Los Angeles Avengers game notes

Published on March 15, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Dallas Desperados at Los Angeles Avengers
Date: Friday, March 18, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: Los Angeles, Calif.
Arena: STAPLES Center (17,942)
Television: None
Radio: AM-690 (Larry Kahn, Troy West)
Line: TBA
Series Record: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Los Angeles 60, Dallas 44 – March 21, 2004, American Airlines Center
Officials: Bill McCabe (R), Doug Wilson (U), Royce Cooley (HL), Dirk Bell (LJ), Jimmy Buchanan (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (fourth season, 32-20)
Dallas -- Will McClay (second season, 11-12)

2005 AVENGERS: Gunning for their fourth consecutive trip to the AFL Playoffs, the Western Division-leading Avengers have a decidedly different look and feel to them in 2005. Head coach Ed Hodgkiss still directs a dangerous quick-strike offense, averaging 48.5 points per game, 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 27 touchdowns, against only four 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 eight TD passes from Kaleo, while Hopkins leads the team in receptions with 40 (for 410 yards and four scores). In their last three games, the Avengers have gotten a boost from OS 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 versus the SaberCats, earning "Offensive Player of the Game" honors. He has caught three more touchdown passes since then and has 19 receptions for 239 yards so far this season. 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. 10 in the AFL in rushing with 68 yards) and Josh Jeffries (two rushing TDs in Week 2). At the OL/DL spots, Al Lucas, Silas Demary, Sean McNamara and 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 defensive specialists Damen Wheeler and Antuan Simmons (two interceptions and a fumble recovery for a TD in the season's first two games), 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 17-of-20 field goals this season (converted on his first 11 attempts to set a new league record) and became the first kicker in AFL history to earn "U.S. Army Iroman of the Game" honors on Feb. 11, after kicking a career-high five field goals and making a key fumble recovery in a Week 3 victory at Austin.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-2)
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
Feb. 27 @ Colorado Loss 58-40
Mar. 6 @ Arizona Win 33-29
Rest of Season Opponent Time (PST) Television
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 2
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 2

DALLAS DESPERADOS (5-2)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 30 Chicago Win 66-65 OT
Feb. 6 @ New York Loss 55-45
Feb. 13 Columbus Win 35-31
Feb. 17 Orlando Win 42-28
Feb. 27 @ Philadelphia Win 72-43
Mar. 5 New Orleans Loss 53-51
Mar. 13 @ Austin Win 52-28

THE SERIES: The Desperados and Avengers have each won two of the four games of the series. Three of the contests have been played in Dallas (two at American Airlines Center and one at Reunion Arena) and the Desperados won the only previous game held at STAPLES Center, 62-55, in 2002. In the last meeting between the two clubs, Los Angeles defeated Dallas, 60-44, on March 21, 2004, at American Airlines Arena. (Ironically, upon the game's conclusion, the teams had the records they currently have ... Los Angeles 4-2 and Dallas 5-2.)


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 playoff 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).

NEXT GAME: The Avengers will remain within the friendly confines of STAPLES Center as they take on the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday, March 26. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the first 5,000 fans will receive a limited-edition Avenger "GUMBY" action figure.

YOUNG GUNS: Fifteen of the 28 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, Asi Faoa, Rob Turner, John Schlecht and Khori Ivy) 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: Nineteen of L.A.'s 35 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, 157-of-276 Avenger TDs were of the quick-strike variety (47 on a single play).

Avenger Touchdown Drives (2003-05)
Total TDDrives Quick Strikes (percent) 1 Play Score
2003 124 81 (65 %) 25
2004 117 57 (49 %) 18
2005 35 19 (54 %) 4
Total 276 157 (57 %) 47

L.A. STORY: At 4-2, the Avengers are exactly where they have been for the past four seasons after six games. The Avengers had their most successful season in 2003, winning 11 games. After combining for eight victories 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 HistorySeason (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) 4-2

NEARLY PERFECT: The first six games of the 2005 season have been nothing short of amazing for Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton. He is a 17-for-20 on field goals this season and opened the year by hitting his first 11 three-pointers. Dating back to the end of last season, Hamilton converted on 12 consecutive field goal attempts, which is an all-time AFL record. 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 a franchise-record 17 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).

LONG BALL SPECIALIST: Avenger WR/LB-OS Jerome Riley (currently on the injured reserve list) leads the AFL with an average of 20.6 yards per reception. He has 17 catches for 350 yards and five TDs this season. No other player in the league with 17 or more catches has an average above 17.5

TOP BOSSES: Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss is ranked sixth 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 * 146-56 .723
3. Darren Arbet * 67-27 .713
4. Danny White 121-55 .688
5. Jay Gruden * 50-29 .633
6. Ed Hodgkiss * 32-20 .615
7. Mike Dailey * 73-49 .598
8. John Gregory 67-51 .578
9. Pat Sperduto * 28-21 .571
10. Todd Shell * 47-42 .528

KEEPING IT CLOSE: Only six of the 20 losses that Ed Hodgkiss has suffered as the head coach of the Avengers have been by more than seven points. He is 31-20 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.

NEAR THE TOP IN TURNOVERS AGAIN: The Avengers are currently second in the AFL in turnover margin at +8 (New York leads at +10). Los Angeles has 15 takeaways (10 interceptions and five fumble recoveries). The Avengers have turned over the ball seven times this season, but only two times in their four victories (one fumble vs. Georgia, no turnovers at Austin, one interception vs. San Jose, no turnovers at Arizona). 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 32 games, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has been selected as the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" 10 times. L.A. won each of those games, which includes five wins in 2004, and the team's most recent victory at Arizona on March 6.

