Game 1 - Rattlers at Steel; 4.1.16; 7 p.m.

[DiamondThief]

Arizona Rattlers at Portland Steel

What: The new-look Steel open their third season at home against the Rattlers. 
When: Friday, April 1 at 7 p.m. (PT).
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter; Portland, Oregon.
Regional Media: Radio - 750 The Game (AM).
National Media: TV - CBS Sports Network.
This season: April 30 - Steel at Rattlers. June 11 - Steel at Rattlers.
Series History: Regular Season - Rattlers lead 6-0 (3-0 away). Playoffs - Rattlers lead 1-0 (1-0 at home)..
Note: These teams met in last year's season finale, with the Rattlers winning 67-39 in Phoenix.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2016
Portland Steel Schedule 2016
Portland Steel Season Preview 2016

SUMMARY
The Rattlers finished last season with a mark of 14-4, good enough to win the West Division and earn the second seed in the National Conference playoffs. They defeated the Spokane Shock 72-41 in the conference semifinals, before being defeated 70-67 by the San Jose Sabercats in the conference championship game. The Rattlers averaged 55.7 points per game and allowed 45.8 points per game.

The Steel ended the 2015 campaign with a 5-13 record (identical to their 2014 record). They finished in third place in the Pacific Division and were the fourth seed in the conference playoffs. They were defeated 55-28 in the conference semifinals, effectively ending their season. The Steel averaged 45.5 points per game and allowed 50.4 points per game.


ARIZONA RATTLERS


Rattlers QB Nick Davila (photo courtesy phoenixnewtimes.com)


ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Rod Windsor (WR)
3 - Maurice Purify (WR)
4 - Alex Zendejas (K)
5 - Markus Smith (DB)
8 - Shane Boyd (QB)
7 -  Mike Washington (WR)
9 - Mykel Benson (FB)
10 - Nick Davila (QB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
15 - Kerry Reed (WR)
21 - Jimmy Legree (DB)
24 - Allen Chapman (DB)
31 - Chris McAllister (DE)
32 - Damien Borel (DE)
36 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
52 - Michael Simons (OL)
55 - Lamar Mady (OL)
72 - Dionte Savage (OL)
73 - Joe (OL)
75 - Hayworth Hicks (OL)
70 - Jordan Mudge (OL)
77 - Anttaj Hawthorne (NG)
81 - Chase Deadder (WR)
88 - Anthony Amos (WR)
93 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
94 - Tyre Glasper (MLB)
96 - Dimetrio Tyson (DL)

Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Kani Kauahi - Assistant Head Coach
Dave Ewart - Defensive Coordinator
Siaha Burley - Offensive Coordinator

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.


PORTLAND STEEL


Steel QB Danny Southwick (photo courtesy The Portland Tribune)


ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Jabin Sambrano (WR)
2 - Colt Lyerla (WR)
5 - Tom Gilson (WR)
6 - Jared Perry (WR)
7 - Kasey Peters (QB)
8 - Terrence Mitchell (DB)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
13 - Danny Southwick (QB)
17 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Tim Shelley (DB)
23 - Reggie Wilson (DE)
26 - Mike McMillan (DB)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG)
55 - Mark Jackson (OL)
62 - Rico Forbes (OL)
64 - Jarien Moreland (OL)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB)
79 - John Collins (C)
81 - Nick Truesdell (WR)
91 - Brandon Sesay (DE)
99 - Robert Hayes (MLB)

Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Ron McBride - Offensive Line Coach
Kirk Broussard - Wide Receivers Coach

