Avengers beat Austin Wranglers, 64-51
Published on February 12, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
AUSTIN, Texas -- Kicker Remy Hamilton made sure that quarterback John Kaleo had a happy homecoming in his return to Austin. Hamilton's record-breaking five field goals and superb play on special teams helped Los Angeles ride out of the Lone Star State with a 64-51 victory before 9,441 at the Frank Erwin Center.
"Once again Remy showed why he is so valuable," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "The special teams play was no doubt the difference in the game."
Hamilton was also a perfect 7-of-7 on extra point kicks. His 22-point performance came seven days after booting four field goals in a 46-41 victory over Georgia. He also recovered a key fumble after kicking off and was honored as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" for the first time in his eight-year AFL career.
"This means a lot to me," said Hamilton, who was named the "Offensive Player of the Week" last week after scoring 16 points versus Georgia. "I didn't even know that kickers could win the 'Ironman' award. I want to thank my holder and snapper because I couldn't do it without them. These last two weeks have just been amazing."
Hamilton's night featured field goals from 17, 26, 28, 39 and 50 yards out. He is a perfect 10-for-10 on field goal attempts this season.
It was also a big night for Kaleo as he got a chance to play against the team that traded him to Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 2004. After a slow first half, he caught fire after halftime and finished 17-of-27 for 235 yards and five touchdowns on his way to "Offensive Player of the Game" honors.
"I just felt comfortable out there," Kaleo said. "This is an arena I'm familiar with, and I was happy with they way I played, especially in the second half."
The victory takes the Avengers to 2-1, while the Wranglers dropped to 0-3.
"This is a big win for us," Kaleo said. "Anytime you can go on the road and come away with a win, it is huge. This is definitely something we can build on as a team."
Wrangler quarterback John Fitzgerald was 26-of-40 for 366 yards with five touchdowns, but he also threw a costly interception. On the first series of the game, he tried to flip the ball into the end zone after being flushed from the pocket. The ball was tipped and then picked off by rookie defense specialist Traco Rachal, who also made a game-high eight tackles and earned "ADT Defensive Player of the Game" honors in his first AFL game.
The Avenger offense wasted no time in capitalizing on the turnover, as Kaleo threw a strike to wide open WR/LB Jerome Riley for a 48-yard touchdown on L.A.'s first play of the game.
"I ran a post off the motion and was wide open," Riley said. "Kaleo threw the pass right on the money."
After the Wranglers tied the game at 10-10, the Avengers came right back with a ground attack as LB/FB Lonnie Ford punished the Wrangler defense on a 15-yard run before scoring on a four-yard blast to make it 17-10 in favor of the visitors.
The Wranglers were able to answer and grab their first lead at 24-20, with just 18 seconds left before the intermission, on a 31-yard touchdown pass from to WR/LB David Hill.
Hamilton's third field goal of the night, a 39-yarder, cut the Wrangler lead to one, 24-23, at the halftime buzzer.
This would be the last time that Austin would have the lead because the second half was all Los Angeles.
"We didn't change anything up at halftime," Hodgkiss said. "It was a matter of execution. I felt like we came out in the second half and our line played really well in protecting Kaleo, and I thought John played well himself."
The Avengers were able to score a touchdown on the first drive of the second half when Kaleo found WR/DB Kevin Ingram from five yards out.
Then, Los Angeles was able to get gain possession on back-to-back kickoffs. On the first one, FB/LB Josh Jeffries forced a fumble and Hamilton jumped on the ball for the recovery, which led to his fourth three-pointer and a 33-24 advantage. On the next kickoff, Hamilton booted the ball high off the left rebound net. The ball tumbled to the turf untouched, bounced high into the air and back down to OL/DL Bernard Riley, who snatched it out of the air with one hand and carried it into the end zone, giving the Avengers a 40-24 lead with 7:18 left in the third quarter.
"We made the plays on special teams for the second week in a row, and it was really big for us," Hamilton said.
After Fitzgerald threw his second of five touchdown passes, Kaleo answered right back with an 11-yard touchdown to Ingram, who had two scores on the night.
Los Angeles' second-half highlight reel continued when Kaleo hit Jerome Riley with a quick strike on the left side. Riley proceeded to break one tackle after another, on his way to a spectacular touchdown that gave the Avengers an insurmountable 54-30 lead.
"That's what I do," Riley said of his run. "I like to get that YAC (yards after catch)."
Hamilton got his record-breaking fifth field goal late in the fourth quarter from 17 yards out. Then, Austin added a late score to making the game appear closer than it really was.
The Avengers return home on Sunday, Feb. 20, as they host the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats at STAPLES Center. That contest will kick off at 3 p.m. and be televised on KNBC Channel 4.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 12, 2005
- Crush Activate Watton, Place Reese on IR - Colorado Crush
- Gladiators hold on to beat New York, 41-37 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Avengers beat Austin Wranglers, 64-51 - Los Angeles Avengers
- Wranglers fall to LA at home, 64-55 - Austin Wranglers
- Sabercats activate two-time defensive Player of the Year - San Jose SaberCats
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