Los Angeles Avengers game notes
February 7, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Game: Los Angeles Avengers at Austin Wranglers
Date: Friday, February 11, 2005
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: Austin, Texas
Arena: Frank Erwin Center (14,866)
Television: FSN West (Kevin Eschenfelder, Gary Reasons)
Radio: The Fabulous 690-AM (Larry Kahn, Troy West)
Spanish Radio: KWKW 1330-AM (Edu Villamar, Mario Amaya)
Satellite Radio: SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Channel 181)
Line: TBA
Series Record: Los Angeles leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Los Angeles 81, Austin 70 -- April 3, 2004, STAPLES Center
Officials: Riley Johnson (R), Rick Podraza (U), Julian Mapp (HL), Paul Engelberts (LJ), Bud McCleskey (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (fourth season, 29-19)
Austin -- Skip Foster (second season, 8-10)
2005 LOS ANGELES AVENGERS: Gunning for their fourth consecutive trip to the AFL Playoffs, the Avengers have a decidedly different look to them in 2005. On offense, head coach Ed Hodgkiss is working with a new quarterback. AFL veteran John Kaleo, who earned an ArenaBowl championship ring in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Storm, starts and is backed up by Brian Mann as the team looks to replace "All-Arena" QB Tony Graziani, who signed a free agent contract with Philadelphia during the offseason. Leading the way for the receivers are "All-Arena" WR/DB Kevin Ingram and Greg Hopkins, who is one of the best WR/LBs in league history and the 2002 AFL "Ironman of the Year." Ingram is L.A.'s top returning player in terms of receptions, receiving yardage, kickoff returns, missed field goal returns, all-purpose yardage, touchdowns, tackles and was tied for the team lead in interceptions. Over the course of the previous five seasons, Hopkins has caught 466 passes for 5,633 yards and 116 touchdowns. He has also returned nine INTs for scores in his illustrious AFL career. Second-year man Brian Sump, who caught two TD passes in the season opener, and newcomer Lance Young back-up Ingram and Hopkins, respectively. At the offensive specialist spot, the Avengers are looking for someone to fill the shoes of Chris Jackson, who signed a free agent contract with Grand Rapids during the offseason. In the first two games of the season, the Avengers went with Jerome Riley at that spot. Khori Ivy, who is currently on the injured reserve list (knee), could be added to the mix shortly. Los Angeles has perhaps the AFL's best pair of young FB/LBs in Lonnie Ford and Josh Jeffries, who scored a pair of rushing TDs in the Avengers' 46-41 victory over Georgia last week. Seemingly perfectly suited for the rigorous nature of the multi-faceted position, Ford and Jeffries excel on both sides of the football. At the OL/DL spots, Al Lucas, Silas Demary, Sean McNamara (currently on IR) and free agent signee Fred Ray (currently on IR) provide veteran stability. Lucas, Demary and McNamara combined for seven sacks last season. First-year linemen Tony Wragge, Richard Seals, Luis Almanzar, Jerome Stevens and Bernard Riley have also made an impact up front. However, the biggest new addition for L.A. could be defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt, who dramatically turned around the fortunes of the Indiana Firebirds last year after being named the head coach five games into the 2004 season. With Wilpolt overseeing a defense led by Lucas, Ford, Jeffries, Hopkins, Ingram and rookie defensive specialists Antuan Simmons (two INTs in the season opener) and Jermaine Smith, the Avengers have been more difficult to score against ... and could be even tougher in that regard when third-year DS Damen Wheeler returns from his current stay on the IR (hamstring). The Avengers are rock-solid at kicker with the return of Remy Hamilton, one of the AFL's all-time greats. Not only does he rank third in league history in scoring by kickers with 900 points, he also has a variety of onside kicks and is a sure-handed tackler.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (1-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 30 @ Las Vegas Loss 46-37
Feb. 4 Georgia Win 46-41
Rest of Season
Opponent Time (PST)
Television
Feb. 11 @ Austin 5:30 FSN West
Feb. 20 San Jose 3 p.m. NBC
Feb. 27 @ Colorado Noon NBC
Mar. 6 @ Arizona 5 p.m.
