Avengers Rattled in Arizona
by Tim Peterson
March 25, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Phoenix, AZ)- After winning their last two games, the Los Angels Avengers reverted back to their old ways in a 58-45 loss to Arizona Friday night in front of 10,075 satisfied spectators at U.S Airways Center. The Avengers seemed to have left their offensive doldrums behind last week when they put up 60 in a win over Colorado. But against the Rattlers, the offense struggled, turned the ball over twice and fell to defeat.
Sherdrick Bonner threw seven touchdown passes to lead the way, including five to his favorite target, Randy Gatewood. Bonner completed 16 of 29 passes for 216 yards and one interception. Gatewood caught seven passes 112 yards in addition to the five scores.
The Avengers took a 34-24 lead into halftime as Sonny Cumbie threw two touchdown strikes to Kevin Ingram and Lonnie Ford scored from two yards out. Bonner kept the Rattlers close with two scoring strikes to Gatewood.
In the second half, Remy Hamilton booted a 17 yard field goal to give the Avengers a 14 point advantage. But then the Rattlers went to work. They scored 28 consecutive points to take a two touchdown lead that they never relinquished.
With LA leading 38-31, Cumbie was sacked and fumbled the ball. Arizona's Kelvin Ingram fell on it in the end zone to tie it at 38.
After another defensive stop, Bonner fired a 35 yard touchdown toss to Gatewood to give the Rattlers a 45-38 lead with 11:02 left in the contest. For Bonner, it was his 700th career touchdown pass.
Four minutes later, Bonner found Gatewood again for a 30 yard strike to give the Rattlers the 14 point lead. The Avengers could never recover.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Rattlers who improved to 5-4 and moved to a two game lead in the Western Division. The Avengers fell to 3-6 and are on the road for the next three weeks.
Passing: LA- Cumbie 23-43-257-4-0. Bonner 16-29-236-7-1.
Total Yards: LA- 240. AZ- 249. LA 14 21 3 7 45
AZ 10 14 14 20 58
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 25, 2006
- Score in the Community with Visit to Local School and Boys & Girls Club - Dallas Desperados
- Destroyers lose Douglas for season - Columbus Destroyers
- Defense forces seven turnovers to hand defending ArenaBowl champ Crush first home loss - Columbus Destroyers
- Wranglers fall victim to Predators, 47-37 - Austin Wranglers
- Kats win over San Jose - Nashville Kats
- Nashville Edges San Jose 51-48 - San Jose SaberCats
- Kats' Fleming Reaches 10,000-Yard Mark - AFL I
- Avengers Rattled in Arizona - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Dragons beat KC, 54-48 - New York Dragons
- Blocked field goal douses Blaze, 49-47 - Utah Blaze
- Rattlers Outlast Avengers, 58-45 - Arizona Rattlers
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
