Quarterback to Make First Start for LA KISS

ANAHEIM, CA - Quarterback Pete Thomas will start for the LA KISS for the first time tonight when the Arena Football League team plays host to the Portland Steel at Honda Center.

Thomas completed 13 of 27 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-34 loss to the Arizona Rattlers last Saturday in relief of Nathan Stanley, who was injured in the second quarter attempting to make a tackle after throwing a pass that was intercepted.

Thomas is a 24-year-old AFL rookie who played at North Carolina State.

The KISS (3-4) placed Stanley on inactive reserve on Monday. The team re- acquired 34-year-old Danny Southwick on Thursday to be Thomas' backup. Southwick started eight games with the KISS in 2015 and the first three games of this season for Portland before being released on May 19.

Southwick is a stepson of talk show host Larry King.

Another addition to the KISS roster this week is defensive lineman Dontay Moch, a third-round choice in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, who played in eight games over three seasons with three NFL teams.

The Steel (0-7) will be playing the last of seven consecutive road games, including a 66-27 loss to the KISS May 9 at Honda Center that was initially supposed to be played in Portland, but was shifted because of the unavailability of the team's arena when the Portland Trailblazers were playing in the NBA playoffs.

Five of Portland's losses have been by at least 31 points. The Steel has allowed at least 65 points five times.

The game is '80s Night, with all fans encouraged to wear '80s clothing.

The game will begin shortly after 7 p.m. and be televised by the online streaming service ESPN3.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of the LA KISS