Mar. 18 Dallas 7:30
Mar. 26 Tampa Bay 7:30 FSN West
April 3 @ Orlando 9 a.m. NBC
April 10 New York Noon FSN West
April 17 @ Nashville 10 a.m. NBC
April 23 Chicago 7:30 FSN West
April 30 Arizona 7:30
May 7 @ San Jose 7:30 FSN West
May 14 Las Vegas 7:30 FSN West
May 21 @ Grand Rapids 4:30 FSN West
THE HEAD COACH: One of the brightest offensive masterminds in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Avengers. In his three previous seasons, he compiled a record of 28-18 and advanced to the AFL Playoffs each year. In his first two seasons at the helm, he directed the Avengers to a 19-11 record. No head coach in league history has won more games in his first two seasons than Hodgkiss. Last season, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game. Under Hodgkiss' direction, three major team records were broken as QB Tony Graziani threw 99 touchdown passes and OS Chris Jackson caught 125 passes for 1,803 yards. In 2003, the Avengers won a franchise-best 11 games and earned a first-round playoffs bye. Hodgkiss, who was the runner-up for the 2003 AFL "Coach of the Year" award, oversaw the league's most efficient offense, which scored 122 touchdowns (most in the AFL) on only 619 total plays (least in the AFL). Particularly lethal through the air, the 2003 Avengers averaged a league-leading 13.8 yards per reception and Jackson tied an AFL record with 46 TD receptions, earning him the league's "Offensive Player of the Year" award. Hodgkiss became the head coach of the Avengers on Oct. 5, 2001, and signed a five-year contract extension shortly after a 2002 season that saw him adroitly pilot the team to an 8-6 mark and into the postseason for the first time in franchise history. In his first season as a head coach at any level, he instantly established the Avenger offense as one of the most feared in the AFL, scoring an average of 52.2 points per game. In addition, WR/LB Greg Hopkins took home the AFL's "Ironman of the Year" award that goes to the league's top two-way player. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds' offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001).
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
Head coach Ed Hodgkiss on last week's victory over Georgia: "We played really hard, showed that we were able to come back and got to show some of our younger players what Arena Football is all about. The defense played well and we were fortunate to get a bounce on special, as opposed to the week before when we had a couple bounces go the other way on us. The offense played better, but we still have a ways to go to get to where we want to be. We played better on special teams and didn't turn the ball over as much in game two and that was all the difference."
Hodgkiss on the Austin Wranglers: "Austin's got a great pass rush with Tom Briggs and Bryan Henderson, and a physical secondary with Cedric Walker. And then you've got Charlie Davidson, who is one of the better two-way players in this league. So, they are a tough team. They'll be hungry for a win back at their place and it will be a difficult atmosphere to go into."
Avenger QB John Kaleo on playing his former team: "It's going to feel a little strange. They really made that arena feel like home to me, and we had a winning record and a lot of good games there. It'll be strange playing against some good friends and coaches that I really respect, but I've got to think of it not as a homecoming, but as a game ... and a game we've got to win."
THE SERIES: Los Angeles won the only previous meeting between the two teams, outscoring Austin, 81-70, last season (April 3) at STAPLES Center.
THE HOMECOMING: Avenger quarterback John Kaleo will be returning to his old stomping grounds on Friday. He was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Austin Wranglers on Nov. 2, 2004. Kaleo quarterbacked the Wranglers to an 8-8 record last season in their inaugural campaign. He was 352-of-565 for 4,020 yards and 80 touchdowns (with only 11 interceptions) for the Wranglers in 2004. Kaleo played against the Avengers last season, passing for 387 yards and seven scores, in an 81-70 loss at STAPLES Center. Prior to his year in Austin, he played four seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm, leading them to the ArenaBowl championship in 2003. Kaleo signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Wranglers on Oct. 22, 2003, only four months after the Storm won ArenaBowl XVII. The Avengers are the ninth team Kaleo has played for in his 12 seasons in the AFL. He ranks among the all-time greats in league history with 26,490 passing yards (No. 5 on the AFL career chart), 432 touchdown passes (No. 5) and 2,197 completions (No. 5). Kaleo has also rushed for 44 scores in his AFL career (No. 11).
