Avengers Fend off the Gladiators
by Tim Peterson
May 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Los Angeles)- Tony Graziani threw six touchdown passes and LA scored three times in the final quarter as the Avengers held off the LasVegas Gladiators 54-51 Saturday night before 14, 581 at Staples Center.
LA withstood a 326-yard, six touchdown performance by Las Vegas quarterback Clint Dolezel to get the win. Both teams exchanged scores in the fourth period as the Gladiators also found the end zone three times. But Chris Jackson recovered an onside kick with 12 seconds left on the clock and LA escaped with the three point victory.
Graziani hit Kevin Ingram on a six- yard scoring strike in the first period and hooked up with Jackson for a 32-yard touchdown in the second as the Avengers took a 20-17 lead into the break.
In the third quarter, Graziani continued to air it out. First he connected with Ingram from six yards out to keep LA ahead. Later he lofted a strike to speedster Henry Douglas who hauled in the pass and sprinted into the end zone for a five-yard score.
Graziani snuck in from a yard out late in the fourth but Dolezel came right back with a 32-yard scoring toss to Coco Blalock to cut the lead to 54-51. Jackson fell on the ensuing onside kick to seal it.
Ingram had a huge day offensively for the Avengers, catching three touchdown passes and accumulating 148 all purpose yards.
Dolezel's big day was thanks in large part to Blalock who had 15 receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
Graziani needs six touchdown passes next to week to become only the second player in Arena Football League History to throw 100 TD passes.
LA improved to 9-6 with the win and still needs some help to clinch a playoff berth. They also could use a win in the season finale against Orlando next Sunday at home.
It wasn't in the cards for Las Vegas this year as they fell to 7-8 with the loss and out of playoff contention.
LV 10 7 13 21 - 51 LA 7 13 13 21 - 54
Passing: LV- Dolezel 32-50-326-6-0, LA- Graziani 17-24-229-6-0
Total Yards: LV- 356, LA- 246.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 23, 2004
- Avengers Fend off the Gladiators - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Dragons Stopped in Orlando - New York Dragons
- Rush clinches Central Division title with 53-37 win - Chicago Rush
- Crush Stun Fury 45-42 - Detroit Fury
- Firebirds Can't Keep up with Rush, fall 53-37 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Storm win fifth straight, pull into tie for eighth playoff seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Soul fall to SaberCats, 48-36 - Philadelphia Soul
- Gladiators fall short against Avengers, 54-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers outlast Desperados in Texas shootout - Columbus Destroyers
- SaberCats Win Over Soul, 48-36 - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Drop Sixth Consecutive Game - Dallas Desperados
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