Avengers Winners in Vegas
by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
Published on February 16, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators
(Las Vegas)- Last week the Los Angeles Avengers did it with defense. This week they did it the old fashioned Arena Football League way. The Avengers outscored, out gunned and eventually outlasted the Las Vegas Gladiators 62-55 Saturday before 7,862 at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Joe Douglass came up with his first reception as an Avenger but what a reception it was. He hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Tony Graziani with 1:53 remaining in the contest to give LA a 62-55 lead and the victory when the Avengers stopped the Gladiators at the three yard line on the following possession.
Kevin Ingram had a banner day for the Avengers on both sides of the ball. He batted away a Clint Dolezel pass with one second left to preserve the win. Dolezel's pass to the back of the end zone was intended for Terrill Shaw who had already caught four touchdown passes on the day. But Ingram dove along the goal line and broke it up.
Offensively Ingram caught two touchdown passes and rushed for another. He also returned a kick off 38 yards to set up third quarter touchdown.
The Avengers led 35-34 at halftime in a back and forth first half. The last three minutes of the half consisted of unsuccessful onside kick off attempts that resulted in three short touchdowns. LA's Josh Jeffries blocked an extra point attempt to give the Avengers the scant one point lead at the break.
Ingram had the big kickoff return to open the second half to give the Avengers great field position. Graziani then connected with Greg Hopkins on a 20-yard scoring strike for a 42-34 advantage. Quick strikes were the Avengers recipe for success the entire game. All eight of LA's scoring drives lasted no more than four plays.
Las Vegas assumed a 55-48 lead in the fourth quarter when Dolezel fired his eighth touchdown pass of the contest, but the Avengers bounced right back. This time their onside kick was successful as Remy Hamilton squibbed a bouncer along the right sideline that Russell Shaw corralled at the Avenger 17 yard line.
Three plays later Graziani found Douglass for the winning score. Graziani completed 23 of 30 for 265 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. Ingram finished with 180 all purpose yards in support of Graziani.
The Avengers had to have a good offensive day to hold off Vegas. Gladiators quarterback Dolezel threw for 312 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 24 of 32. LA picked off four passes last week but Dolezel did not throw an interception.
The Avengers improved to 2-0 after two road games and will be home Sunday to host San Jose. The Gladiators dropped to 0-2.
LA - 14 21 10 17 - 62 LV - 14 20 14 7 - 55
Passing: LA- Graziani 23-30-265-7-0. LV- Dolezel 24-32-312- 8-0.
Total Yards: LA- 261, LV- 315.
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