THE NEXT GAME: The Avengers will return home to face the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats on Sunday, Feb. 20, at STAPLES Center. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be televised on KNBC Channel 4. Tickets are going fast, but still available at all Ticketmaster outlets and by calling (213) 480-3232.
YOUNG GUNS: Ten of the 20 players who have seen action for the Avengers this year (OL/DLs Luis Almanzar, Richard Seals, Jerome Stevens, Tony Wragge and Bernard Riley, DSs Antuan Simmons and Jermaine Smith, FB/LB Michale Spicer, WR/DB Brian Sump and WR/LB Lance Young), have experienced their first taste of AFL action this season. Two other players participated in the season opener at Las Vegas with just one previous season of AFL experience under their belt (FB/LB Josh Jeffries and OS Jerome Riley). In their most recent game (a 46-41 victory over Georgia), 12 of the 20 players that the Avengers suited up had less than two seasons of AFL experience.
QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE: 143 of L.A.'s 251 offensive touchdowns over the course of the last three seasons have been scored on "drives" of three plays or less. In fact, 42 of them are one-play "drives." Last season, opposing defenses made it tougher for L.A. to score quickly, as the Avengers were able to get in the end zone in three plays or less on just 48.7 percent of their touchdown drives. However, the Avengers just missed that qualification 21 times last season, scoring a touchdown on their fourth play.
Avenger Touchdown Drives (2003-05)
Total TD
Drives Quick Strikes (percent) 1 Play Scores
2003 124 81 (65.3 %) 25
2004 117 57 (48.7 %) 18
2005 10 5 (50.0 %) 1
Total 251 143 (57 %) 44
TOP BOSSES: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss is currently in eighth-place on the AFL's all-time winning percentage chart (regular season only, minimum 25 games, active coaches *). A victory on Friday would move him past John Hufnagel and into the seventh spot with a .612 winning percentage.
All-Time AFL Top Winning Percentages
Head Coaches Record Winning %
1. Tim Marcum * 168-54 .757
2. Perry Moss 75-28-1 .726
3. Darren Arbet * 66-26 .717
4. Danny White 139-64 .685
5. Jay Gruden * 47-27 .635
6. Pat Sperduto * 26-16 .619
7. John Hufnagel 17-11 .607
8. Ed Hodgkiss * 29-19 .604
9. Mike Dailey * 75-52 .591
10. John Gregory 66-48 .579
KEEPING IT CLOSE: Only five of the 19 losses that Ed Hodgkiss has suffered as the head coach of the Avengers have been by more than seven points. He is 29-19 at the helm of the Avengers.
AMONG THE ELITE: In his first two seasons as a head coach in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss placed his name among some of the game's all-time greats. The Avenger skipper nearly won more games in his first two seasons than any head coach in AFL history. His record after two seasons was 19-11. John Gregory won 19 games in his first two seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers (1995-96). Both Darren Arbet of the San Jose SaberCats (1999-2000) and Lary Kuharich of the Tampa Bay Storm (1992-93) won 18 games in their first two seasons in the league.
L.A. STORY: The Avengers had their most successful regular season in franchise history in 2003, winning 11 games. After combining for eight wins in the franchise's first two seasons, L.A. had its first winning season in 2002, under the direction of head coach Ed Hodgkiss. Building upon each season from 2000 to 2003, the Avengers were the only team in AFL history to post four consecutive years of improvement. Last year, Los Angeles slipped to 9-7.
Avenger History
Season (head coach)
Record
2000 (Stan Brock) 3-11
2001 (Stan Brock/Robert Lyles) 5-9
2002 (Ed Hodgkiss) 8-6 (playoffs 0-1)
2003 (Ed Hodgkiss) 11-5 (playoffs 0-1)
2004 (Ed Hodgkiss) 9-7 (playoffs 0-1)
2005 (Ed Hodgkiss) 1-1
SECRET IS SCORING 60: Dating back to last season, the Avengers are 5-0 when they scored 60 or more points. The team did not score more than 55 points in all seven of its losses in 2004 and its first defeat in the 2005 season opener at Las Vegas. The Avengers did manage to win two games last season without reaching the 60-point mark, but relied on defense in those contests -- shutting down Arizona, 51-32, and stopping Grand Rapids, 48-33.
