Avengers defeat Dallas Desperados, 60-44
Published on March 21, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
DALLAS -- Six touchdown passes by quarterback Tony Graziani and a stingy defense led the Los Angeles Avengers past the Dallas Desperados, 60-44, on Sunday afternoon before 9,312 at the American Airlines Center.
The Avengers, who shut out Dallas in the first quarter, improved to 4-2 on the season, breaking the Desperados' five-game winning streak. Dallas fell to 5-2.
Graziani completed 21-of-33 for 251 yards and three of his six scoring tosses went to WR/DB Kevin Ingram.
"I thought I was a little off today," Graziani said. "I missed a couple of receivers early in the game. But, we did a good job of protecting the football and didn't let up after getting those early stops on defense."
Graziani has thrown 38 touchdown passes this season, against no interceptions (191 attempts). Perhaps just as important, he was not sacked by the Desperados and rarely pressured.
"You have to give credit to the offensive line," Graziani said. "They kept me upright today, which was impressive, going against a team with a great pass rush like Dallas. That's why we won the game."
Avenger offensive specialist Chris Jackson caught a game-high eight passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
"We played well in all three phases of the game," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "When we are healthly and don't turn the ball over, we are a pretty good team."
The Avengers came up with two turnovers versus the Desperados -- one on an interception by FB/LB Josh Jeffries and the other on a fumble recovery by fellow FB/LB Lonnie Ford -- to raise the team's league-leading turnover ratio to +11.
Walter Church, who came in to quarterback the Desperados after starter Glen Gauntt was knocked out of the game with a knee injury, was 13-of-19 for 209 yards and five touchdowns.
WR/DB Will Pettis and WR/LB Bobby Sippio each caught three touchdowns for Dallas.
Sippio's last one came as time expired and before he tacked on a two-point conversion reception to trim an Avenger lead that ballooned to 60-36 with 57 seconds remaining after Ford scored L.A.'s second rushing touchdown of the day from five yards out.
After a short week of preparation, the Avengers will play their third consecutive road game on Friday, March 26, at San Jose. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Net 2. The SaberCats, who beat the Avengers earlier this season, 61-55, currently lead the Western Division with a 5-1 record.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 21, 2004
- Big Day in Big D for Avengers - OSC Original by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
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