Los Angeles Avengers game notes
February 22, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Game: Los Angeles Avengers at Colorado Crush
Date: Sunday, February 27, 2005
Kickoff: Noon (Pacific)
Site: Denver, Colo.
Arena: Pepsi Center (17,610)
Television: KNBC Channel 4 (Bob Papa, Ray Bentley)
Radio: 1150-AM (Larry Kahn, Troy West)
Satellite Radio: SIRIUS (Channel 126)
Line: TBA
Series Record: Los Angeles leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Colorado 57, Los Angeles 55 â April 10, 2004, STAPLES Center
Officials: Pat Garvey (R), Paul King (U), Bill Ward (HL), Wayne Mackie (LJ), Dino Paganelli (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (fourth season, 31-19)
Colorado -- Mike Dailey (ninth season, 71-49)
2005 AVENGERS: Gunning for their fourth consecutive trip to the AFL Playoffs, the Avengers have a decidedly different look and feel to them in 2005. Head coach Ed Hodgkiss still directs one of the league's finest offenses, averaging 54.5 points per game (just a bucket shy of last season's league leading mark of 56.5), so that hasn't changed much, just some of the names and faces. Veteran quarterback John Kaleo, who earned an ArenaBowl championship ring in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Storm, has thrown for 19 touchdowns, against only three interceptions and has provided the kind of leadership that only comes with your 12th year in the league. 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 has caught a team-high six touchdown passes from Kaleo, while Hopkins leads the team in receptions with 22. Jerome Riley, who has seen time at both the offensive specialist and wide receiver/linebacker spots, is L.A.'s long ball threat. He has caught 16 balls for 344 yards and five touchdowns, which translates into an AFL-leading 21.5 yards per reception. In their last game, the Avengers got a huge boost from offensive specialist Tony Locke, who was signed from the practice squad just a day before the 71-69 victory over San Jose on Feb. 20. Locke burst upon the scene with three touchdown catches in the first half and finished with seven receptions for 118 yards, earning "Offensive Player of the Game" honors. Second-year man Brian Sump, who caught two TD passes in the season opener, is Ingram's backup and has provided a great deal of energy off the bench. Los Angeles has perhaps the AFL's best pair of young FB/LBs in Lonnie Ford (No. 3 in the AFL in rushing with 67 yards) and Josh Jeffries (two rushing TDs in Week 2 victory over Georgia). At the OL/DL spots, Al Lucas, Silas Demary, Sean McNamara and free agent signee Fred Ray provide veteran stability, while first-year linemen Tony Wragge, Richard Seals and Luis Almanzar have also made an impact up front. However, the biggest new addition for L.A. could be defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt, the former head coach of the Indiana Firebirds. With Wilpolt overseeing a defense led by Lucas, Ford, Jeffries, Hopkins, Ingram and rookie defensive specialists Antuan Simmons (two interceptions and a fumble recovery for a TD) and Traco Rachal (two interceptions), the Avengers have been considerably more difficult to score against than in the past. Last but certainly not least, the Avengers have a rock-solid kicker in Remy Hamilton, one of the AFL's all-time greats. He has kicked 13-of-14 field goals this season (converted on his first 11 attempts) and became the first kicker in AFL history to earn "U.S. Army Iroman of the Game" honors on Feb. 11, after kicking five field goals and making a key fumble recovery in a Week 3 victory at Austin.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (3-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 30 @ Las Vegas Loss 46-37
Feb. 4 Georgia Win 46-41
Feb. 11 @ Austin Win 64-51
Feb. 20 San Jose Win 71-69
Rest of Season
Opponent Time (PST)
Television
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
COLORADO CRUSH (2-2)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 30 @ Orlando Loss 39-36
Feb. 5 Grand Rapids Win 72-56
Feb. 13 Chicago Loss 51-48
Feb. 19 @ Arizona Win 74-69
FIREBIRDS REUNION: When the Avengers visit the Crush on Sunday it will be a reunion of sorts for five members of the 2001 Indiana Firebirds. The connections begin at the top with Colorado head coach Mike Dailey going head-to-head against Los Angeles head coach Ed Hodgkiss, who worked on Dailey's Firebird coaching staff for five seasons (1997-2001). Hodgkiss was Dailey's offensive coordinator for three seasons, beginning with the Firebirds' ArenaBowl championship season in 1999, until he was hired as the Avenger head coach prior to the 2002 season. Avenger defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt served in that same capacity for the Firebirds in 2001, which was his third season working under Dailey (he coached the defensive backs and special teams in 1999 and 2000). Two Avenger players -- WR/LB Greg Hopkins and WR/DB Kevin Ingram -- were members of the 2001 Indiana Firebirds. Hopkins played five seasons for Dailey and is currently in his fourth season under Hodgkiss' tutelage with the Avengers. Ingram was an AFL rookie in 2001. Dailey, Hodgkiss, Wilpolt and Hopkins each earned an ArenaBowl championship ring with the Firebirds in 1999.
