Avengers Game Notes
June 21, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Game: Utah Blaze at Los Angeles Avengers
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2007
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: STAPLES Center (17,942)
Television: FSN Prime Ticket (Bill Macdonald, John Jackson, Lindsay Soto)
Radio: AM 570 KLAC (Andrew Siciliano, Troy West, Antoine Ibrahim)
Spanish Radio: ESPN Deportes 1330 AM (Edu Villamar, Mario Amaya)
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Channel 126)
Internet Radio: www.xtrasportsradio.com
Line: Los Angeles by 1 (over/under 119)
Series Record: Utah leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Utah 76, Los Angeles 63; April 13, 2007,
EnergySolutions Arena
Officials: Bill LeMonnier (R), Mike Delaney (U), Allen Baynes (HL), Art Lucky (LJ), Billy Beckett (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (sixth season, 52-41)
Utah -- Danny White (15th season, 135-72)
THE AVENGERS:
Los Angeles has won three games in a row and six of its last eight to improve to 9-6 and clinch a first-round home game in the upcoming 2007 AFL Playoffs. But before the postseason starts, the Avengers will close out the regular season against the Utah Blaze (7-8) at STAPLES Center on Saturday, June 23. The Avengers have locked up the No. 4-seed in the American Conference and will host the No. 5-seed on Monday, July 2, at STAPLES Center. L.A. has qualified for the postseason in five of the six years that Ed Hodgkiss has been the team's head coach. The Avengers have played extremely well at home this year. Only four of L.A.'s 22 turnovers this season have come at STAPLES Center, where the team has beaten Southern Division champion Georgia and Central Division leading Chicago in recent weeks. Second-year quarterback Sonny Cumbie is 363-of-583 (62.3 percent) for 4,187 yards and 80 touchdowns, and has thrown just nine interceptions in 2007. Cumbie welcomed back one of his primary targets, slot receiver Lenzie Jackson, two weeks ago in the 55- 52 victory at Arizona. Jackson, who had missed the previous five games due to a hand injury, responded with a game-high 12 receptions for 89 yards. Split end Kevin Ingram (leads the team in scoring and all-purpose yards), who has missed the last five games due to a hand injury as well, is eligible to be activated off the injured reserve list. Flanker Rob Turner and rookie LaShaun Ward combined to catch 18 passes for 202 yards and five touchdowns in last week's 60-42 victory over Las Vegas. Although he spends most of his time on defense, WR/LB Robert Quiroga has caught 10 TD passes this season. Another one of L.A.'s vital offensive weapons is veteran fullback Lonnie Ford, who has rushed for 192 yards and 19 touchdowns (No. 2 in the AFL) in 2007. The Avengers have been impressive on defense, holding four opponents to 40 or less points this season. Defensive end Silas Demary spearheads a formidable front that includes second-year men Jason Stewart and Reggie Rhodes. That trio has combined for 15.5 sacks, 13 batted down passes, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, two blocked kicks and one safety in 2007. In the defensive backfield, safety Damen Wheeler (five interceptions and 56 tackles) provides leadership to a group, which was struck by injuries in the middle of the season, forcing the key acquisitions of cornerbacks Eddie Canonico and Terrance Joseph.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS
2007 SCHEDULE (9-6)
Date Opponent Result Score
March 4 San Jose Loss 66-58
March 12 @ Orlando Win 44-37 (OT)
March 24 @ New Orleans Win 48-36
April 1 @ Chicago Loss 66-31
April 6 Arizona Win 64-45
April 13 @ Utah Loss 76-63
April 21 @ San Jose Loss 73-49
April 28 Grand Rapids Win 75-71
May 6 @ Las Vegas Win 59-37
May 12 Tampa Bay Loss 40-37
May 19 Georgia Win 57-51
May 26 @ Kansas City Loss 62-56
June 2 Chicago Win 50-47
June 11 @ Arizona Win 55-52
June 17 Las Vegas Win 60-42
Date Opponent Time (PT) Television
June 23 Utah 7:30 p.m. Prime
July 2 AFL Playoffs (Colo. or Utah) 7 p.m. ESPN2
