Avengers Can't Find a way in San Jose
by Tim Peterson
April 27, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(San Jose) - It was the same thing that has haunted the Avengers all year. Turnovers - and I'm not talking about the ones with the apple filling. The Avengers turned the ball over five times and fell to the Western Division leading San Jose Sabercats 70-42 Saturday night before 13,083 at HP Pavilion.
Tim Hicks threw for four touchdowns and 260 yards but also threw two interceptions. LA also fumbled three times and San Jose took advantage. The five turnovers led directly to 24 points.
The win was the 14th in a row for the Sabercats over a division opponent tying an Arena Football League record.
The Avengers cut the lead to ten at 39-29 early in the third quarter, but Rodney Wright returned the ensuing kick off 56 yards to again give San Jose a 17 point advantage.
Mark Grieb completed 22 of 31 for 238 yards and seven touchdowns for the Sabercats and more importantly no interceptions.
Grieb threw four touchdowns in the first half as the Cats moved out to a 39-23 lead at the break. Cleann Santil was on the receiving end of three of the scores, the longest for 15 yards.
After LA got within ten the Sabercats broke it wide open. When Clevan Thomas picked off a Hicks pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown with just over six minutes left in the game, the Cats lead was 70-36.
Rodney Wright caught nine passes for 110 yards for San Jose and James Roe hauled in eight for 76. Santil caught four for 47 in addition to the three touchdowns.
J.R. Tolver had 11 receptions for 122 yards for the Avengers but was kept out of the end zone. Timon Marshall caught five balls for 76 yards and two scores.
San Jose improved to 5-4 with the victory and continues to lead the West. The Avengers fell to 3-6, two games behind San Jose and one-half game behind Arizona. LA will face the Rattlers Saturday night at Staples Center.
LA 14 9 13 6 42
SJ 20 19 10 21 70
Passing: LA - Hicks 20-39-260-4-2, Sonny Cumbie 2-5-45-1-0. SJ- Grieb 22-31-238-7-0.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2008
- Avengers Can't Find a way in San Jose - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Dragons Defeat Cleveland 56-39 - New York Dragons
- SaberCats top Avengers, 70-42 - San Jose SaberCats
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