Los Angeles Avengers game notes

Published on February 3, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Georgia Force at Los Angeles Avengers
Date: Friday, February 4, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: Los Angeles, California
Arena: STAPLES Center (17,942)
Television: FSN West (Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto)
Radio: XTRA Sports 570-AM (Larry Kahn, Troy West)
Spanish Radio: KWKW 1330-AM (Edu Villamar, Mario Amaya)
Satellite Radio: SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Channel 181)
Line: Los Angeles by 2.5 (over/under 94)
Series Record: Georgia leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Georgia 53, Los Angeles 52 (OT) -- March 1, 2004, STAPLES Center
Officials: Bill Athan (R), Tim Morris (U), Tim Podraza (HL), Tom Symonette (LJ), Greg Wilson (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (fourth season, 28-19)
Georgia -- Doug Plank (first season, 1-0)

2005 LOS ANGELES AVENGERS: Gunning for their fourth consecutive trip to the AFL Playoffs, the Avengers have a decidedly different look to them in 2005. On offense, head coach Ed Hodgkiss is working with a new quarterback. AFL veteran John Kaleo, who earned an ArenaBowl championship ring in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Storm, starts and is backed up by Brian Mann as the team looks to replace "All-Arena" QB Tony Graziani, who signed a free agent contract with Philadelphia during the offseason. Leading the way for the receivers is "All-Arena" WR/DB Kevin Ingram and Greg Hopkins, who is one of the best WR/LBs in league history and the 2002 AFL "Ironman of the Year." Ingram is L.A.'s top returning player in terms of receptions, receiving yardage, kickoff returns, missed field goal returns, all-purpose yardage, touchdowns, tackles and was tied for the team lead in interceptions. Over the course of the previous five seasons, Hopkins has caught 466 passes for 5,633 yards and 116 touchdowns. He has also returned nine interceptions for scores in his illustrious AFL career. Second-year man Brian Sump, who caught two touchdown passes in the season opener, and newcomer Lance Young back-up Ingram and Hopkins, respectively. At the offensive specialist spot, the Avengers are looking for someone to fill the shoes of Chris Jackson, who signed a free agent contract with Grand Rapids during the offseason. At Las Vegas, the Avengers went with Jerome Riley at that spot. In a few days, Khori Ivy, who is currently on the injured reserve list (knee), could be added to the mix. Los Angeles has perhaps the AFL's best pair of young FB/LBs in Lonnie Ford and Josh Jeffries. Seemingly perfectly suited for the rigorous nature of the multi-faceted position, Ford and Jeffries excel on both sides of the football. At the OL/DL spots, the bulk of the frontline returns in 2005, as the only deletions were veterans Chris Butterfield and Carlos Fowler (retirements). Al Lucas, Sean McNamara, Silas Demary and free agent signee Fred Ray (currently on injured reserve) provide veteran stability. Lucas, Demary and McNamara combined for seven sacks last season. First-year linemen Tony Wragge, Richard Seals, Luis Almanzar and Jerome Stevens also will make an impact up front. However, the biggest new addition for L.A. could be defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt, who dramatically turned around the fortunes of the Indiana Firebirds last year after being named the head coach five games into the 2004 season. With Wilpolt overseeing a defense led by Lucas, Ford, Jeffries, Hopkins, Ingram and rookie defensive specialists Antuan Simmons (two interceptions in the season opener) and Jermaine Smith, the Avengers could be difficult to score against ... and even tougher when third-year DS Damen Wheeler returns from his current stay on the injured reserve list (hamstring). The Avengers are rock-solid at kicker with the return of Remy Hamilton, one of the AFL's all-time greats. Not only does he rank third in league history in scoring by kickers with 884 points, he also has a variety of onside kicks and is a sure-handed tackler on special teams.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 30 @ Las Vegas Loss 46-37
Rest of Season
Opponent Time (PST)
Television
Feb. 4 Georgia 7:30 FSN West
Feb. 11 @ Austin 5:30 FSN West
Feb. 20 San Jose 3 p.m. NBC
Feb. 27 @ Colorado Noon NBC
Mar. 6 @ Arizona 5 p.m.
Mar. 18 Dallas 7:30
Mar. 26 Tampa Bay 7:30 FSN West
April 3 @ Orlando 9 a.m. NBC
April 10 New York Noon FSN West
April 17 @ Nashville 10 a.m. NBC
April 23 Chicago 7:30 FSN West
April 30 Arizona 7:30
May 7 @ San Jose 7:30 FSN West
May 14 Las Vegas 7:30 FSN West
May 21 @ Grand Rapids 4:30 FSN West