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

RATTLERS
With the off-season departure of the San Jose Sabercats, the Rattlers are considered by many as the favorite to advance to, and win, ArenaBowl XXIX. They will look to do just that as they embark on the season. Arizona won three of the past four ArenaBowls, and nearly appeared in last year's game, losing to the Sabercats, 70-67, in the National Conference Championship. They are loaded with experience and talent, most notably at the quarterback position with Nick Davila. The "Latin Laser" is arguably the top signal caller in the AFL. In 14 starts last season, he completed 313 of 474 passes for 3,519 yards, 87 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Three of their top four receivers from 2015 return, along with former Spokane Shock pass catcher Mike Washington. Rod Windsor is the key, having compiled an AFL fourth-best 1,754 yards on 139 catches and 39 touchdowns last season. He also scored three rushing touchdowns. Kerry Reed and Chase Deadder combined for 1,054 yards and 39 scores. Also figuring into the mix should be Washington and Maurice Purify, a former Rattler who re-joined the team last week. Purify hauled in 261 passes for 3.907 yards and 85 touchdowns in three years with Arizona from 2012 to 2014. Mykel Benson is as about as good as it gets at fullback and will look to improved upon last year's 286-yard (third in the AFL), 17-touchdown performance. As loaded on offense as they are, the Rattlers are just as formidable on defense. Tyre Glasper led the team in sacks last year with 11.5 sacks from his mac linebacker position. Defensive back Arkeith Brown had 5 interceptions for the team last season, and he returned 19 kickoffs, one for a score. Nose guard Anttaj Hawthorne is a force up the middle. Former Portland players Jordan Mudge (OL) and Allen Chapman (DB) could see some action against their former team. Player to Watch: Nick Davila. Wild Card: Rod Windsor (WR).

STEEL
After the off-season the Steel have had, one would nearly expect this team to be in shambles. We will find out soon enough. They missed out on several key AFL free agents over the winter, sans quarterback Shane Austin. However, it will not be Austin under center for the opener; as is working out for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. What fans will see is a familiar face in Danny Southwick, who started eight games for Portland in 2014. Southwick, the stepson of national radio host Larry King, was serviceable in his stint in Portland, and led the team to two of its five wins during that campaign. He completed 165 of 263 passes for 2,040 yards, 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He was also second on the team in rushing yards with 51, scoring a pair of touchdowns. The receiving corps is a mish-mash with Jared Perry being the only man returning. He led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns with 1,297 and 29 (tied with the now-departed V'Keon Lacey). The 6'7" Nick Truesdell leads a trio of receivers brought over from last year's Spokane Shock team and is a red zone threat. All eyes, though, will probably be on former Oregon Duck Colt Lyerla, who was acquired via trade from the Rattlers during training camp. Head coach Ron James is high on Lyerla, who will likely be brought along cautiously as he learns the AFL style of play. The defense is a large question mark, with the exception of Bryce Peila, who is known as a ball hawk, will be the only Portland player on the opening day roster in all three of its seasons. The former AFL All-Arena team honoree, he has tallied 123.5 tackles, intercepted 11 passes and recovered five fumble recoveries over his previous two years with the team. Kicker Ernesto Lacayo comes over from the now-defunct Las Vegas Outlaws where he made 54 of 59 extra points and two of four field goals. Player to Watch: Jared Perry (WR). Wild Card: Nick Truesdell (WR).


QUOTABLE

Steel head coach/general manager Ron James
“We’re going to have to be sharp against (the Rattlers).”

James on former Oregon Duck Colt Lyerla
“He’s got a good chance to play right off the bat. He’s looking really sharp. His presence could open up the playbook quite a bit.”

More James
“It’s a process. It starts with having the right players, and high-character players. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”


FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA

AFL GAMES THIS WEEK

April 1 - Orlando Predators at Tampa Bay Storm, 4 p.m.
April 1 - Philadelphia Soul at Cleveland Gladiators, 4 p.m.
April 2 - Jacksonville Sharks at Los Angeles KISS, 6 p.m.

All games available for streaming on ESPN3/WatchESPN


NOTE

In all of their three seasons, the Steel will open the season at home. The previous results:

2014 -- San Jose Sabercats 64, Portland 34
2015 -- Portland 42, Los Angeles KISS 37


EXTRA

Within the past month, we found out there would be a new team in the Arena Football League as commissioner Scott C. Butera announced that a franchise has been awarded to an ownership group led by Ted Leonsis, who owns the Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA) and Washington Capitals (NHL). The team will begin play during the 2017 season.