AVENGER HEAD COACH: In his sixth season as the head coach of the Avengers, Ed Hodgkiss has compiled a record of 52-41, advanced to the AFL Playoffs four times and finished as the runner-up in the AFL "Coach of the Year" balloting twice (2003 and 2005). Last season, the Avengers slipped to 5-11, but developed quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who earned AFL All-Rookie honors. Under Hodgkiss' direction, the Avengers captured their first Western Division championship in 2005 and compiled a 10-6 record. In 2004, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game. In 2003, the Avengers won a franchise-best 11 games and earned a first-round playoff bye. In his first two seasons in Los Angeles, Hodgkiss directed the Avengers to a 19- 11 record. He is one of only five head coaches in AFL history who has won 21 or more of his first 32 games (the other four are Darren Arbet, John Gregory, Lary Kuharich and Tim Marcum). Hodgkiss became the head coach of the Avengers on Oct. 5, 2001, and signed a fiveyear contract extension shortly after a 2002 season that saw him adroitly pilot the team to an 8-6 mark and into the postseason for the first time in franchise history. In his first season as a head coach at any level, he instantly established the Avenger offense as one of the most feared in the AFL, scoring 52.2 points per game. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds' offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001) and was part of an ArenaBowl championship in 1999.
THE SERIES: This will be only the fourth meeting between the Avengers and the Blaze, who are in their second season in the AFL. All three of the previous meetings have been highscoring affairs won by Utah. Both of last season's meetings were decided by just two points and on the game's final play. Los Angeles and Utah have combined to score a total of 397 points in just three meetings (an average of 132.3 points per game). The Avengers have a long history of facing Blaze head coach Danny White. This will mark the 16th time that Los Angeles has faced off with White, who was previously the longtime head coach of the Arizona Rattlers. White had success versus Los Angeles while with the Rattlers, winning seven of 10 regular-season games and a pair of playoff contests. The Avengers have never beaten a Danny White-coached team at STAPLES Center. All three of L.A.'s victories over White were in Phoenix at the U.S. Airways Center (then America West Arena).
All-Time Utah vs. Los Angeles Series
Score Date Site
Blaze 76, Avengers 63 4-13-07 SLC, Utah
Blaze 63, Avengers 61 4-15-06 SLC, Utah
Blaze 68, Avengers 66 2-25-06 STAPLES
IN FINALES: The Avengers have won only two of their previous seven regular-season finales. Last season, L.A. closed with a 44-27 victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators. In 2003, prior to the first playoff game in franchise history, the Avengers wrapped up the regular season with a 46-41 victory over the Buffalo Destroyers. L.A. is 2-1 in regular-season finales played at home.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: The Avengers will host a firstround playoff game on Monday, July 2, at STAPLES Center. The game will kickoff at 7 p.m. (PT) and be televised on ESPN2. If Los Angeles beats Utah in the regular-season finale, the Avengers will host Colorado in the first round of the playoffs. If Utah beats L.A. AND Dallas beats Colorado on Monday night, the Avengers will host Utah in the first round. If Utah beats L.A. on Saturday night AND Colorado beats Dallas on Monday night, the Avengers will host Colorado. L.A. STORY: With their victory over the Las Vegas Gladiators last week, the Avengers improved to 9-6 on the season and are now one win shy of their third season with double-digit victories.
Avenger History
Season (head coach) Record
2000 (Stan Brock) 3-11
2001 (Stan Brock/Robert Lyles) 5-9
2002 (Ed Hodgkiss) 8-6
2003 (Ed Hodgkiss) 11-5
2004 (Ed Hodgkiss) 9-7
2005 (Ed Hodgkiss) 10-6
2006 (Ed Hodgkiss) 5-11
2007 (Ed Hodgkiss) 9-6
STREAKING: The Avengers have won four games in a row only twice in their history. In the middle of the 2003 season, L.A. won a franchise-record five consecutive games on its way to an 11-5 regular-season record. Toward the end of the 2005 season, the Avengers won four in a row on their way to capturing the Western Division title. L.A. has currently won three in a row. TURNOVERS TELL THE STORY: The Avengers have committed 22 turnovers this season (just seven in their nine victories and 15 in their six losses) and are currently No. 11 in the AFL in turnover margin at -1. All but four of L.A.'s turnovers have come on the road. This season, the Avengers have come up with 21 takeaways (11 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions).
