LA Rattled by Arizona
by Tim Peterson - Mid Valley News
May 2, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Los Angeles)- The Los Angles Avengers had a second and goal at the three yard line with 14 seconds remaining in the game but were stopped short of the end zone on three consecutive plays as they fell to the Arizona Rattlers 42-38 Saturday night before 13,322 disappointed fans at Staples Center.
After quarterback Tony Graziani hit Greg Hopkins on a 5-yard pass play down to the three, the Avengers appeared to be poised for the victory. But after an incomplete pass to Chris Jackson, LA committed a costly holding penalty pushing them back to the 13. On the next play with three seconds left, Graziani's pass over the middle intended for Jackson was broken up by Kelvin Hunter and the Rattlers celebration began.
"A second and goal with ten seconds left and you have to score a touchdown to win it. That situation was ideal for us," said Avenger coach Ed Hodgkiss. "Arizona did a good job."
The game began with a rarity in Arena Football. The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. Arizona's possession ended on a missed field goal attempt and The Avengers were stopped short when a Graziani pass was batted in the air and then intercepted by Randy Gatewood.
The Rattlers broke the ice in the second quarter when Hunkie Cooper capped a nine play 47 yard drive with a one yard run. The Avengers came back with a 24-yard touchdown reception by Hopkins to get even.
Cooper scored again three minutes later by hauling in a 14-yard strike from Sherdrick Bonner. The Avengers responded with a Joe Douglass one yard run but Remy Hamilton missed the extra point and Arizona led 14-13.
After Arizona found the end zone again on a Bonner to Orshawante Bryant touchdown pass, Hamilton booted a 25-yard field goal and trailed 21-16 at the break.
The teams traded scores in the third quarter and on the first possession of the fourth, the Avengers grabbed their first lead of the contest. Graziani hooked up with Kevin Ingram on a short pass over the middle. Ingram did the rest by evading two tacklers and bulling over another and into the end zone. Hopkins caught a Graziani bullet in the corner for a two point conversion and LA had a 31-28 lead.
Bonner, who was 22 for 29 for 270 yards and four touchdowns, put his troops up again with a 25-yard pass to Tom Pace but Jackson reeled in an eight-yard toss from Graziani to put LA back on top.
Bonner finished a 48-yard march himself with a one yard run with 2:47 left and the Rattlers seized the lead for good. LA had one final shot but the Avengers were unable to capitalize.
"We had a multitude of problems," said Hodgkiss. "We had dropped balls, holding calls, inopportune penalties, and when you do those things against a team like Arizona you're not going to win the ball game."
The Rattlers are usually a high octane offense like LA but were happy with their defensive play. "It's especially great to win it on defense against probably the most explosive offense in the league," said Arizona coach Danny White. "We played a lot of zone and we didn't want them to score quickly. They're a team that usually scores in one or two plays so we figured if we make them run seven plays we had a chance of stopping them."
For Bonner, a local boy who hails from Azusa High School and Cal State Northridge, the win was big. "It's definitely big to get a division win. Earlier in the year these guys put it to us and we came out here and tried to play mistake free," Bonner said. "My motivation was coming home to see my family. It's pretty awesome to have your family here. That's what makes it special to come back to LA," Bonner added.
Arizona 0 21 7 14 - 42 Los Angeles 0 16 7 15 - 38
Passing: A- Bonner 22-29-270-4-0. LA- Graziani 28-44-322-3-1.
Total Yards: A- 267, LA- 321.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 2, 2004
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