Orlando outlasts Portland in final seconds
The Portland Steel drop their second game of the season to the Orlando Predators, 53-50. After a back and forth six-touchdown fourth quarter performance by both teams, the Predators intercepted a pass with :11 seconds on the clock to secure the win.
Steel (0-2) quarterback Danny Southwick completed 25-of-38 passes for 223 yards and five touchdowns. The one blemish on his stat line was the lone Steel turnover. Riddell Defensive Player of the Game, Predators (2-0) defensive back Kent Richardson, made a play on a football at midfield as Southwick was looking for sure handed receiver Tom Gilson streaking down field. Gilson finished the night with seven receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown.
Early in the 3rd quarter, the Steel took their first lead on Jared Perry’s first touchdown catch of the night. Southwick threw a strike from 16 yards out and gave Portland a 23-20 lead with 10:56 remaining in the quarter.
Southwick found a streaking Gilson for a 38-yard touchdown rebuttal after a Predators score and Portland now found themselves trading scores with Orlando deep in the 3rd quarter.