AVENGER 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).
SERIES INFO: The Avengers lead their series with the Crush, 2-1. Los Angeles swept a pair of games from Colorado in 2003, when the Crush were members of the Western Division. Colorado moved to the Central Division last year and beat the Avengers, 57-55, on April 10, 2004, at STAPLES Center. In its only previous game in Denver, Los Angeles edged the Crush, 59-53, in overtime on a 21-yard touchdown reception by WR/LB Greg Hopkins.
NEXT GAME: The Avengers will remain on the road next week to face the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, March 6, at America West Arena. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
YOUNG GUNS: Twelve of the 24 players who have seen action for the Avengers this year (Luis Almanzar, Richard Seals, Jerome Stevens, Tony Wragge, Bernard Riley, Antuan Simmons, Jermaine Smith, Traco Rachal, Michale Spicer, Brian Sump, Lance Young and Rob Turner) have experienced their first taste of the AFL this season. Three other players have just one previous season of AFL experience under their belt (Jerome Riley, Josh Jeffries and Tony Locke).
QUICK-STRIKE OFFENSE: Seventeen of L.A.'s 26 offensive touchdowns this season have been scored on "drives" of three plays or less. In fact, four of them are one-play "drives." Over the course of the last three seasons, 155-of-267 Avenger TDs were of the quick-strike variety (47 on a single play).
Avenger Touchdown Drives (2003-05)
Total TD
Drives Quick Strikes (percent) 1 Play Score
2003 124 81 (65.3 %) 25
2004 117 57 (48.7 %) 18
2005 26 17 (65.4 %) 4
Total 267 155 (58 %) 47
L.A. STORY: At 3-1, the Avengers have equaled their best start in franchise history. In 2003, Los Angeles was 3-1, but lost its next contest. Therefore, if L.A. is able to defeat Colorado on Sunday, it will post its best ever five-game start. The Avengers had their most successful season 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 became the only team in AFL history to post four consecutive years of improvement. Last year, L.A. 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) 3-1
LONG BALL SPECIALIST: Avenger OS-WR/LB Jerome Riley currently leads the AFL with an average of 21.5 yards per reception. He has 16 catches for 344 yards and five touchdowns this season. No other player in the league with 15 or more catches has an average above 17.8
TOP BOSSES: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss is currently in sixth-place on the AFL's all-time winning percentage chart (regular season only, minimum 45 games, * active coaches).
All-Time AFL Top Winning Percentages
Head Coaches Record Winning %
1. Perry Moss 75-28-1 .726
2. Tim Marcum * 144-55 .724
3. Darren Arbet * 65-27 .707
4. Danny White 121-55 .688
5. Jay Gruden * 48-28 .632
6. Ed Hodgkiss * 31-19 .620
7. Pat Sperduto * 28-18 .609
8. Mike Dailey * 71-49 .592
9. John Gregory 67-51 .578
10. Todd Shell * 47-39 .547
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 31-19 with the Avengers.