THE HEAD COACH: One of the brightest offensive masterminds in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Avengers. In his three previous seasons, he compiled a record of 28-18 and advanced to the AFL Playoffs each year. In his first two seasons at the helm, he directed the Avengers to a 19-11 record. No head coach in league history has won more games in his first two seasons than Hodgkiss. Last season, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game. Under Hodgkiss' direction, three major team records were broken as QB Tony Graziani threw 99 touchdown passes and OS Chris Jackson caught 125 passes for 1,803 yards. In 2003, the Avengers won a franchise-best 11 games and earned a first-round playoffs bye. Hodgkiss, who was the runner-up for the 2003 AFL "Coach of the Year" award, oversaw the league's most efficient offense, which scored 122 touchdowns (most in the AFL) on only 619 total plays (least in the AFL). Particularly lethal through the air, the 2003 Avengers averaged a league-leading 13.8 yards per reception and Jackson tied an AFL record with 46 TD receptions, earning him the league's "Offensive Player of the Year" award. Hodgkiss became the head coach of the Avengers on Oct. 5, 2001, and signed a five-year contract extension shortly after a 2002 season that saw him adroitly pilot the team to an 8-6 mark and into the postseason for the first time in franchise history. In his first season as a head coach at any level, he instantly established the Avenger offense as one of the most feared in the AFL, scoring an average of 52.2 points per game. In addition, WR/LB Greg Hopkins took home the AFL's "Ironman of the Year" award that goes to the league's top two-way player. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds' offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001).


THIS WEEK'S QUOTE:

L.A. quarterback John Kaleo on what the Avengers need to do to beat Georgia: "We need to shore up some of the small mistakes that we made (in Sunday's 46-37 loss at Las Vegas), such as knowing our assignments. We need to pay attention to details, because the little things are so important. We have a young team and slowly but surely, we are going come together and jell. The energy level is there with these young guys. It's not how you start that matters most. It's how you finish."




HOME RUNS AT STAPLES CENTER?: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, along with the Avengers, will be hosting a home run hitting contest on Feb. 4, to celebrate the DVD launch of Mr. 3000, starring Bernie Mac. All fans coming to the Avenger game versus Georgia will be given an opportunity to win a DVD copy of Mr. 3000. The home run contest will be held on a field laid out in Parking Lot 3, directly north of the arena from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mr. 3000 is a hilarious comedy about a retired baseball player who tries to regain his former status and make it in to the Hall of Fame. It is now available on DVD.





LOS ANGELES AVENGERS
2004 RESULTS (9-7, 0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Feb. 8 @ Arizona Win 51-32
Feb. 14 @ Las Vegas Win 62-55
Feb. 22 San Jose Loss 61-55
Mar. 1 Georgia Loss 53-52 OT
Mar. 14 @ Grand Rapids Win 48-33
Mar. 21 @ Dallas Win 60-44
Mar. 26 @ San Jose Loss 55-52
April 3 Austin Win 81-70
April 10 Colorado Loss 57-55
April 16 Detroit Win 62-55
April 25 @ Chicago Win 71-35
May 1 Arizona Loss 42-38
May 9 @ Tampa Bay Loss 63-55
May 16 @ New York Win 58-53
May 22 Las Vegas Win 54-51
May 30 Orlando Loss 52-50
June 6 @ Arizona (Playoffs) Loss 59-42

TIGHT LOSSES: L.A.'s seven regular-season losses last year were by a combined total of 26 points.

THE SERIES: Georgia leads the series, 2-1. The Avengers won the first meeting as they beat the Force, 73-54, at Phillips Arena on May 24, 2002. But, the Force have won the last two meetings -- both at STAPLES Center -- 46-35 on March 2, 2003, and 53-52 in overtime on March 1, 2004.

