L.A. Avengers News and Notes
April 16, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
QUICK FACTS: Game: Cleveland (3-3) at Los Angeles (3-4) Date: Saturday, April 19, 2008 Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: STAPLES Center (18,738) -- Los Angeles, Calif. Television: FSN Prime Ticket (Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto) Radio: AM 570 KLAC (Isaac Lowenkron, Troy West, Antoine Ibrahim) Internet Radio: www.xtrasportsradio.com Spanish Radio: ESPN Deportes 1330 AM (Edu Villamar, Mario Amaya) Opening Line: TBA Series Record: Los Angeles leads 7-2 Last Meeting: Avengers 60, Gladiators (Las Vegas) 42; June 17, 2007, STAPLES Center Officials: Bill McCabe (R), Wes Friz (U), Neil Brunner (HL), Paul Engelberts (LJ), Tony Lombardo (BJ)
Head Coaches: Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (seventh season, 55-46) Cleveland -- Mike Wilpolt (second season, 11-6)
MEDIA CONTACTS: Los Angeles: John Tamanaha (310) 407-0208, cell (310) 463-5262, jtamanaha@laavengers.com Cleveland: Phil Tesar (216) 685-9000, cell (216) 210- 6034, ptesar@clevelandgladiators.com
THE AVENGERS: Fresh off their impressive 79-62 victory over the Utah Blaze at STAPLES Center last Saturday night, the Avengers (3-4) will host the Cleveland Gladiators (3-3) on Saturday (April 19) to wrap up the first half of the 2008 regular season. The contest marks the first time this season that Los Angeles will play back-to-back games in front of their devoted fans at STAPLES Center.
The Avengers are just a half-game back of the Western Division-leading Arizona Rattlers (3-3) and tied with the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (3-4). Under the direction of head coach Ed Hodgkiss, the Avengers have qualified for the playoffs in five of their last six seasons. At the quarterback position, Hodgkiss will choose from Tim Hicks (52-of-91, 739 yards, 16 TDs, three INTs), who has started the past two games, and Sonny Cumbie (95-of-171, 1,214 yards, 27 TDs, six INTs), who had started 35 consecutive games (33 in the regular season, two in the playoffs) for the Avengers prior to being given the night off at Colorado in Week 6. No matter who is taking the snaps for Los Angeles, one of his primary targets will be veteran flanker Kevin Ingram, who became the franchise's all-time leading receiver on a 44-yard touchdown catch two weeks ago. Ingram currently has 486 receptions in his Avenger career and has had at least one touchdown catch in his last 36 regular-season games. He leads the team in receptions (51) and touchdowns (15). And, as if that weren't enough, Ingram was pressed into duty on defense last week in the victory over Utah due to an injury to cornerback Arnold Parker. Split end Timon Marshall, who was one of L.A.'s prized free-agent signings during the offseason, has lived up to all expectations. He leads the team in receiving (646) and all-purpose yards (1,305, No. 2 in the AFL). Slot receiver LaShaun Ward is in his first full season on offense after starting eight games on defense last year. He has caught 11 touchdown passes (four last week versus Utah) and leads the league in yards per reception at 18.7. Another key offensive weapon in the Avenger arsenal is fullback Lonnie Ford, who is just the ninth player in league history to rush for 700 or more yards in his career. The Avenger defense features one of the AFL's top defensive fronts. Nose guard Jason Stewart and defensive ends Josh Jeffries, Ken Jones and Ryan Riddle, have combined for six quarterback sacks this season.
The pass rush is also aided by linebackers Brandon Perkins and Justin Hickman, who each has a sack (Hickman also returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown). In the defensive backfield, safety Damen Wheeler is L.A.'s man in the middle for the sixth consecutive season and already has three interceptions and three forced fumbles this year. He patrols the secondary along with Parker and rookie Terrell Maze.
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