RARE DIP BELOW .500: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss had never been at the helm of a team with a losing record until Los Angeles lost the 2005 season opener at Las Vegas (46-37), leaving the Avengers at 0-1. That broke a string of 46 games in which Hodgkiss had the Avengers at .500 or better.
SECRET IS SCORING 60: Dating back to last season, the Avengers are 7-0 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.
TOPS IN TURNOVERS AGAIN: The Avengers currently lead the AFL in turnover margin at +6. Los Angeles leads the league with seven interceptions and also has five fumble recoveries. The Avengers have turned over the ball six times this season, but only two times in their three victories (one fumble vs. Georgia, no turnovers at Austin, one interception vs. San Jose). In 16 games last season, the Avengers turned the ball over just 11 times (the fewest in the AFL) and played eight "turnover-free" games (however, L.A. was only 5-3 in those contests). The Avengers tied the Chicago Rush for an AFL-best turnover margin of +15 last season.
"IRONMAN" INGRAM: In his last 30 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.
ROAD WARRIOR: In his last 16 games away from STAPLES Center, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has caught 65 passes for 794 yards and 24 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.
AVENGER NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:
QB John Kaleo: The starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm during their 2003 ArenaBowl championship season, Kaleo was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Austin Wranglers on Nov. 2, 2004. After four years with the Storm, he quarterbacked the Wranglers to an 8-8 record last season in their inaugural campaign. 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 27,057 passing yards (No. 5 on the AFL career chart), 444 TD passes (No. 5) and 2,236 completions (No. 5). Kaleo has also rushed for 44 scores in his AFL career. He signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Wranglers on Oct. 22, 2003, only four months after the Storm won ArenaBowl XVII. In 2004, Kaleo completed 352-of-565 for 4,020 yards and 80 touchdowns (with only 11 interceptions). He played against the Avengers last season, passing for 387 yards and seven scores, in an 81-70 loss at STAPLES Center.
OS Tony Locke: A speedy receiver who had a record-breaking season in arenafootball2 last year, Locke is in his first year with the Avengers and was signed from the practice squad just a day prior to scoring three first-half touchdowns in his L.A. debut, a 71-69 victory over San Jose on Feb. 20. He began the 2004 AFL season with the Columbus Destroyers, but played in only four games, catching five passes for 36 yards. After leaving the Destroyers, Locke joined af2's Albany Conquest and set a single-season team record with 43 touchdowns (39 receiving, three kickoff returns, one rushing). He also ranked second in the league in scoring and all-purpose yards. Locke also played in af2 during the 2003 season, catching 22 passes for 298 yards and five touchdowns for the Cincinnati Swarm, in addition to returning 21 kickoffs for 478 yards and two scores. A two-year letterman at Ohio State, he played in 20 games for the Buckeyes, seeing the majority of his action on special teams. After enrolling at Ohio State on an academic scholarship, Locke decided to walk-on to the Buckeye football team in the spring of 1998. He concluded his collegiate career on a football scholarship in 2000, and earned a biology degree (pre-med).
DS Antuan Simmons: A hard-hitting playmaker, Simmons had a spectacular AFL debut, intercepting two passes at Las Vegas. In the Week 2 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. He played in 10 games for the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe in 2003, finishing with 44 tackles, eight pass deflections, one INT 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.
KICKING UP A STORM: Not only does Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton lead the AFL in field goals (13), field-goal percentage (.929) and kicking points (62), he also has kicked more field goals in the first four weeks of play than nine other teams in the league combined -- Arizona 3, Grand Rapids 3, Philadelphia 2, Dallas 2, New York 1, Austin 1, San Jose 0, Nashville 0 and Orlando 0. Those nine teams had to attempt a total of 46 field goals to make 12 (.261). Hamilton only had to try 14 to make 13, including boots from 48 and 50 yards out.
