Avengers Rushed into Third Straight Defeat
by Tim Peterson
February 19, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Los Angeles) - The Turnover bug bit the Los Angeles Avengers again. This time they coughed it up three times, fell behind early and never recovered in a 65-46 loss to the Chicago Rush Saturday night before 12,554 at Staples Center. The loss was the third straight for the Avengers after winning the season opener. It was their first at home after losing the last two on the road.
"It's been an awful three weeks," said Avengers Coach Ed Hodgkiss. "Tonight wasn't any different than we have played the last two weeks. We're struggling offensively. I don't have the answers right now but hopefully we can get it figured out."
The Avengers turned the ball over on their first possession. Dennison Robinson picked off Brian Mann at the goal line and brought back out to the 11. That led to a 26 yard field goal by Dan Frantz and a 3-0 lead.
Later in the quarter Matt D'Orazio fired a 26 yard touchdown strike in the corner of the end zone to put Chicago up 10-3. Cornelius White made a circus catch just before crashing into the barrier in the back of the zone.
Mann was intercepted again on the Avengers third possession early in the third quarter. Jeremy Unertl stepped in front of a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to give the Rush a 17-3 lead.
D'Orazio also threw touchdown passes to Dejuan Alfonzo for eight yards and another one to White for eight in the second period. The Avengers countered with a seven yard pitch and catch for a score to Greg Hopkins. Mann also connected with Kevin Ingram for a 45 yard touchdown but LA still trailed 34-24 at halftime.
The Rush pulled away for good early in the third quarter. First Bob McMillen scored on six yard run to cap a 27 yard drive. On the next series Mann was sacked and the ball popped loose and John Moyer fell on the pigskin at the Avenger 15.
The Rush promptly capitalized when D'Orazio hit Alfonzo for 14 yards down to the one and McMillen bolted in from there to give Chicago what proved to be an insurmountable 48-24 advantage.
The three Avenger turnovers led directly to 17 points and it was the difference in the game.
"We cannot continue to play the way we're playing right now and expect to succeed," Hodgkiss said. "We're 1-3 which is unacceptable but we still have a chance to climb out of it."
Carlos Wright returned a kick off 55 yards for a touchdown later in the period as the Rush led 55-34 after three.
In the fourth, Tony Locke, who retuned last week from an injury, caught a four yard touchdown pass from Mann but the Avengers couldn't get any stops defensively.
"The rhythm just isn't what it should be right now. That will come with more repetitions" Locke said.
Sonny Cumbie, who just came of injured reserve, replaced Mann late in the game and Hodgkiss indicated he might get some more playing time in the future. Mann completed 17 of 21 for 274 yards and four touchdowns but he was hurt by the three interceptions.
"We're definitely taking a look at everybody at every position. We'll be looking at Sonny this week to see how he does," Hodgkiss said. "Until we start winning consistently the quarterback position is not settled."
"Whatever Coach does is fine as long as I'm working to get better," Cumbie said.
Chicago quarterback D'Orazio finished 20 of 26 for 251 yards and three scores and more importantly no interceptions. The Rush improved to 2-2 with the win.
One bright spot for the Avengers is they don't have to catch a plane anytime soon. LA will be home again next Saturday night to face the expansion Utah Blaze.
"Our backs are against the wall. That's how we're going into it," said Avengers receiver/defensive back Kevin Ingram. "We need to turn it around and put this one behind us."
CHI 10 24 21 10 65
LA 3 21 19 12 46
Passing: CHI- D'Orazio 20-26-251-3-0. LA- Mann 17-21-274-4-2, Cumbie 5-9-39-0-0.
Total Yards: CHI - 263, LA- 316.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 19, 2006
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- Wranglers only undefeated team in AFL - Austin Wranglers
- Avengers Rushed into Third Straight Defeat - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Rush gets blowout win in LA - Chicago Rush
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