Ted Leonsis (photo courtesy washingtonafl.com)



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[Nevadanut]

I wish I could watch the game tonight. We have an orchestra performance? 

[DiamondThief]

I made it to the arena just in time for openings introductions. I will try to add some photos later.

[pajarito]

Hello again people.

Looking like yet another pretty rough season for the AFL, especially so for your Portland (now) Steel unfortunately. Hopefully this game can be good at least unlike the first 2 games to start the season for the league. Best of luck to the Steel.

[DiamondThief]

Southwick to Lyerla + Lacayo PAT makes it 19-14 Rats.

[pajarito]

Apr 1, 2016 18:04:40 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

I made it to the arena just in time for openings introductions. I will try to add some photos later.

Hopefully you can enjoy the game and have a good time.

[David]

Apr 1, 2016 18:42:22 GMT -8 DiamondThief said:

Southwick to Lyerla + Lacayo PAT makes it 19-14 Rats.

So far a lot closer than what the AF "experts" were predicting. How's the game experience? I heard when Chicago was run by the league that the experience was hollow.

[DiamondThief]

Well, things pretty much went down hill from there. They had motorcycles ridden on to the field for introductions and there were a couple of prize contests during the media time outs. Also there were kiss cams and dance cams. The dancers were good, but half either dance for the Blazers and/or Winterhawks so that is to be expected. In all, it was much better than I had expected.

[David]

Saw the final score. Ouch.

I DVRed the game just to get an idea of what went on. Steel Uniforms look sharp. Disappointed the Helmets didn't have that cream color that was in the promotional photo.

And as much as I know the Portland fans here support the team, this endzone looks like a complete joke. I also have to say, I find it hilarious the AFL didn't bother to cover up the Emmert International logos on the field either.

[Kasey]

they coulkd have done a much better job covering the Thunder logo. i believe there is an old construction saying: "measure twice, cut once. someone forgot their tape measure. that was sad.

i just got done watching the game after having DVR'd it. the first quarter was not too bad, but you could tell that the Steel had not been playing together for long, and that the Rattlers had bheen together for quite a while. it's not going to get much easier, but the team can definitely get better. Tom Gilson had a nice game i thought and i think our kicker is pretty good. optimistically speaking, the team will get better. i really like the new look.

[David]

AFL Digital has finally released the Rattlers/Steel box score. Took them long enough.

Anyway, here's the final stats:

Arizona Rattlers 80
Portland Steel 28

Arizona
Nick Davila - 10/16, 119 yds, 5 TD, 2 rush, 1 yd, 1 TD
Rod Windsor - 7 rec, 66 yds, 4 TD
Mykel Benson - 2 rec, 21 yds, 1 TD; 4 rush, 7 yds, 3 TDs 
Luis Vasquez - 2.0 tkls, 1 forced fumble, 1 fum. recovery, 2.0 sacks, 1 TD
Damien Borel - 2.0 tkls, 1 forced fumble, 1 fum. recovery, 2.0 sacks
Arkeith Brown - 2.0 tkls, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups, 1 TD

Portland
Danny Southwick - 19/37, 239 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Kasey Peters - 4/15, 52 yds, 1 TD
Tom Gilson - 12 rec, 138 yds, 1 TD
Jared Perry - 8 rec, 117 yds, 1 TD
Nick Truesdell - 1 rec, 38 yds, 1 TD
Bryce Peila - 5.5 tkls
Dexter Davis Jr. - 2.0 tkls, 1.0 sacks, 1 blocked XP
Reggie Wilson - 1.0 tkls, 1 forced fum, 1 fum. recovery, 1.0 sacks

[Yeseeka]

Gilson had a great game. I know the kicker did well too. Perry had a strong game. There were just too many turnovers and penalties.