All-Time Georgia vs. Los Angeles Series
Score Date Site
Avengers 73, Force 54 5-34-02 Atlanta
Force 46, Avengers 35 3-2-03 L.A.
Force 53, Avengers 52 (OT) 3-1-04 L.A.

THE NEXT GAME: The Avengers will hit the road to play the Austin Wranglers on Friday, Feb. 11, at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas.

YOUNG GUNS: Eight of the 20 players on the opening-day roster (OL/DLs Luis Almanzar, Richard Seals, Jerome Stevens and Tony Wragge, DSs Antuan Simmons and Jermaine Smith, FB/LB Michale Spicer and WR/DB Brian Sump), got their first taste of AFL action in the 46-37 loss to the Las Vegas Gladiators on Sunday. Two other players participated with just one previous season of AFL experience under their belt (FB/LB Josh Jeffries and OS Jerome Riley) and another rookie, WR/LB Lance Young, did not see action in the season opener. What this all means is that more than half of the Avenger active roster (11-of-20) has less than two seasons of AFL experience.

SECRET IS SCORING 60: Dating back to last season, the Avengers are 5-0 when they scored 60 or more points. The team did not scored more than 55 points in all seven of its losses in 2004 and its first defeat in the 2005 season opener at Las Vegas. The Avengers did manage to win two games last season without reaching the 60-point mark, but relied on defense in those contests -- shutting down Arizona, 51-32, and stopping Grand Rapids, 48-33.

TOP BOSSES: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss is currently in eighth-place on the AFL's all-time winning percentage chart (regular season only, minimum 25 games, active coaches *).

All-Time AFL Top Winning Percentages
Head Coaches Record Winning %
1. Tim Marcum * 167-54 .756
2. Perry Moss 75-28-1 .726
3. Darren Arbet * 65-26 .714
4. Danny White 139-64 .685
5. Pat Sperduto * 26-15 .643
6. Jay Gruden * 46-27 .630
7. John Hufnagel 17-11 .607
8. Ed Hodgkiss * 28-19 .596
9. Mike Dailey * 74-52 .587
10. John Gregory 66-48 .579

TOUGH ON THE ROOKIES: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss is 9-2 against "rookie" AFL head coaches since taking over as a "rookie" himself in 2001. His only losses came to Joe Avezzano's Dallas Desperados on June 1, 2002, and in the Avengers most recent game, a 47-37 setback to the Las Vegas Gladiators and first-year head coach Ron James on Jan. 30, 2005.

KEEPING IT CLOSE: Only five of the 19 losses that Ed Hodgkiss has suffered as the head coach of the Avengers have been by more than seven points. He is 28-19 at the helm of the Avengers.

AMONG THE ELITE: In his first two seasons as a head coach in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss placed his name among some of the game's all-time greats. The Avenger skipper nearly won more games in his first two seasons than any head coach in AFL history. His record after two seasons was 19-11. John Gregory won 19 games in his first two seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers (1995-96). Both Darren Arbet of the San Jose SaberCats (1999-2000) and Lary Kuharich of the Tampa Bay Storm (1992-93) won 18 games in their first two seasons in the league.

L.A. STORY: The Avengers had their most successful regular season in franchise history in 2003, winning 11 games. After combining for eight wins in the franchise's first two seasons, L.A. had its first winning season in 2002, under the direction of head coach Ed Hodgkiss. Building upon each season from 2000 to 2003, the Avengers were the only team in AFL history to post four consecutive years of improvement. Last year, Los Angeles slipped to 9-7.

