Avengers Scratched by Cats Again
by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
March 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(San Jose)- The final game of a three week road trip didn't end the way the Los Angeles Avengers had hoped. After winning the first two games, the Avengers suffered their first road loss of the season, 55-52, to San Jose Friday night before 13,172 at HP Pavilion.
It was the second loss of the year for LA to the first place Sabercats, who beat them earlier this season at Staples Center.
The Avengers had built a 31-21 halftime advantage but were unable to sustain it in the third quarter. Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani hadn't thrown an interception all year but was picked off by James Roe with 11:12 left in the in the third. Roe returned it for a touchdown and it gave San Jose a 35-31 lead.
LA fought back with a 15 yard touchdown pass from Graziani to Greg Hopkins to regain the lead at 45-42 early in the fourth period. After San Jose tied it with a field goal, they stopped the Avengers' Josh Jeffries on a fourth and one at the LA 18.
Sabercat quarterback Mark Grieb then found Fred Coleman over the middle. Coleman juked three defenders and danced to pay dirt for a 52-45 lead. It was lead they didn't relinquish as they beat the Avengers for the fifth consecutive time in San Jose.
Graziani completed 24 of 36 for 232 yards but the one interception hurt. He rushed for a touchdown with two seconds left on the clock to account for the final score.
The loss dropped the Avengers to 4-3 and 2-1 on the road trip. They return home April 3 to battle Austin in a Saturday night showdown. The Sabercats improved to 6-1 and are firmly in control of the Western Division.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 27, 2004
- Crush defeat Rattlers, 54-46 - Colorado Crush
- New Orleans VooDoo Defeat Carolina Cobras 48-31 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Cobras Snakebitten Late, Fall to VooDoo 48-31 - Carolina Cobras
- Preds Knock Off Vegas - Orlando Predators
- Philadelphia Soul place quarterback Nick Browder on injured reserve - Philadelphia Soul
- Avengers Scratched by Cats Again - OSC Original by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
- Avengers Scratched by Cats Again - OSC Original by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
- Rampage outscored 18-7 in fourth quarter, lose 45-42 to Indiana - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush activates Williams and Browning, places Brown on IR - Chicago Rush
- Sunday's Rush game moved to WCKG, 105.9 FM - Chicago Rush
- SaberCats Beat Avengers 55-52 - San Jose SaberCats
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