AVENGER NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:
DS Antuan Simmons: A hard-hitting playmaker, Simmons had a spectacular AFL debut, intercepting two passes at Las Vegas. Then, in last week's win over Georgia, he recovered a fumble in the end zone for a key touchdown. He originally signed with the Avengers on Dec. 3, 2003, but did not join the team for the 2004 season, opting instead to train with the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers following the 2002 NFL Draft, performed well in preseason games, but was released in the final cut. A year later, Simmons went through the same routine with the 49ers. In between NFL training camps, he played in 10 games for the F.C. Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe, finishing with 44 tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception and a kickoff return for a touchdown. In an outstanding and inspirational five-year career at USC, Simmons had a nose for the ball and a knack for the big play, coming up with 208 tackles and six blocked kicks. He also had nine INTs and returned three of them for scores. As a senior in 2001, Simmons was USC's captain and college football's "comeback player of the year," battling back from an abdominal tumor that hospitalized him for six weeks, stripped him of 40 pounds and nearly took his life three times.
WR/DB Brian Sump: Technically not a newcomer, Sump was a rookie with the Avengers last year, but didn't see any game action and spent part of the season on the injured reserve list. This season, he has received a good deal of playing time, backing up "All-Arena" WR/DB Kevin Ingram. In his AFL debut at Las Vegas on Jan. 30, Sump caught a pair of touchdown passes. He is currently second on the team in receptions with eight for 53 yards and first in kickoff returns (four for 70 yards). Sump signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers on April 28, 2003. He performed well in training camp and played in three preseason games, returning six punts for 29 yards, but was released on Aug. 26, 2003, in one of the team's final roster reductions. Sump enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career at the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.), playing in 39 games and setting 23 school records.
OL/DL Luis Almanzar: A ferocious pass rusher who has participated in several NFL training camps, Almanzar was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Philadelphia Soul on Feb. 18, 2004. He got his first AFL sack in last Friday's win over the Georgia Force. Almanzar signed his first AFL contract on Nov. 21, 2001, coming to terms with the New Jersey Gladiators, for whom he never played. On Feb. 2, 2004, he was traded to the Soul by the Gladiators (who had been relocated to Las Vegas). In 2003, Almanzar played for the Frankfurt Galaxy and helped lead the team to a 35-16 World Bowl XI victory over the Rhein Fire.
OL/DL Tony Wragge: An NFL veteran with a background based on the offensive side of the ball, Wragge will be an AFL rookie this season. He spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. After signing with the team as a free agent following the 2002 NFL Draft, Wragge played in three games during his rookie year, starting one game at right guard. He spent most of the 2003 season on the Cardinals' practice squad. Wragge remained with Arizona until being released on Sept. 5, 2004, just prior to the start of the regular season.
MAKING HIS POINTS: Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton currently ranks at No. 3 on the AFL's all-time scoring by kickers chart. He is only the fourth player in league history to boot over 100 field goals.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Scoring By Kickers
Mike Black (1993-2004) 1,253
Steve Videtich (Columbus) 1,116
Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 900
Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 770
Steve McLaughlin (1998-2004) 770
Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 742
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Field Goals Made
Mike Black (1993-2004) 178
Steve Videtich (Columbus) 143
Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 121
Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 109
Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 100
ROAD WARRIOR: In his last 15 games away from STAPLES Center, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has caught 59 passes for 724 yards and 22 TDs. Despite playing alongside a constellation of AFL stars for much of his career, Ingram's contributions have not gone unnoticed, winning the "Ironman of the Game" award in six road games over the course of the previous two seasons, including three of eight in 2004.
"IRONMAN" INGRAM: In his last 28 games for the Avengers, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has been selected as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" nine times. L.A. won each of those games, which includes five victories last season.