Avenger History
Season (head coach)
Record
2000 (Stan Brock) 3-11
2001 (Stan Brock/Robert Lyles) 5-9
2002 (Ed Hodgkiss) 8-6 (playoffs 0-1)
2003 (Ed Hodgkiss) 11-5 (playoffs 0-1)
2004 (Ed Hodgkiss) 9-7 (playoffs 0-1)
2005 (Ed Hodgkiss) 0-1







AVENGER NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:

QB John Kaleo: The starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm during their 2003 ArenaBowl championship season, Kaleo was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Austin Wranglers on Nov. 2, 2004. After four years with the Storm, Kaleo quarterbacked the Wranglers to an 8-8 record last season in their inaugural campaign. The Avengers are the ninth team Kaleo has played for in his 12 seasons in the AFL. He ranks among the all-time greats in league history with 26,275 passing yards (No. 6 on the AFL career chart), 430 touchdowns (No. 5), 3,659 attempts (No. 6) and 2,181 completions (No. 5). Kaleo has also rushed for 44 scores in his AFL career (No. 11). Kaleo signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Wranglers on Oct. 22, 2003, only four months after the Storm won ArenaBowl XVII. In 2004, Kaleo completed 352-of-565 for 4,020 yards and 80 touchdowns (with only 11 interceptions). He played against the Avengers last season, passing for 387 yards and seven scores, in an 81-70 loss at STAPLES Center.

DS Antuan Simmons: A hard-hitting playmaker, Simmons had a spectacular AFL debut, intercepting two passes in the season opener. He originally signed with the Avengers on Dec. 3, 2003, but did not join the team for the 2004 season, opting instead to train with the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers following the 2002 NFL Draft, performed well in preseason games, but was released in the final cut. A year later, Simmons went through the same routine with the 49ers. In between NFL training camps, he played in 10 games for the F.C. Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe, finishing with 44 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception and a kickoff return for a touchdown. In an outstanding and inspirational five-year career at USC, Simmons had a nose for the ball and a knack for the big play, coming up with 208 tackles and six blocked kicks. He also had nine INTs and returned three of them for scores. As a senior in 2001, Simmons was USC's captain and college football's "comeback player of the year," battling back from an abdominal tumor that hospitalized him for six weeks, stripped him of 40 pounds and nearly took his life three times.

OL/DL Richard Seals: An AFL rookie who already has pro experience on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Seals was picked by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft (218th overall selection), and was later signed to the practice squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prior to the 2001 season, he was picked up by the New Orleans Saints, who allocated him to NFL Europe, where he was a starting defensive tackle for the Frankfurt Galaxy. Seals participated in training camp with the Saints in 2001 and 2002, before being signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad for the past two seasons as an offensive guard.

OL/DL Tony Wragge: An NFL veteran with a background based on the offensive side of the ball, Wragge will be an AFL rookie this season. He spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. After signing with the team as a free agent following the 2002 NFL Draft, Wragge played in three games during his rookie year, starting one game at right guard. He spent most of the 2003 season on the Cardinals' practice squad. Wragge remained with Arizona until being released on Sept. 5, 2004, just prior to the start of the regular season.

MAKING HIS POINTS: Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton currently ranks at No. 3 on the AFL's all-time scoring by kickers chart. He is only the fourth player in league history to boot over 100 field goals.

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Scoring By Kickers
Mike Black (1993-2004) 1,253
Steve Videtich (Columbus) 1,116
Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 884
Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 770
Steve McLaughlin (1998-2004) 770
Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 742

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Field Goals Made
Mike Black (1993-2004) 178
Steve Videtich (Columbus) 143
Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 121
Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 105
Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 100

"IRONMAN" INGRAM: In his last 27 games for the Avengers, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has been selected as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" nine times. L.A. won each of those games, which includes five victories last season.

ROAD WARRIOR: In his last 15 games away from STAPLES Center, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has caught 59 passes for 724 yards and 22 TDs. Despite playing alongside a constellation of AFL stars for much of his career, Ingram's contributions have not gone unnoticed, winning the "Ironman of the Game" award in six road games over the course of the previous two seasons, including three of eight in 2004.

L.A. IN O.T.: The Avengers have an all-time record of 3-4 in overtime games. Strangely enough, Los Angeles is a perfect 3-0 when playing the extra period on the road and a winless 0-4 within the usually friendly confines of STAPLES Center. In three of the seven overtime games, the Avenger opponent has been the Arizona Rattlers (L.A. is 1-2 in those contests). In all three overtime victories, Los Angeles won by six points and held the opponent scoreless (twice getting the ball on downs and once benefiting from a missed field goal). The Avengers have played in at least one overtime game in each of their previous five seasons of play in the AFL (once in 2000, 2002 and 2004, and twice in 2001 and 2003).