KICKING COUNTS: Made field goals are often times considered as "stops" by AFL defenses, but the combination of nine teams that Remy Hamilton has out-kicked have a combined record of 14-20. The top six AFL teams in terms of kicking points (Los Angeles, Colorado, Chicago, Georgia, New Orleans and Tampa Bay) have converted on 36-of-50 field goal attempts (.720) and have a combined record of 15-8.
NEARLY PERFECT: The first four games of the 2005 season have been nothing short of amazing for Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton. He is a 13-for-14 on field goals this season and opened the year by hitting his first 10 three pointers. Hamilton kicked a career-high five field goals to help the Avengers beat Austin, 64-51, on Feb. 11. Only three other players in AFL history have kicked more field goals in a single game and Hamilton's five were the most since Jason Wells booted five for the Dallas Desperados on June 16, 2002. Hamilton scored a total of 22 points in the victory at Austin and also came up with a key fumble recovery in the third quarter. For his efforts, he was selected as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game," becoming the first kicker in AFL history to earn that honor. In Week 2, he kicked four field goals and scored 16 points in a 46-41 victory over Georgia and was named the "Offensive Player of the Game." With 13 field goals already this season, Hamilton is on pace to break his personal single-season record of 19 (set during his rookie season with the Grand Rapids Rampage in 1998) and his own Avenger franchise record of 16 (set in 2002). He kicked a total of 14 field goals in 2004 and didn't boot his 13th until the 14th game of the 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 one of five players in league history to boot over 100 field goals.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Scoring By Kickers
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 1,253
2. Steve Videtich (Columbus) 1,133
3. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 939
4. Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 770
5. Steve McLaughlin (1998-2004) 770
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Field Goals Made
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 178
2. Steve Videtich (Columbus) 145
3. Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 118
4. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 117
5. Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 100
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 8,766 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) 12,954
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) 8,802
6. Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles) 8,766
7. Hunkie Cooper (Arizona) 8,580
8. Calvin Schexnayder (San Jose) 8,377
9. Stevie Thomas (1991-2001) 7,906
10. Darryl Hammond (Nashville) 7,878
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) 24 - 298 504 â 7,093
(162 TDs)
Greg Hopkins
(Avengers) 466 â 5,633
(116 TDs) 22 - 201 488 â 5,834
(118 TDs)
Damian Harrell
(Crush) 457 â 6,724
(138 TDs) 30 â 407 487 â 7,131
(149 TDs)
Mike Horacek
(Dragons) 399 â 5,248
(121 TDs) 13 - 194 412 â 5,442
(126 TDs)
THE INTERCEPTION KING: In addition to being the AFL's 2002 "Ironman of the Year," WR/LB Greg Hopkins is the league's all-time leader in interception returns for touchdowns. Hopkins returned his 10th pick for a score last Sunday in the 71-69 victory over San Jose to join Orlando defensive specialist Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre at the top of AFL's career chart. On the record-tying play, Hopkins jumped to grab a pass from SaberCat quarterback Mark Grieb and returned it three yards for the touchdown that gave the Avengers their first lead of the game at 16-14.
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Interception Returns for Touchdowns
Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles Avengers) 10
Kenny McEntyre (Orlando Predators) 10
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 56 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) 33,321
2. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 30,820
3. Aaron Garcia (New York) 31,212
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 29,633
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 27,057
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 26,325
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Passing Completions
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 2,985
2. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 2,497
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 2,477
4. Aaron Garcia (New York) 2,422
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 2,236
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 2,105
All-Time AFL Leaders â
Passing Touchdowns
1. Aaron Garcia (New York) 649
2. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 647
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 618
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 589
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 444
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 409
Since Start of 2004 Season â
Passing Touchdowns
1. Tony Graziani (L.A./Philadelphia) 126
2. Aaron Garcia (New York) 105
3. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 100
4. Andy Kelly (Detroit/New Orleans) 100
5. John Kaleo (Tampa Bay/L.A.) 99
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 in 50 games (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.