2007 Los Angeles Avengers -
Breaking Down the Turnovers
Avenger turnovers in the nine wins 7
Avenger turnovers in the six losses 15
L.A. turnovers at home (seven games) 4
L.A. turnovers on the road (eight games) 18
41 PERCENT ROOKIE: Twelve of the 29 players that have played for L.A. this season are rookies. They are LB Jon Apgar, DB James Bethea, LB Michael Craven, WR Nichiren Flowers, OL Branden Hall, QB Tim Hicks, DB Rushen Jones, OL Matt McGhghy, DB Arnold Parker, LB Brandon Perkins, WR/LB Terrence Stubbs and WR/LB-DB LaShaun Ward. Ten of those players -- Bethea, Craven, Flowers, Hall, Jones, McGhghy, Parker, Perkins, Stubbs and Ward -- have started in at least one game this year. Last season, 11 of the 32 players who suited up for the Avengers experienced their first taste of AFL action in 2006 (including four players that are still with the club -- QB Sonny Cumbie, WR/LB Robert Quiroga, DL Reggie Rhodes and DL Jason Stewart).
THE TEXAS GUNSLINGER: In his sophomore season, Avenger quarterback Sonny Cumbie has completed 363-of-583 (62.3 percent) for 4,187 yards and 80 touchdowns. He has thrown only nine interceptions this season (just two in the first six games of 2007). Cumbie currently leads the league in third-down passing efficiency (120.4), completing 51-of-87 (58.6 percent) for 624 yards and 19 touchdowns, with no interceptions. At Kansas City on May 26, Cumbie set a new team record with 51 pass attempts. On May 6, Cumbie was 24-of-30 for 293 yards and six touchdowns at Las Vegas. His completion percentage of 80.0 in that contest set a new Avenger single-game record, breaking the mark of 79.4 percent (27-of-34) that he established the previous week in a 75-71 win over the Grand Rapids Rampage (Tony Graziani set the previous record, completing 78.6 percent in a game against Orlando in 2004). In that game against the Rampage on April 28, Cumbie threw for 361 yards, the second-best passing total in Avenger history -- only Todd Marinovich has thrown for more yards in a single game for Los Angeles (469, at Houston in 2000). At Orlando on March 12, 2007, Cumbie set another team record with 32 completions, breaking the old mark of 31 established by John Kaleo in 2005. Cumbie, who was a finalist for the AFL's 2006 "Rookie of the Year" award, started the last 12 games of the 2006 season and was 268-of-450 (59.6 percent) for 3,241 yards and 59 TDs, with only 10 INTs. He threw 17 touchdown passes in his first three starts, the most by any quarterback in Avenger history, beating the previous mark set by Graziani, who was in his second AFL season when he tossed 16 in his first three starts for Los Angeles. In his AFL starting debut on Feb. 25, 2006, Cumbie threw seven touchdown passes (first among all quarterbacks making their first Avenger start).