Avengers in Overtime
Category
Record
All-time 3-4
At home 0-4
On the road 3-0
When getting the ball first 1-2
When getting the ball second 2-2
When scoring a touchdown 3-2
When scoring first 3-1
When scoring second 0-1
When a field goal is attempted 0-2
When missing a PAT kick 1-1
When getting a two-point conversion 0-0
When allowing a two-point conversion 0-1

HOPPING UP THE CHARTS: Avenger WR/LB Greg Hopkins is one of only eight players in AFL history to have 8,000 or more receiving yards in a career. He is currently seventh all-time with 8,465 receiving yards in his 10-year career.

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Receiving Yards
1. Barry Wagner (San Jose) 12,823
2. Eddie Brown (1994-2003) 12,736
3. Gary Compton (1992-2004) 10,368
4. George LaFrance (1988-2000) 8,888
5. Hunkie Cooper (Arizona) 8,543
6. Cory Fleming (Orlando) 8,608
7. Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles) 8,575
8. Calvin Schexnayder (San Jose) 8,179
9. Stevie Thomas (1991-2001) 7,892
10. Darryl Hammond (Nashville) 7,686

MILLENNIUM MEN: WR/LB Greg Hopkins ranks among the most productive pass catchers in the AFL since the dawning of the new millennium. Only former teammate Chris Jackson has had more receptions than Hopkins since the start of the 2000 season. The following chart lists the AFL's top receivers over the course of the last five seasons:

AFL's Top Pass Receivers – (2000-05)
Catches – Receiving Yards
2000-04 2005 Total
Chris Jackson
(Rampage) 480 – 6,795
(157 TDs) 9 - 73 489 – 6,868
(157 TDs)
Greg Hopkins
(Avengers) 466 – 5,633
(116 TDs) 11 - 110 477 – 5,743
(118 TDs)
Damian Harrell
(Crush) 457 – 6,724
(138 TDs) 7 – 105 464 – 6,829
(141 TDs)
Mike Horacek
(Dragons) 399 – 5,248
(121 TDs) 0 - 0 399 – 5,248
(121 TDs)

THE INTERCEPTION KING: In addition to being the AFL's 2002 "Ironman of the Year," WR/LB Greg Hopkins is nearly the league's all-time leader in interception returns for touchdowns. Hopkins returned his ninth pick for a score on April 13, 2003, in L.A.'s 82-76 overtime loss to the Arizona Rattlers. Hopkins jumped to grab a pass from Sherdrick Bonner and returned it nine yards for the score. Hopkins and McEntyre were tied on the AFL's all-time list until "The Glove" scored on an 18-yard interception return against the New Orleans VooDoo on May 9, 2004.

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Interception Returns for Touchdowns
Kenny McEntyre (Orlando Predators) 10
Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles Avengers) 9
Darryl Hammond (Georgia Force) 8
Mark Ricks (1996-2004) 7
Hunkie Cooper (Arizona Rattlers) 7





AMONG THE GAME'S GREATS: Avenger quarterback John Kaleo rates alongside the best passers in AFL history. After throwing for 197 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener, he moved into fifth-place on the league's all-time chart for passing yards. Kaleo already ranks at No. 5 in completions and touchdowns. If he can throw 70 more touchdown passes this season, Kaleo would become the fifth player in AFL history to reach the 500 mark.

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Passing Yards
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 32,389
2. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 30,820
3. Aaron Garcia (New York) 30,570
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 29,375
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 26,275
5. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 26,258

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Passing Completions
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 2,896
2. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 2,479
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 2,477
4. Aaron Garcia (New York) 2,366
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 2,181
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 2,100

All-Time AFL Leaders –
Passing Touchdowns
1. Aaron Garcia (New York) 635
2. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 626
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 618
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 585
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 430
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 408

IN THE ZONE OUT EAST: When the Avengers make three trips to the East Coast later this season, they shouldn't feel too uncomfortable. L.A. has won eight of its last 10 games in the Eastern Time Zone, including a thrilling 64-63 victory at Orlando in 2003 and 48-33 decision last year at Grand Rapids. The Avengers will make a return visit to Orlando on April 3, and then conclude the regular season with trip to Grand Rapids on May 21. L.A. will also play at Nashville on April 17.

