PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Arizona Rattlers got another spectacular performance from quarterback Nick Davila, and the world champions rolled to a 61-32 victory over the Portland Thunder (2-6) on Sunday in front of 8,863 fans at the Moda Center.
On the first play from scrimmage for still-unbeaten Arizona (8-0), Davila threw his 500th career touchdown pass, connecting with wide receiver Rod Windsor on a 49-yard strike that set the tone early for the Rattlers' 12th straight win dating back to last season.
The left-handed Davila, midway through his fifth Arena Football League season, became only the 10th quarterback in pro football history to join the 500 touchdown club. He is the only player in pro football history to pass for at least 4,800 yards and 100 touchdowns in four straight seasons. He has 2,287 yards and 65 touchdowns in just eight games played this year.
For the second straight week, Davila threw more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (seven). He completed 16 of 23 passes for 221 yards. In his last four games, Davila has 36 scoring passes and only one interception. His four interceptions on the season are the fewest of any AFL quarterback.
For the second straight week, Windsor proved difficult to keep in check. After catching eight passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8 at Jacksonville, he hauled in eight more passes for 111 yards and four scores to lead all Rattlers receivers against the Thunder (2-6). He now has 504 catches for his career.
Meanwhile, the Arizona defense dominated Portlandâs offensive line and kept quarterback Danny Southwick off-balance and on the move most of the night. The Thunder committed four turnovers in the first half, all leading to Rattlers touchdowns.
Arizona defensive back Marquis Floyd, who came into the game without an interception this year, picked off Southwick three times. He now has 45 for his career, moving him into a sixth-place tie with Mark Ricks on the leagueâs career interceptions list. Floydâs three interceptions also tied a single-game franchise best set eight times, most recently by Virgil Gray in 2013.
The Rattlers also sacked Southwick four times -- three times by defensive end Cliff Dukes and and once by mack linebacker Tyre Glasper. Defensive back Allen Chapman led the way in tackles with eight, while defensive backs Jeremy Kellem and Arkeith Brown added six apiece.
Southwick completed 27 of 48 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns, including four to wide receiver Eric Rogers. Rogers, who set a single-game franchise record with five scoring catches in Portland's victory last week at Tampa Bay, led all receivers with 13 receptions for 152 yards.
