Pro Football returns to LA with 44-34 KISS win over Portland

When the Rams and Raiders left town in the 1990's, everyone assumed that the nation's second largest market would soon have another replacement NFL franchise.  Today, the notion of a Los Angeles NFL team seems more pipe dream than reality, but fortunately the Arena Football League has wisely stepped in to fill the void.

With a packed house of over 12,000 fans at the Honda Center, the AFL's newest expansion team, the LA KISS, hosted their home opener and delivered with a 44-34 victory over the Portland Thunder.   The KISS are owned by members of the iconic classic rock band KISS.

Quarterback J.J. Raterink led the LA KISS with four touchdowns and 237 yards, and wideout Donovan Morgan also produced four touchdowns.  The duo scored LA's first touchdown of the game, helping the team to a 21-13 first half lead.

Another touchdown by Raterink started off the fourth quarter, and the Raterink-Morgan combination would work its magic once more with just 56 seconds left when the pair linked up for a 24-yard touchdown pass to seal the win.

LA KISS are back at the Honda Center next Saturday, April 12, to take on the Cleveland Gladiators at 7PM (PST).

News and Notes

• Offensive Player of the Game – LAK J.J Raterink
• Defensive Player of the Game – LAK Beau Bell
• Playmaker of the Game – LAK Donovan Morgan
• Catch of the Game – LAK Donovan Morgan
• AFL Highlight of the Game – LAK Romeo Pellum, 1st Half Interception

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services