L.A. IN O.T.: The Avengers have an all-time record of 3-4 in overtime games. Strangely enough, Los Angeles is a perfect 3-0 when playing the extra period on the road and a winless 0-4 within the usually friendly confines of STAPLES Center. In three of the seven overtime games, the Avenger opponent has been the Arizona Rattlers (L.A. is 1-2 in those contests). In all three overtime victories, Los Angeles won by six points and held the opponent scoreless (twice getting the ball on downs and once benefiting from a missed field goal). The Avengers have played in at least one overtime game in each of their previous five seasons of play in the AFL (once in 2000, 2002 and 2004, and twice in 2001 and 2003).
Avengers in Overtime
Category
Record
All-time 3-4
At home 0-4
On the road 3-0
When getting the ball first 1-2
When getting the ball second 2-2
When scoring a touchdown 3-2
When scoring first 3-1
When scoring second 0-1
When a field goal is attempted 0-2
When missing a PAT kick 1-1
When getting a two-point conversion 0-0
When allowing a two-point conversion 0-1
HOPPING UP THE CHARTS: With 11 catches for 110 yards in the season opener at Las Vegas, Avenger WR/LB Greg Hopkins moved past Arizona's Hunkie Cooper into the sixth spot on the AFL's all-time receiving yards chart. He currently has gained 8,717 receiving yards in his 10-year career. Hopkins is one of only eight players in AFL history to have 8,000 or more receiving yards.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Receiving Yards
1. Barry Wagner (San Jose) 12,863
2. Eddie Brown (1994-2003) 12,730
3. Gary Compton (1992-2004) 10,247
4. George LaFrance (1988-2000) 9,004
5. Cory Fleming (Orlando) 8,732
6. Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles) 8,717
7. Hunkie Cooper (Arizona) 8,568
8. Calvin Schexnayder (San Jose) 8,311
9. Stevie Thomas (1991-2001) 7,906
10. Darryl Hammond (Nashville) 7,863
MILLENNIUM MEN: WR/LB Greg Hopkins ranks among the most productive pass catchers in the AFL since the dawning of the new millennium. Only former teammate Chris Jackson has had more receptions than Hopkins since the start of the 2000 season. The following chart lists the AFL's top receivers over the course of the last five seasons:
AFL's Top Pass Receivers â (2000-05)
Catches â Receiving Yards
2000-04 2005 Total
Chris Jackson
(Rampage) 480 â 6,795
(157 TDs) 17 - 166 497 â 6,961
(159 TDs)
Greg Hopkins
(Avengers) 466 â 5,633
(116 TDs) 17 - 152 483 â 5,785
(118 TDs)
Damian Harrell
(Crush) 457 â 6,724
(138 TDs) 15 â 210 472 â 6,934
(143 TDs)
Mike Horacek
(Dragons) 399 â 5,248
(121 TDs) 5 - 97 404 â 5,345
(124 TDs)
THE INTERCEPTION KINGS: In addition to being the AFL's 2002 "Ironman of the Year," WR/LB Greg Hopkins is nearly the league's all-time leader in interception returns for touchdowns. Hopkins returned his ninth pick for a score on April 13, 2003, in L.A.'s 82-76 overtime loss to the Arizona Rattlers. Hopkins jumped to grab a pass from Sherdrick Bonner and returned it nine yards for the score. Hopkins and McEntyre were tied on the AFL's all-time list until "The Glove" scored on an 18-yard interception return against the New Orleans VooDoo on May 9, 2004.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Interception Returns for Touchdowns
Kenny McEntyre (Orlando Predators) 10
Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles Avengers) 9
Darryl Hammond (Nashville Kats) 8
Mark Ricks (1996-2004) 7
Hunkie Cooper (Arizona Rattlers) 7
AMONG THE GAME'S GREATS: Avenger quarterback John Kaleo rates alongside the best passers in AFL history. After throwing for 197 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener, he moved into fifth-place on the league's all-time chart for passing yards. Kaleo also ranks at No. 5 in completions and touchdowns. If he can throw 68 more touchdown passes this season, Kaleo would become the fifth player in AFL history to reach the 500 mark.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Passing Yards
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 32,666
2. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 30,820
3. Aaron Garcia (New York) 30,782
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 29,633
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 26,490
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 26,258
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Passing Completions
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 2,925
2. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 2,497
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 2,477
4. Aaron Garcia (New York) 2,384
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 2,197
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 2,100
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Passing Touchdowns
1. Aaron Garcia (New York) 640
2. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 632
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 618
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 589
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 432
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 408
IN THE ZONE OUT EAST: When the Avengers make three trips to the East Coast later this season, they shouldn't feel too uncomfortable. L.A. has won eight of its last 10 games in the Eastern Time Zone, including a thrilling 64-63 victory at Orlando in 2003 and 48-33 decision last year at Grand Rapids. The Avengers will make a return visit to Orlando on April 3, and then conclude the regular season with trip to Grand Rapids on May 21. L.A. will also play at Nashville on April 17.