THIRD-QUARTER KARMA: The final result of an Avenger game can often be predicted before the start of the fourth quarter. L.A. is 31-8 all-time when leading or tied after three quarters of play. Furthermore, in the "Ed Hodgkiss Era," the Avengers are 17-7 when they score two or more TDs in the third quarter. In games that the Avengers don't score at least two TDs in the third quarter, they are 11-12 since 2002.

TURNOVER TALE: In 16 games last season, the Avengers turned the ball over just 11 times (the fewest in the AFL). In the 2005 season opener at Las Vegas, however, the Avenger turned over the football three times in a 46-37 loss (two interceptions and one fumble). In 2004, L.A. played eight "turnover-free" games, but was only 5-3 in those contests. The Avengers tied the Chicago Rush for an AFL-best turnover margin of +15 last season.

QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE: 140 of L.A.'s 246 offensive touchdowns over the course of the last three seasons have been scored on "drives" of three plays or less. In fact, 41 of them are one-play "drives." Last season, opposing defenses made it tougher for L.A. to score quickly, as the Avengers were able to get in the end zone in three plays or less on just 48.7 percent of their touchdown drives. However, the Avengers just missed that qualification 21 times last season, scoring a touchdown on their fourth play.

Avenger Touchdown Drives (2003-04)
Total TD
Drives Quick Strikes (percent) 1 Play Scores
2003 124 81 (65.3 %) 25
2004 117 57 (48.7 %) 18
2005 5 2 (40.0 %) 0
Total 246 140 (57 %) 43


ARENABOWL CHAMPIONS: Three Avenger players and a pair of coaches have experienced championship seasons in the AFL. QB John Kaleo and OL/DL Al Lucas earned ArenaBowl championship rings with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2003. WR/LB Greg Hopkins was with the Albany Firebirds when they won the AFL title in 1999; along with Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss, who was the Firebird offensive coordinator at the time, and L.A. defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt, who was the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.


RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
2/3 Signed from practice squad OL/DL Bernard Riley
2/3 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Sean McNamara
1/22 Placed on injured reserve OS Khori Ivy
OL/DL Fred Ray
OL/DL John Schlecht
WR/LB Rob Turner
QB Ryan Van Dyke
DS Damen Wheeler
1/22 Released OS Ben Bronson
1/22 Waived WR/DB Aleric Clark
OL/DL Asi Faoa
WR/LB Lal Knight
WR/DB Chris Martin
FB/LB Wes Ours
DS Traco Rachal
OL/DL Bernard Riley
1/22 Waived injured OL/DL Ken Kocher
FB/LB Jeff Macrea
OL/DL Johnathan Taylor
1/22 Re-signed OL/DL Al Lucas
1/22 Retired OL/DL Chris Butterfield
1/15 Signed WR/DB Lance Young
1/15 Placed on other team exempt QB Gibran Hamdan
(Seattle Seahawks)
1/13 Signed OL/DL Jerome Stevens
1/13 Waived OL/DL John Windham
1/12 Signed OL/DL John Schlecht
1/10 Signed WR/LB Lal Knight
1/10 Re-signed OL/DL Luis Almanzar



FIRST TIME IN 50: When John Kaleo took L.A.'s first offensive snap from center in the season opener at Las Vegas, it marked the first time since July 22, 2001, that somebody other than Tony Graziani was the Avenger starting quarterback. Since Wally Richardson started that game, a 62-40 loss at Oklahoma in the 2001 regular-season finale, Graziani had started 49 consecutive contests for the Avengers, including three playoff games.


DISRUPTION AT DS: In 16 games last season, the Avengers lined up with eight different pairs of starting defensive specialists. Eight players started at one of the DS positions in 2004 and only Damen Wheeler, who earned AFL "All-Rookie" honors in 2003, and Kevin Ingram, who is normally a WR/DB, remains with the club on the 2005 roster. Last season, Wheeler spent time of the injured reserve list twice.