Avenger Record Book -
Completion Percentage in a Single Game
1. Sonny Cumbie (at Las Vegas, 2007) 80.0
2. Sonny Cumbie (vs. G.R., 2007) 79.4
3. Tony Graziani (vs. Orlando, 2004) 78.6
Avenger Record Book -
Completions in a Single Game
1. Sonny Cumbie (at Orlando, 2007) 32
2t. Sonny Cumbie (at Arizona, 2007) 31
2t. John Kaleo (at Colorado, 2005) 31
4. Sonny Cumbie (vs. Utah, 2006) * 29
5t. Sonny Cumbie (at New Orl., 2007) 28
5t. Tony Graziani (vs. Arizona, 2004) 28
5t. Tony Graziani (at Dallas, 2003) 28
* AFL rookie season
Avenger Record Book -
Passing Yards in a Single Game
1. Todd Marinovich (at Houston, 2000) * 469
2. Sonny Cumbie (vs. G.R., 2007) 361
3. Tony Graziani (vs. Detroit, 2004) 359
4. Tony Graziani (at New York, 2003) 355
5. Tony Graziani (at Georgia, 2002) 352
6. Sonny Cumbie (at San Jose, 2006) * 348
7. Tony Graziani (vs. San Jose, 2003) 345
8. Sonny Cumbie (at Orlando, 2007) 340
9. Sonny Cumbie (at Utah, 2006) * 337
10. Tony Graziani (vs. Austin, 2004) 332
* AFL rookie season
PASSING HIS WAY TO THE TOP: Avenger quarterback Sonny Cumbie needs just 104 yards through the air in the regular-season finale to break Tony Graziani's team record for passing yards in a single season (4,290 in 2003). Cumbie is averaging 279.1 passing yards per game this season. Last week, he passed for 291 yards against Las Vegas to move into the No. 3 slot on L.A.'s all-time chart. Last year, Cumbie threw for 3,241 yards, playing in only 13 games.
Avenger Record Book -
Passing Yards in a Season
1. Tony Graziani (2003) 4,290
2. Tony Graziani (2004) 4,254
3. Sonny Cumbie (2007 - 15 games) 4,187
4. John Kaleo (2005) 3,935
5. Tony Graziani (2002) 3,568
NEW ARENA QB RATING: The debate has gone on for years in the AFL -- "Does the statistical passer rating formula used for the outdoor/stadium-played game really translate to AFL quarterbacks?" Since scoring touchdowns, not turning the ball over and completion percentage dictates whether you win or lose in the AFL, stats guru Tom Goodhines decided to come up with a new formula that puts more weight on "TD-INT ratio" and completion percentage, with no emphasis on yardage.
ARENA QB RATING FORMULA: Multiply "TD percentage" (TD passes divided by TD passes + INT) by two and add the completion percentage and divide it all by three. Avenger QB Sonny Cumbie currently ranks in at No. 7, mainly due to the strength of his "TD-to-INT ratio" of 80- to-9 (89.9 percent). Last season, he finished at No. 6 and was the only rookie in the Top 10 (there are no rookies in the Top 10 [minimum 350 attempts] in 2007).
2007 Arena Football Quarterback Rating
Rating Comp. Pct. TD INT
1. Greisen (Georgia) 85.5 74.6 111 11
2. Dolezel (Dallas) 84.6 70.5 99 9
3. Philyaw (K.C.) 83.5 70.2 82 9
4. Germaine (Utah) 83.2 69.1 102 11
5. Grieb (San Jose) 82.6 71.0 99 13
6. D'Orazio (Chicago) 82.1 69.1 78 10
7t. Cumbie (L.A.) 80.7 62.3 80 9
7t. Stafford (Orlando) 80.7 64.6 71 9
9. Bonner (Arizona) 78.8 63.5 83 13
10. Kelly (New Orleans) 77.1 66.7 42 9
INTERCEPTION-FREE STREAKS: Within a span of six games last season, Avenger QB Sonny Cumbie broke Tony Graziani's team record for attempts without an interception, passing 212 times between picks (Graziani set the previous Avenger record at 210 in 2004). During that hot streak, Cumbie tossed 28 TD passes. He opened the 2007 season by throwing 141 passes without an interception.
Avenger Record Book -
Consecutive Passes without an Interception
1. Sonny Cumbie, 2006 (span of 6 games) 212
2. Tony Graziani, 2004 (span of 7 games) 210
3. Tony Graziani, 2003 (span of 7 games) 185
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 21, 2007
- Soul Enter Playoffs on High Note - Philadelphia Soul
- The Outside Rush - Chicago Rush
- Quick Hitters - AFL I
- Avengers Game Notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Rush Selects National Anthem Winner - Chicago Rush
- Attendance Hits All-time High - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