THIRD-QUARTER KARMA: The final result of an Avenger game can often be predicted before the start of the fourth quarter. L.A. is 32-8 all-time when leading or tied after three quarters of play. Furthermore, in the "Ed Hodgkiss Era," the Avengers are 18-7 when they score two or more TDs in the third quarter. In games that the Avengers don't score at least two TDs in the third quarter, they are 11-12 since 2002.
TURNOVER TALE: In 16 games last season, the Avengers turned the ball over just 11 times (the fewest in the AFL). In the 2005 season opener at Las Vegas, however, the Avenger turned over the football three times in a 46-37 loss (two interceptions and one fumble). In last week's victory over Georgia, the Avengers had just one turnover (fumble). In 2004, L.A. played eight "turnover-free" games, but was only 5-3 in those contests. The Avengers tied the Chicago Rush for an AFL-best turnover margin of +15 last season.
LAST GAME:
AVENGERS KICK INTO GEAR VERSUS FORCE
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 4) -- Kicker Remy Hamilton came up big for the Avengers in a 46-41 victory over the Georgia Force at STAPLES Center before a crowd of 12,488. He nailed all four of his field goal attempts, including three in the final 16 minutes of the game, to help Avengers get their first victory of the season and avenge last year's 53-52 overtime loss to Georgia.
"In our opinion, Remy is the best kicker in the league," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "He really got some crucial points on the board."
Hamilton's four field goals tied his own Avenger franchise record and earned him "Offensive Player of the Game" for the first time.
"It really means a lot to me," Hamilton said. "I wanted to get the monkey off my back and kick five, but I'd much rather just kick extra points."
With 16 total points in the game, Hamilton now has scored exactly 900 points in his eight-year AFL career, one of only three players to do so in league history.
Avenger quarterback John Kaleo led the Avengers back from a 21-3 second-quarter deficit. He finished 16-of-29 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, and did not throw an interception. WR/DB Kevin Ingram led the Avengers with 91 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
Georgia quarterback Jim Kubiak was 32-of-41 for 319 yards and six touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception to Avenger WR/DB Brian Sump in the fourth quarter.
The Avengers also committed a significant turnover while already trailing, 14-3, in the second quarter. Kaleo bobbled the snap and fumbled the ball away to the Force, which led to Bergeron's third score, making it 21-3.
But the Avenger defense never gave up and allowed only 20 points the rest of the way.
"They came out hot, but we just played like we were capable of playing," said rookie defensive specialist Antuan Simmons, who earned "ADT Defensive Player of the Game" honors for the second consecutive week.
Los Angeles FB/LB Josh Jeffries finished with two rushing touchdowns on seven carries for 14 yards.
After giving away two possessions on special teams in last week's loss at Las Vegas, the Avengers got a huge turnover of their own when Simmons recovered a fumble in the end zone to make it 37-27 in favor of Los Angeles.
"We got burned last week, but we made the big play tonight," Hodgkiss said. "That play was really a huge shift in the momentum of the game."
The interception by Sump, who earned "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" honors for his gritty play on both sides of the ball, and Hamilton's fourth field goal, gave the Avengers a 46-34 advantage with just 2:36 to play.
Georgia added one more touchdown with 36 seconds left, but the game was over after the Force failed to recover an onside kick with just seconds remaining.
