Portland Steel Weather the Tampa Bay Storm, Win 68-35

Steel defense is stout in first-victory of the season forcing seven turnovers
June 4,2016

Portland - The Portland Steel beat the Tampa Bay Storm, 68-35, in front of 5,136 at Moda Center on Friday night. With the win, the Steel (1-8) also set a franchise record for largest margin of victory with the 33-point victory. Quarterback Shane Austin got the start under center for Portland and completed 19-of-26 passes for 139 yards, five touchdowns and added two rushing touchdowns. Steel wide receiver Tyrone Goard was named Under Armour Offensive Player of the game after hauling in four passes for 17 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown, that gives him seven touchdowns in the past two games.
The Steel defense was stout forcing a season-high seven turnovers and converted them to 40 points. Defensive back Sergio Gilliam intercepted Storm (1-8) quarterback Jason Boltus twice as he was named Riddell Defensive Player of the Game.
Steel defensive lineman Reggie Wilson opened the scoring as he returned a 31-yard fumble for a touchdown, the first of his AFL career. After another Storm fumble, Portland capitalized as Austin found Jared Perry for a 4-yard touchdown. The Steel led 14-0 after the first quarter.
Storm quarterback Boltus found wide out Mike Washington from seven yards out to open the scoring in the 2nd quarter. On the ensuing Portland drive, Austin found Tyrone Goard for a 5-yard touchdown. At the half, the Steel led 21-7.


Gilliam picked off Boltus twice in the third quarter and that led to two Steel touchdowns as Goard and Austin both scored rushing touchdowns to give the Steel a 33-7 lead early in the quarter. After a T.T. Toliver touchdown, Austin found Jared Perry for a deep 34-yard touchdown to give the Steel a 40-14 lead at the end of the quarter.
The defense kept rolling in the final quarter as they forced fumbles on back-to-back kickoff returns by the Storm. One recovered by Shaine Boyle to give Portland the ball deep in Storm territory which resulted in an Austin to Goard touchdown. The other a fumble recovery in the end zone by Boyle for a touchdown. Boyle took home the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game honors.
Austin tacked on the final touchdown with a 2-yard run for the score and Portland secured the largest margin of victory in team history.
The Steel return to the road next week to take on the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, June 11 at Talking Stick Arena in Phoenix. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. The game can be streamed on ESPN3 or heard on 750AM/102.9FM The Game with Ron Callan and Brian Perkins.
The Steel will return to Moda Center on Saturday, June 18 to face the Cleveland Gladiators. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.