Boltz quarterback Russell Schneider completed 30 of 39 passes for 538 yards

 PORTLAND, Ore. — The Seattle-Tacoma Cobras were limited in numbers Saturday night, and the Portland Boltz exploited it over and over again.

Boltz quarterback Russell Schneider completed 30 of 39 passes for 538 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Portland (4-0, 2-0 PDFL) in a 56-40 victory in Professional Developmental Football League play at Lincoln High School's Mike Walsh Field.

It was an all-out air attack for most of the night as Sea-Tac's Justin Walz countered when he finished 21-for-35 passing with 362 yards and four touchdowns. But he was also intercepted four times — safety Jason Pabillano snagged three of them — and the Cobras (2-1, 1-1 PDFL) never had a lead.

Many Sea-Tac linemen played both ways due to the absence of several defensive starters who didn't make the trip. Their return for the teams' rematch June 22 in Renton is uncertain.

"Depth was a huge (issue) for us tonight," said Tyree Kellogg, the Cobras' head coach and general manager. "That's what's called sacrificing for the betterment of the team.
 
"I'm proud of them because they fought hard. There were some penalties and things that kept us from making plays, but that's football."

Schneider, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound QB from Portland State, was on from the start with a variety of passes out of three- and four-receiver sets. The Cobras had the most difficulty with stopping his throws down the middle and deep down the sidelines.

"I did a lot of studying and preparation to move my offensive linemen into position," Schneider said. "The offensive line protected me, sometimes for eight, nine, 10 seconds. When you've got that much time, you better make a play."

When Schneider seemingly ran out of time, he bought it for himself, often rolling to one side and reversing field to find an open receiver. Twelve of his completions went for 20 yards or longer. Three of them went for more than 40, and they were all touchdowns. READ MORE