ARENABOWL CHAMPIONS: Four 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. As a rookie with the Orlando Predators in 2000, OL/DL Fred Ray hoisted the ArenaBowl trophy. 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.
LAST GAME:
FIRST-PLACE AVENGERS TOP SABERCATS, 71-69
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 20) -- Newly activated offensive specialist Tony Locke and veteran wide receiver/linebacker Greg Hopkins helped power the Avengers to a 71-69 victory over the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats at STAPLES Center in front of a crowd of 13,088.
In victory, Los Angeles improved to 3-1 and is alone atop the Western Division. San Jose, which has won two of the past three ArenaBowls, fell to 1-3.
Locke, who was signed from the Avengers' practice squad to the active roster this week, grabbed three touchdowns in the first half of the victory. The win is only L.A.'s third in 11 meetings with the SaberCats. He finished with seven catches for 118 yards on his way to "Offensive Player of the Game" honors.
While Locke's L.A. debut was spectacular, the play of the other Avenger offensive specialist, Jerome Riley, was also important. Riley finished with five catches for 105 yards and three scores, including Los Angeles' last touchdown with just over two minutes remaining.
But on the defensive side of the ball, the Avengers hampered the SaberCat offense, picking off three Mark Grieb passes and recovering a fumble. Two of the interceptions were by Hopkins, including one that he returned for a touchdown to tie an all-time AFL career record for interception returns for touchdowns (10). Hopkins was named both the "ADT Defensive Player of the Game" and the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" for his efforts.
Grieb finished 31-of-46 for 399 yards and seven touchdowns, but the three interceptions were critical.
Lost within the Avenger victory was a milestone set by the SaberCat WR/DB Barry Wagner, who now has caught more passes than anyone in AFL history. Wagner, who now has 951 receptions in his illustrious career, broke the mark previously held by "Touchdown" Eddie Brown.
Early on it looked like the Avengers were going to roll over and let San Jose walk all over them. L.A. gave up 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and later found itself in a 14-3 hole.
But the Avenger offense caught fire at the beginning of the second quarter, scoring 34 points before half. Quarterback John Kaleo finished 22-of-38 with 327 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
L.A. took its first lead when Hopkins snared Grieb's pass near the goal line and returned it for his record-tying touchdown (with Orlando's Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre) to put the Avengers ahead, 16-14.
Remy Hamilton's third field goal of the game with 34 seconds remaining put the Avengers up 71-62. Hamilton is now 13-of-14 on the season.
The SaberCats refused to go down without a fight however. With 18 seconds left, Grieb found Wagner for a nine-yard score to make it 71-69.
San Jose's ensuing onside kick attempt went into the stands, allowing the Avengers to run out the clock.
SAN JOSE (1-3) 14 7 14 34 -- 69
LOS ANGELES (3-1) 3 34 14 20 -- 71
RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
2/19 Signed from practice squad WR/DB-OS Tony Locke
2/19 Activated from injured reserve OL/DL Sean McNamara
2/19 Placed on injured reserve WR/LB-OS Rob Turner
OL/DL Bernard Riley
2/17 Signed to practice squad OL/DL Jerome Stevens
WR/LB Lance Young
2/10 Activated from injured reserve OL/DL Fred Ray
WR/LB-OS Rob Turner
2/10 Signed from practice squad DS Traco Rachal
2/10 Placed on injured reserve DS Jermaine Smith
2/10 Waived OL/DL Jerome Stevens
WR/LB Lance Young
2/3 Signed from practice squad OL/DL Bernard Riley
2/3 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Sean McNamara
1/27 Signed to practice squad WR/DB-OS Tony Locke
DS Traco Rachal
OL/DL Bernard Riley
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
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
THE AVENGERS ARE ...
