Avengers Turn it over to Rampage, 66-41
by Tim Peterson
Published on February 12, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Grand Rapids, MI.)- The Los Angeles Avengers fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter, turned the ball over four times and allowed six touchdown passes Sunday in Grand Rapids. Add it all up and it equals 66-41 loss to the Rampage at Van Andel Arena.
Grand Rapids jumped on LA early and often scoring three touchdowns in the first period. Chad Salisbury hit Timon Marshall for a 37 yard score to get the ball rolling. Two minutes later, he fired a seven yard strike to Aaron Bailey.
A turnover set up the Rampage at the three yard line on their next possession and Chris Ryan responded with a three yard plunge with 7:18 left in the first quarter. The fans were still settling into their seats and it was 21-0.
The Avengers got off the floor in the second quarter as Brain Mann heated up. He hooked up with his favorite target, Kevin Ingram, for touchdown passes of 31 and three yards as LA tried desperately to get back in the game.
But Salisbury was just getting warmed up. He found Anthony Hines for a nine yard scoring strike and connected with Bailey again for a six yard TD and the Rampage took a comfortable 35-17 lead into the break.
Grand Rapids increased its lead to 42-20 entering the final period. Salisbury, who finished the day 16 of 27 for 177 yards and six touchdowns, threw for another touchdown in the fourth. He hit Marshall for 13 yards for a 49-27 advantage.
The Avengers cut it to 49-41 on touchdown passes of four and seven yards from Mann to Greg Hopkins. Then two big plays sealed LA's fate.
First Jerome Riley recovered a Grand Rapids kick off the net and ran four yards into the end zone for a 59-41 Rampage lead. On the next series, Hines stepped in front of a Mann pass and returned it 28 yards into the end zone and the Avengers were cooked.
Mann completed 26 of 39 passes for 291 yards and five scores. The Avengers out gained Grand Rapids 310 to 188, but as is usually the case, the winner of the turnover battle is the winner of the game. The Rampage turned the ball over just once compared to four (two fumbles, two interceptions) for the Avengers.
LA dropped to 1-2 with the loss while Grand Rapids picked up its first win of the season after opening with two losses.
LA 0 17 3 21 41
GR 21 14 7 24 66
Passing: LA - Mann 26-38-291-5-1, Ryan Van Dyke 3-6-12-0-1.
GR- Salisbury 16-27-177-6-1.
Total Yards: LA- 310, GR- 188.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 12, 2006
- Rattlers Lose Third-straight, 58-50 - Arizona Rattlers
- SaberCats drop Rattlers 58-50 for first win of season - San Jose SaberCats
- Avengers Turn it over to Rampage, 66-41 - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Second half rally lifts Colorado past Las Vegas 65-55 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rush earns first victory - Chicago Rush
- Rampage beat Avengers 66-41 - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush tops Kats in OT - Nashville Kats
- Brigade lose home opener in front of capacity crowd - Kansas City Brigade
- Dramatic win moves Wranglers to 3-0 - Austin Wranglers
- Blaze fall to Dragons despite scoring 81 points - Utah Blaze
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