GEORGIA (1-1) 7 20 7 7 -- 41
LOS ANGELES (1-1) 3 21 16 6 -- 46
ARENABOWL CHAMPIONS: Three Avenger players and a pair of coaches have experienced championship seasons in the AFL. QB John Kaleo and OL/DL Al Lucas earned ArenaBowl championship rings with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2003. WR/LB Greg Hopkins was with the Albany Firebirds when they won the AFL title in 1999; along with Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss, who was the Firebird offensive coordinator at the time, and L.A. defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt, who was the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
2/3 Signed from practice squad OL/DL Bernard Riley
2/3 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Sean McNamara
1/22 Placed on injured reserve OS Khori Ivy
OL/DL Fred Ray
OL/DL John Schlecht
WR/LB Rob Turner
QB Ryan Van Dyke
DS Damen Wheeler
1/22 Released OS Ben Bronson
1/22 Waived WR/DB Aleric Clark
OL/DL Asi Faoa
WR/LB Lal Knight
WR/DB Chris Martin
FB/LB Wes Ours
DS Traco Rachal
OL/DL Bernard Riley
1/22 Waived injured OL/DL Ken Kocher
FB/LB Jeff Macrea
OL/DL Johnathan Taylor
1/22 Re-signed OL/DL Al Lucas
1/22 Retired OL/DL Chris Butterfield
1/15 Signed WR/DB Lance Young
1/15 Placed on other team exempt QB Gibran Hamdan
(Seattle Seahawks)
1/13 Signed OL/DL Jerome Stevens
1/13 Waived OL/DL John Windham
1/12 Signed OL/DL John Schlecht
1/10 Signed WR/LB Lal Knight
1/10 Re-signed OL/DL Luis Almanzar
FIRST TIME IN 50: When John Kaleo took L.A.'s first offensive snap from center in the season opener at Las Vegas, it marked the first time since July 22, 2001, that somebody other than Tony Graziani was the Avenger starting quarterback. Since Wally Richardson started that game, a 62-40 loss at Oklahoma in the 2001 regular-season finale, Graziani had started 49 consecutive contests for the Avengers, including three playoff games.
THE AVENGERS ARE ...
⢠1-0 at STAPLES Center
⢠0-1 on the road
⢠0-0 when they score more than 50 points
⢠0-0 when they score 60 or more points
⢠1-1 when they allow less than 60 points
⢠1-1 when they allow less than 50 points
⢠0-0 when they allow less than 40 points
⢠0-1 when they record at least one sack
⢠0-0 when they score first
⢠1-0 when they commit fewer turnovers
⢠0-0 when they commit more turnovers
⢠0-0 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
⢠1-0 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
⢠0-0 when John Kaleo throws for at least 6 TDs
⢠1-0 when John Kaleo passes for 200+ yards
⢠1-0 when John Kaleo doesn't throw an INT
⢠1-0 when Kevin Ingram scores two or more TDs
⢠0-0 when Kevin Ingram catches 6 or more passes
⢠0-1 when Greg Hopkins scores two or more TDs
⢠1-1 when Greg Hopkins catches six or more passes
⢠1-0 when Josh Jeffries scores at least one TD
⢠1-0 when Remy Hamilton scores at least 10 points
⢠0-1 when Antuan Simmons makes at least one INT
⢠1-1 when they commit fewer penalties
⢠0-0 when they commit five or less penalties
⢠0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
⢠0-1 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
⢠1-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
⢠0-0 when leading at halftime
DISRUPTION AT DS: In 16 games last season, the Avengers lined up with eight different pairs of starting defensive specialists. Eight players started at one of the DS positions in 2004 and only Damen Wheeler, who earned AFL "All-Rookie" honors in 2003, and Kevin Ingram, who is normally a WR/DB, remains with the club on the 2005 roster. Last season, Wheeler spent time of the injured reserve list twice.
NIFTY NICKNAMES: Several Avengers played college football at schools with interesting nicknames ... Kevin Ingram, West Chester (Pa.) University Golden Rams; Brian Mann, Dartmouth College Big Green; Sean McNamara, Pittsburg (Kan.) State University Gorillas and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Golden Norsemen; Michale Spicer, Western Carolina University Catamounts; Brian Sump, Colorado School of Mines Orediggers and Rob Turner, Central Michigan University Chippewas.