⢠2-0 at STAPLES Center
⢠1-1 on the road
⢠2-0 when they score more than 50 points
⢠2-0 when they score 60 or more points
⢠1-0 when they score 70 or more points
⢠2-1 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
⢠2-0 when they score first
⢠3-0 when they commit fewer turnovers
⢠0-0 when they commit more turnovers
⢠1-0 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
⢠1-0 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
⢠2-1 when John Kaleo throws for at least 5 TDs
⢠3-0 when John Kaleo passes for 200+ yards
⢠1-0 when John Kaleo passes for 300+ yards
⢠2-0 when John Kaleo doesn't throw an INT
⢠2-0 when Kevin Ingram scores two or more TDs
⢠1-0 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
⢠3-0 when Remy Hamilton scores at least 12 points
⢠0-1 when Antuan Simmons makes at least one INT
⢠1-1 when they commit fewer penalties
⢠0-1 when they record at least one sack
⢠0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
⢠0-1 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
⢠2-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
⢠1-0 when leading at halftime
⢠2-1 when trailing at halftime
SLOW STARTERS: The Avengers trailed their opponents at halftime in the first three games of the season -- 26-17 at Las Vegas; 27-24 vs. Georgia; and 24-23 at Austin. Los Angeles continued that trend in the first quarter of its most recent game, scoring just three points versus San Jose. However, the Avengers exploded for 34 points in the second quarter and led 37-21 at the break ... on their way to a 71-69 victory.
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.
PREVIOUS MEETING WITH CRUSH:
COLORADO BEATS AND FRUSTRATES L.A., 57-55
LOS ANGELES (April 10) â The Colorado Crush defeated the Avengers, 57-55, before 11,816 at STAPLES Center.
The Crush improved to 7-3, while the Avengers fell to 5-4. Los Angeles has lost three of its four games at home this season.
Crush offensive specialist Damian Harrell caught seven passes for 147 yards and four touchdowns to earn "Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game" honors.
Colorado took a 44-28 lead early in the third quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback John Dutton to wide receiver/linebacker Kevin McKenzie, who was selected as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game."
Although stymied by a pair of goal line stands in the second half, the Avengers cut the Crush lead down to 44-42 with 6:58 remaining.
Each team scored a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes of the game, until an unsuccessful Avenger onside kick attempt allowed the Crush to kill the final 16 seconds of the game.
John Dutton completed 25-of-39 for 274 yards and seven touchdowns for Colorado, which beat the Avengers for the first time in three meetings.
Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani was 26-of-34 for 285 yards and five scores. Three of his touchdown passes were to offensive specialist Chris Jackson, who tied a team record with 13 receptions for 148 yards.
Fullback/linebacker Lonnie Ford scored two touchdowns on the ground for Los Angeles.
A successful Colorado onside kick led to a 20-7 Crush lead with 14:05 remaining in the second quarter. The Crush led 37-28 at halftime.
COLORADO (7-3) 14 23 7 13 -- 57
LOS ANGELES (5-4) 7 21 8 19 -- 55
THIRD-QUARTER KARMA: The final result of an Avenger game can often be predicted before the start of the fourth quarter. L.A. is 34-8 all-time when leading or tied after three quarters of play. Furthermore, in the "Ed Hodgkiss Era," the Avengers are 20-7 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.
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 a trip to Grand Rapids on May 21. L.A. will also play at Nashville on April 17.
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
TIGHT LOSSES: L.A.'s seven regular-season losses last year were by a combined total of 26 points.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 22, 2005
- Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
- Bishop named AFLWA Player of the Week - Grand Rapids Rampage
- D'Orazio named Arena Football League's Offensive Player of the Week - Columbus Destroyers
- Force's Kevin Gaines named AFL's Defensive Player of the Week - Georgia Force
- Philadelphia Soul game notes - Philadelphia Soul
- Will Pettis Named U.S. Army Ironman of the Week - Dallas Desperados
- AFL names players of the week - AFL I
- New Orleans VooDoo game notes - New Orleans VooDoo
- New York Dragons game notes - New York Dragons
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Georgia Force game notes - Georgia Force
- Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
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