NIFTY NICKNAMES: Several Avengers played college football at schools with interesting nicknames ... Kevin Ingram, West Chester (Pa.) University Golden Rams; Brian Mann, Dartmouth College Big Green; Sean McNamara, Pittsburg (Kan.) State University Gorillas and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Golden Norsemen; Michale Spicer, Western Carolina University Catamounts; Brian Sump, Colorado School of Mines Orediggers and Rob Turner, Central Michigan University Chippewas.


THE AVENGERS ARE ...
• 0-0 at STAPLES Center
• 0-1 on the road
• 0-0 when they score more than 50 points
• 0-0 when they score 60 or more points
• 0-0 when they score 70 or more points
• 0-1 when they allow less than 60 points
• 0-1 when they allow less than 50 points
• 0-0 when they allow less than 40 points
• 0-0 when they allow less than 30 points
• 0-1 when they record at least one sack
• 0-0 when they score first
• 0-0 when they commit fewer turnovers
• 0-0 when they commit more turnovers
• 0-0 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
• 0-0 when John Kaleo throws for at least 6 TDs
• 0-0 when John Kaleo passes for 300+ yards
• 0-0 when John Kaleo doesn't throw an INT
• 0-0 when Kevin Ingram scores two or more TDs
• 0-0 when Kevin Ingram catches 6 or more passes
• 0-1 when Greg Hopkins scores two or more TDs
• 0-1 when Greg Hopkins catches six or more passes
• 0-1 when Antuan Simmons makes at least one INT
• 0-1 when they commit fewer penalties
• 0-0 when they commit five or less penalties
• 0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
• 0-1 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
• 0-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
• 0-0 when leading at halftime
• 0-1 on Sunday





PREVIOUS MEETING WITH GEORGIA:

GEORGIA FORCES OT BEFORE BEATING L.A.

LOS ANGELES (March 1) -- Performing with a flair for the dramatic, the Georgia Force used a 50-yard field goal to send the game into overtime, where they upset the Avengers, 53-52, before a crowd of 10,236 at STAPLES Center.

The result left both teams at 2-2 on the season and winless at home.

After matching L.A.'s touchdown that opened the extra period, Force QB Leon Murray found WR/LB Dialleo Burks in the left corner of the end zone for the game-winning two-point conversion. Murray shook off an interception on Georgia's first possession of the game to finish 27-of-38 for 297 yards and six touchdowns.

Avenger QB Tony Graziani had a strong game as well, completing 23-of-36 for 253 yards and six scores. He has now passed for 26 touchdowns this season, against no interceptions.

Subbing for OS Chris Jackson, who sat out the game with a sprained left knee, Joe Douglass caught a game-high nine passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Los Angeles WR/LB Greg Hopkins also had three scoring grabs among his eight receptions for 79 yards.

Early in the second quarter the Avengers took a 21-7 lead on a eight-yard toss from Graziani to Douglass, but the Force fought back to tie the game at 28-28 on their first possession of the second half.

The lead see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the half until Force kicker Steve McLaughlin booted a 50-yard field goal as the buzzer sounded.

After a pass interference penalty on the Force, the Avengers scored on their first official play in overtime as Graziani connected with Douglass on a 35-yarder down the right sideline.

Georgia responded with a six-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Murray to WR/DB Dameon Porter, who also scored two touchdowns during regulation play and finished with a team-high eight catches for 96 yards.


GEORGIA (2-2) 7 14 14 10 8 -- 53
LOS ANGELES (2-2) 14 14 3 14 7 -- 52


TROJAN SACKS: There must be something about being a "Trojan" and getting after the quarterback. Over the course of the past two Avenger seasons (17 games), three collegiate "Trojans" have combined for 8.5 sacks. Lineman Silas Demary, who played for the Virginia State University Trojans, leads the way with four sacks for a loss of 27 yards. Fellow lineman Al Lucas, who was a standout for the Troy State University Trojans, has three sacks for losses of 20 yards. And FB/LB Lonnie Ford, who was a defensive end and tight end for the hometown USC Trojans, has 1.5 sacks for a loss of 10 yards. Demary, Lucas and Ford were the only three players on the 2004 Avenger team with more than one quarterback sack, besides FB/LB Josh Jeffries (two sacks for losses of 16 yards ... he incidentally is a Mountaineer from Appalachian State University).

