Avengers Defense Makes Final Statement
by Tim Peterson
May 14, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Los Angeles) - In a sport where the offense usually gets the headlines, it was the defense that stole the show in the Avengers 44-27 win over Las Vegas Saturday night in the season finale before 11,182 at Staples Center.
The Avengers held Las Vegas to just four touchdowns in the entire game, almost unheard of in Arena football. Even more shocking was that they limited the Gladiators to six points in the second half.
The LA defense forced Las Vegas (5-11) into four turnovers including two fumbles that the Avengers turned into touchdowns. In the third quarter Silas Demary sacked Gladiator quarterback Jason Fife and Sean McNamara scooped it up in the end zone to give the Avengers a 34-21 lead.
With 10:19 left in the contest. Fife was sacked and Lonnie Ford, who was applying pressure, fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the Avenges final score of the game.
"We were able to get pressure on Fife and that was the big difference in the game," said Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss. "In the first half we did a very poor job of defending the run and tackling but we came out after halftime and did a great job in the second half."
The Avengers were down 21-10 late in the first half when Remy Hamilton lined up for a 42 yard field goal attempt. The kick hit the net and bounced right into the arms of the Avengers' Trevor Hutton at the one who returned it into the end zone for the score.
Then Damen Wheeler intercepted a Fife pass and brought it back to the LA 19. Hamilton then booted a 46 yard field goal as time expired in the first half to get the Avengers within one at 21-20.
Sonny Cumbie hit Greg Hopkins on a 14 yard touchdown pass on the LA's first drive in the third quarter.
Joe Douglas hauled in a 12 yard pass form Fife to cut the Avengers lead to 34-27 but that was the last time the Gladiators saw the end zone all night.
A 25 yard field goal by Hamilton and Ford's fumble recovery in the end zone capped the scoring.
"I was just playing hard, trying to make some plays," Ford said. "Winning these two games was important because next year we start off 2-0. It gives us confidence going into next year."
The Avengers finished the season winning their final two games at home and ended the year at 5-11. Although he missed the playoffs for the first time as the Avenger coach, Hodgkiss was pleased with the team's recent play. "I told the team I personally appreciated the way they stuck through adversity and continued to play hard. These two win are going to do major things for us in the future," Hodgkiss added. "We ended on a positive note and that can only help us going into next season.
LV 7 14 6 0 27
LA 10 10 17 7 44
Passing: LV - Fife 21-38-164-1-2, LA- Cumbie 17-28-193-2-2.
Total Yards: LV -190, LA - 227.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2006
- Blaze travel to Arizona to start 2006 postseason - Utah Blaze
- Blaze sell out regular season finale - Utah Blaze
- San Jose's Grieb sets AFL single-season passing record - AFL I
- AFL wild card round set - AFL I
- Avengers Defense Makes Final Statement - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- SaberCats Defeat Columbus, 68-47, For Seventh Straight Win - San Jose SaberCats
- Las Vegas drops season finale 44-27 to Los Angeles - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers fall to SaberCats - Columbus Destroyers
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