TROJAN SACKS: There must be something about being a "Trojan" and getting after the quarterback. Over the course of the past two Avenger seasons (17 games), three collegiate "Trojans" have combined for 8.5 sacks. Lineman Silas Demary, who played for the Virginia State University Trojans, leads the way with four sacks for a loss of 27 yards. Fellow lineman Al Lucas, who was a standout for the Troy State University Trojans, has three sacks for losses of 20 yards. And FB/LB Lonnie Ford, who was a defensive end and tight end for the hometown USC Trojans, has 1.5 sacks for a loss of 10 yards. Demary, Lucas and Ford were the only three players on the 2004 Avenger team with more than one quarterback sack, besides FB/LB Josh Jeffries (two sacks for losses of 16 yards ... he incidentally is a Mountaineer from Appalachian State University).
PREVIOUS MEETING WITH WRANGLERS:
L.A. WINS SHOOTOUT WITH AUSTIN, 81-70
LOS ANGELES (April 3, 2004) -- Chris Jackson caught seven touchdown passes to lead the Avengers past the Austin Wranglers, 81-70, before 13,996 at STAPLES Center.
The Avengers set a new franchise record for points in a single game as they improved to 5-3. The Wranglers, in their first season of play in the AFL, fell to 5-3.
L.A.'s 81 points were the most scored in the league during the 2004 season.
Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani was 19-of-25 for 332 yards and a season-high eight touchdowns.
Jackson finished with 11 receptions for 210 yards and set new team records with his seven scores and 44 points.
Avenger WR/DB Henry Douglas returned a pair of kicks for touchdowns in the third quarter to tilt the game in L.A.'s favor. Less than four minutes after he took a kickoff back 56 yards for a touchdown, Douglas returned a missed field goal 49 yards to put the Avengers up 48-33 with 8:22 left in the third quarter.
Wrangler quarterback John Kaleo completed 29-of-40 for 387 yards and seven touchdowns. Offensive specialist Tacoma Fontaine caught 11 of Kaleo's passes for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The combined 151 points in the game represents the 11th highest total in AFL history.
AUSTIN (5-3) 6 21 21 22 -- 70
LOS ANGELES (5-3) 14 20 21 26 -- 81
TIGHT LOSSES: L.A.'s seven regular-season losses last year were by a combined total of 26 points.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS
2004 RESULTS (9-7, 0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Feb. 8 @ Arizona Win 51-32
Feb. 14 @ Las Vegas Win 62-55
Feb. 22 San Jose Loss 61-55
Mar. 1 Georgia Loss 53-52 OT
Mar. 14 @ Grand Rapids Win 48-33
Mar. 21 @ Dallas Win 60-44
Mar. 26 @ San Jose Loss 55-52
April 3 Austin Win 81-70
April 10 Colorado Loss 57-55
April 16 Detroit Win 62-55
April 25 @ Chicago Win 71-35
May 1 Arizona Loss 42-38
May 9 @ Tampa Bay Loss 63-55
May 16 @ New York Win 58-53
May 22 Las Vegas Win 54-51
May 30 Orlando Loss 52-50
June 6 @ Arizona (Playoffs) Loss 59-42
"U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the two-way player who best demonstrated the ideals of the AFL's style of ironman football.
Week Opp. Ironman of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas WR/DB Dameon Porter (L.V.)
5 catches, 37 yards, 1 interception
2 Georgia WR/DB Brian Sump (L.A.)
1 INT, 7 tackles, 4 receptions
"ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was determined to be the most valuable to his team's defensive success in the game, win or lose.
Week Opp. Defensive Player of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas DS Antuan Simmons (L.A.)
2 interceptions, 4 solo tackles
2 Georgia DS Antuan Simmons (L.A.)
Fumble recovery for TD, 6 tackles
"OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was determined to be the most valuable to his team's offensive success in the game, win or lose.
Week Opp. Offensive Player of the Game
1 @ Las Vegas OS Marcus Nash (L.V.)
7 catches, 116 yards, 1 touchdown
2 Georgia K Remy Hamilton (L.A.)
4 field goals, 16 points, 1 tackle
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 7, 2005
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- Super week two for AFL - AFL I
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