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the AFL's official website, which is not updated on a consistent basis. Updates will be provided here as soon as they become available.
ANGI'S TAKES
STEEL
Portland has won two of the last three and, if not for a blocked kick in the second-to-last-game at Tampa Bay, the Steel could be coming into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. As it is, the Steel have won two of their last three. Shane Austin has been the leader at the QB position for which the franchise has seeked since it inception. He is a dual threat QB who can find the needle in the haystack, or turn nothing into something out of the pocket. He will need to play the best game of his AFL career in order to bring the Steel a win. Tom Gilson set the franchise mark for for receiving yards with 1,303. Sergio Gilliam intercepted two passes last week against the KISS Payer to Watch: Shaine Boyle (DB/KR). Wild Card: Rashaad Carter (WR).
RATTLERS
Arizona is trying to win its fourth ArenaBowl in five seasons. Forget for a moment that several of the Rattlers players are being paid under the table; this is a veteran team with players who have played together for several years. Nick Davila is among the best and will surely be headed to the AFL Hall of Fame. Rod Windsor is among the best, if not the best, at wide receiver. Davila has a knack of making average receivers look great. Windsor has 1,667 receiving yards, while Maurice Purify has 1,017. Arkeith Brown is among the league's better defenders and has 49.5 tackles and 6 interceptions on the season. The Steel's offensive line will have to contain Dimetrouos Tyson, who has 6 sacks. Player to Watch: Rod Windsor (WR). Wild Card: Dimetrious Tyson DB).
QUOTABLE
Steel DB Sergio Gilliam
“The only people who think we have a shot are the Portland Steel.”
Steel Head Coach/General Manager Ron James
“They’ve got the best quarterback in the league (Nick Davila), a sure-shot Hall of Famer. They’ve won three of the last four titles. And they’ve been dominating other teams. At home, they’re especially dominating. In a word, it’s unbelievable.”
Steel Head Coach/General Manager Ron James
“We know we’re going into a hostile environment. but we’ll be prepared.”
Steel WR Jared Perry
“Our receivers have to beat their man-to-man pressure.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
PLAYOFFS
The 2016 AFL playoff match ups are set. All eight teams will make the playoffs, which will culminate in ArenaBowl XXiX, to be hosted by the team with the better record between the participants (Rattlers, whose home arena is in Phoenix, will host the game in Glendale should they get that opportunity). The game will be held Friday, August 26 at 5 p.m.
National Conference Semifinals
Aug. 6 - Portland Steel (3-13) at Arizona Rattlers 13-3), 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Aug. 7 - Cleveland Gladiators at Los Angeles KISS (7-9), 3 p.m. (ESPN3/WatchESPN)*
American Conference Semifinals
Aug. 6 - Jacksonville Sharks (7-9) at Orlando Predators (12-4), 3 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Aug. 7 - Tampa bay Storm (2-14) at Philadelphia Soul (13-3), 3 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)**
All times are Pacific Standard Time
* Game will be held at Valley View CasinoCenter; San Diego, California.
** Game will be held at PPL Center; Allentown, Pennsylvania.
TURNOVER TRACKER
The Steel's defense forced just 19 turnovers on the season; 10 interceptions and 9 fumbles. They forced two turnovers in last week's season finale win over the KISS. The following is a chronicle of the team's forced turnovers (by the defense) over the course of the season.
April 1 - Arizona Rattlers 80, Portland Steel 28
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 1 (Reggie Wilson).
April 9 - Orlando Predators 53, Portland Steel 50
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none.
April 17 - Philadelphia Soul 70, Portland Steel 32
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 1 (Tim Shelley)
April 30 - Arizona Rattlers 68, Portland Steel 21
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
May 9 - Los Angeles KISS 66, Portland Steel 27
Interceptions - 1 (Mike McMillan). Fumble recoveries - none
May 16 - Cleveland Gladiators 55, Portland Steel 48 (OT)
Interceptions 2 (Christian Wise, Sergio Gilliam). Fumble recoveries - 1 (Reggie Wilson).
May 21 - Jacksonville Sharks 65, Portland Steel 34
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
May 28 - Los Angeles KISS 54, Portland Steel 42
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 2 (Robert Hayes, Arness Ikner).
June 3 - Portland Steel 68, Tampa Bay Storm 35
Interceptions - 2 (Sergio Gilliam 2). Fumble recoveries - 4 (Shaine Boyle 2, Bryce Peila, Reggie Wilson).
June 11 - Arizona Rattlers 76, Portland Steel 49
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
June 18 - Cleveland Gladiators 58, Portland Steel 49
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none.
June 27 - Philadelphia Soul 59, Portland Steel 38
Interceptions - 1 (Shaine Boyle). Fumble recoveries - none
July 9 - Orlando Predators 47, Portland Steel 41
Interceptions - 1 (Bryce Peila). Fumble recoveries - none
July 16 - Portland Steel 55, Jacksonville Sharks 53
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
July 23 - Tampa Bay Storm 41, Portland Steel 40
Interceptions - 1 (Matt Pierce). Fumble recoveries - none
August 1 - Portland Steel 48, Los Angeles KISS
Interceptions - 2 (Sergio Gilliam 2). Fumble recoveries - none
EXTRA
Anatomy of a scoring drive: The video below, taken by SCtoC's Nevadanut , shows the Portland Steel's scoring drive in the third quarter against the Los Angeles KISS. From Kickoff to Extra Point, it spans the whole spectrum of the seven-play drive, which began at 5:53 and culminated with Ernesto Lacayo's point after touchdown at the 2:29 mark of the quarter. The score tied the game at 27-27. The Steel would go on to win the game, 48-46. The play-by-play of the drive appears below the video.
(Video courtesy Heidi Marie Barnes/SCtoC)
Donny Hageman kickoff 55 yards to the PDX-5. Shaine Boyle Shaine return 14 yards to the PDX9 (Justin Wilson tackle).
Pdx 1-10 at Pdx09 - Steel drive starts at 05:53.
Pdx 1-10 at Pdx09 - Shane Austin pass complete to Rashaad Carter for 7 yards (Josh Victorian tackle).
Pdx 2-3 at Pdx16 - Shane Austin pass complete to Jabin Sambano for 8 yards (Qumain Black tackle).
Pdx 1-10 at Pdx24 - Shane Austin Shane pass complete to Tom Gilson for 15 yards ()Josh Victorian tackle).
Pdx 1-10 at Lak11 - PENALTY KISS - Illegal Formation 6 yards to the LAK5.
Pdx 1-G at Lak05 - Bryson Kelly rush for 4 yards (Dontay Moch tackle).
Pdx 2-G at Lak01 - Kevin Myers rush for 1 yard. TOUCHDOWN, clock 02:29.
LACAYO, Ernesto kick attempt good.
Clock 02:29.
FEATURED PHOTO
Steel QB Shane Austin and HC/GM Ron James will look to give fans their first Portland AFL playoff win.
(Photo courtesy Jon Currier)
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