FINAL 2004 AFL STANDINGS:

AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Western Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Arizona 11 5 0 .688 836 738
San Jose 11 5 0 .688 885 754
AVENGERS 9 7 0 .562 904 811
Las Vegas 8 8 0 .500 868 791

Central Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Chicago 11 5 0 .688 847 727
Colorado 11 5 0 .688 793 744
Indiana 8 8 0 .500 801 743
Detroit 5 11 0 .312 761 854
Grand Rapids 1 15 0 .062 581 871

NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
New York 9 7 0 .562 849 770
Carolina 6 10 0 .375 735 868
Columbus 6 10 0 .375 782 855
Carolina 6 10 0 .375 791 862
Philadelphia 5 11 0 .312 737 796

Southern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
New Orleans 11 5 0 .688 723 721
Orlando 10 6 0 .625 777 690
Tampa Bay 9 7 0 .562 815 799
Austin 8 8 0 .500 764 793
Georgia 7 9 0 .437 710 772


"U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the two-way player who best demonstrated the ideals of the AFL's style of ironman football.

Week Opp. Ironman of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas WR/DB Dameon Porter (L.V.)
5 catches, 37 yards, 1 interception
2 Georgia

"ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was determined to be the most valuable to his team's defensive success in the game, win or lose.

Week Opp. Defensive Player of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas DS Antuan Simmons (L.A.)
2 interceptions, 4 solo tackles
2 Georgia

"OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was determined to be the most valuable to his team's offensive success in the game, win or lose.

Week Opp. Offensive Player of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas OS Marcus Nash (L.V.)
7 catches, 116 yards, 1 touchdown
2 Georgia



LAST GAME:

AVENGERS FIND NO
LUCK IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 30) -- Proving to be their own worst enemy, the Avengers committed three turnovers and lost possession on two kickoffs in a 46-37 loss to the Las Vegas Gladiators at the Thomas & Mack Center. It was the 2005 season opener for both teams and marked the first time that the Gladiators were able to beat the Avengers in four tries.

"Anytime you turn the ball over in this league it is hard to win," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "We had five turnovers -- two interceptions, one fumble and two change of possessions off kickoffs. That is just too many mistakes."

Las Vegas fullback/linebacker Frank Carter scored three rushing touchdowns, the last coming with just over a minute to play to seal the victory.

Gladiator quarterback Clint Dolezel was 18-of-30 for 251 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted two times by Avenger rookie defensive specialist Antuan Simmons. Dolezel's favorite target and last year's AFL "Offensive Player of the Year," Marcus Nash caught seven passes for 116 yards and one touchdown.

"It really wasn't what they were doing on offense that was frustrating, but rather what we weren't doing on defense," Simmons said. "If we just clean up our mistakes we'll be fine. We just came out a little jittery on defense. We just made too many mistakes out there early on."

The Gladiators took control on the first play of the season as Dolezel found wide receiver Coco Blalock for a 47-yard touchdown.
Things got worse for the Avengers. On their first series, quarterback John Kaleo was intercepted after a pass deflected off WR/DB Kevin Ingram's hands.

The Gladiators took advantage when Dolezel found Nash on fourth down for a 42-yard gain. Carter capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to give Las Vegas a quick 14-0 lead.

The Avengers took advantage of Simmons' first interception with a two-yard Kaleo-to-Ingram touchdown to give Los Angeles its first lead of the game at 31-26 with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter.

"I thought that overall John (Kaleo) played well out there today," Hodgkiss said. "He bounced back from some mistakes and showed that he could lead our offense. We expected a few of those mistakes with all of the new faces on our team."

Kaleo finished 19-of-34 for 197 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. WR/LB Greg Hopkins led Los Angeles with 11 receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Las Vegas outscored the Avengers, 20-6, in the fourth quarter to post the franchise's first opening-day win since the team moved from New Jersey to Las Vegas in 2003.


LOS ANGELES (0-1) 7 10 14 6 -- 37
LAS VEGAS (1-0) 14 12 0 20 -- 46

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 3, 2005


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