Avengers wilt under Arizona heat
by Tim Peterson
June 7, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Phoenix, Az.)- The Avengers committed three turnovers that led to 17 points and were eliminated from the playoffs 59-42 by the Arizona Rattlers Sunday before 11,035 at America West Arena.
For LA it was their third consecutive playoff loss with the last two coming at the hands of the Rattlers. The Avengers, who backed into the playoffs with a season ending loss as the eighth seed, were done in by mistakes and miscues.
Quarterback Tony Graziani tossed four touchdown passes but also threw a crucial interception late in the third quarter. Chris Jackson, Graziani's favorite target, also had a key turnover with a fumble in the second quarter.
The score was tied at 14 after one when Rattler quarterback Sherdrick Bonner hit Arshawante Bryant on a three yard touchdown pass for a 21-14 lead. On the next possession, Jackson coughed up the ball and Arizona took advantage when Nelson Garner booted an 18-yard field goal for a ten point lead.
The Avengers came back with a five yard scoring strike from Graziani to Jackson. Jackson then hauled in a pass for the two point reception and the LA went into the break down 24-20.
The key moment in the game came in the third quarter. The Rattlers had already extended the lead to 38-27 when Kelvin Hunter picked off a Graziani pass to halt an LA drive. Arizona cashed in early in the fourth when Bo Kelly bulled in from the two for a 45-27 advantage.
Although the Avengers made it interesting, the lead was too much to overcome. After a 45- yard pass play from Graziani to Kevin Ingram cut the lead to 45-34, Damien Wheeler intercepted Bonner to set up another score. Kevin Clemens then bulled in from ten yards out to slice the Arizona margin to three.
Bonner found Tom Pace open for an 11-yard touchdown to put the Rattlers back up by ten, and then the LA's turnover bug reared its ugly head again. Henry Douglas caught a short pass with 17 seconds remaining but instead of going out of bounds to stop the clock, he fumbled the ball away while trying to stretch another yard.
Arizona drove a nail in the coffin three plays later when Bonner fired a strike to Bryant in the end zone for a 35-yard score.
Bonner finished the day 26 of 33 for 227 yards and six touchdowns. Graziani was 25 for 37 for 297 yards and four scores. He threw 99 touchdowns during the regular season and is a leading candidate for the MVP award.
For Arizona it was their ninth straight victory as they advance in the playoffs. For the Avengers it is another off season to think about what could have been.
LA 14 6 7 15 - 42 AZ 14 10 13 21 - 59
Passing: LA- Graziani 25-37-297-4-1, AZ- Bonner 26-33- 227-6-1.
Total Yards: LA- 305, AZ- 227.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 7, 2004
- Orlando's Jay Taylor named AFL's Kicker of the Year - AFL I
- Sedrick Robinson named AFL's Offensive Player of the Month - Columbus Destroyers
- Avengers wilt under Arizona heat - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Avengers wilt under Arizona heat - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
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