ROAD WARRIOR: In his last 18 games away from STAPLES Center, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has caught 78 passes for 920 yards and 26 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 seven road games over the course of the last two seasons.

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 27,580 passing yards (No. 5 on the AFL career chart), 452 TD passes (No. 5) and 2,288 completions (No. 5). Kaleo has also rushed for 45 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 two 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 (17), field-goal percentage (.850) and kicking points (81), he also has kicked more field goals in the first seven weeks of play than six other teams in the league combined -- Arizona 3, Nashville 3, New York 3, Austin 2, Philadelphia 2 and San Jose 2. Those six teams had to attempt a total of 54 field goals to make 15 (.278). Hamilton only had to try 20 to make 17, 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 six teams that Remy Hamilton has out-kicked have a combined record of 14-26 (.350). The top seven AFL teams in terms of kicking points (Los Angeles, New Orleans, Colorado, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Georgia and Chicago) have converted on 54-of-88 field goal attempts (.614) and have a combined record of 31-15 (.674).


MAKING HIS POINTS: Avenger Remy Hamilton currently ranks at No. 3 on the AFL's all-time scoring by kickers and field goals made charts. He is one of five players in league history to boot over 100 field goals.

All-Time AFL Leaders –Scoring By Kickers
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 1,253
2. Steve Videtich (Columbus) 1,156
3. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 958
4. Steve McLaughlin (Arizona) 781
5. Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 770

All-Time AFL Leaders –Field Goals Made
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 178
2. Steve Videtich (Columbus) 147
3. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 121
4. Kenny Stucker (1994-99) 118
5. Daron Alcorn (1997-2004) 100

SLOW STARTERS: The Avengers have held the lead at halftime in only one of their six games so far this season (37-21 vs. San Jose on Feb. 20). But, even in that game L.A. started slowly, scoring just three points in the first quarter. However, the Avengers exploded for 34 points in the second quarter on their way to a 71-69 victory.

WHEELER CONTINUES HIS ROLL: Avenger defensive specialist Damen Wheeler, who returned to the lineup at Colorado on Feb. 27, after a four-week stay on the injured reserve list (hamstring), has come up with eight interceptions in the last 14 games he has played in, dating back to the tail end of the 2003 season.

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 20-8 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 12-12 since 2002.



HOPPING UP THE CHARTS: Avenger WR/LB Greg Hopkins needs just 30 more receiving yards to move past AFL legend George LaFrance into the fourth spot on the league's all-time receiving yards chart. He currently has gained 8,975 receiving yards in his 10-year career. Hopkins is one of only nine players in AFL history to have 8,000 or more receiving yards.

All-Time AFL Leaders –Receiving Yards
1. Barry Wagner (San Jose) 13,031
2. Eddie Brown (1994-2003) 12,730
3. Gary Compton (1992-2004) 10,247
4. George LaFrance (1988-2000) 9,004
5. Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles) 8,975
6. Cory Fleming (Orlando) 8,885
7. Hunkie Cooper (1993-2005) 8,600
8. Calvin Schexnayder (San Jose) 8,377
9. Darryl Hammond (Nashville) 8,106
10. Stevie Thomas (1991-2001) 7,906

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 – (2000-05)
Catches – Receiving Yards
2000-04 2005 Total
Chris Jackson(Rampage) 480 – 6,795(157 TDs) 35 - 483 515 – 7,278(166 TDs)
Greg Hopkins(Avengers) 466 – 5,633(116 TDs) 40 - 410 506 – 6,043(120 TDs)
Damian Harrell(Crush) 457 – 6,724(138 TDs) 44 – 588 501 – 7,312(156 TDs)
Mike Horacek(Dragons) 399 – 5,248(121 TDs) 35 - 475 434 – 5,723(135 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 in the 71-69 victory over San Jose on Feb. 20, to break a tie with 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 –INT Returns for TDs (regular season)
Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles Avengers) 10
Kenny McEntyre (Orlando Predators) 9
Darryl Hammond (Nashville Kats) 8
Mark Ricks (1996-2004) 7
Hunkie Cooper (1993-2005) 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 48 more touchdown passes this season, Kaleo would become the fifth player in AFL history to reach the 500 mark.

All-Time AFL Leaders –Passing Yards
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 34,139
2. Aaron Garcia (New York) 31,943
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 31,606
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 29,906
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 27,580
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 26,896

All-Time AFL Leaders –Passing Completions
1. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 3,072
2. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 2,534
3. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 2,518
4. Aaron Garcia (New York) 2,484
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 2,288
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 2,146

All-Time AFL Leaders –Passing Touchdowns
1. Aaron Garcia (New York) 666
2. Andy Kelly (New Orleans) 663
3. Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona) 631
4. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 594
5. John Kaleo (Los Angeles) 452
6. Todd Hammel (Chicago) 420

Since Start of 2004 Season –Passing Touchdowns
1. Tony Graziani (L.A./Philadelphia) 129
2. Aaron Garcia (New York) 122
3. Andy Kelly (Detroit/New Orleans) 116
4. John Kaleo (Tampa Bay/L.A.) 107
5. Clint Dolezel (Las Vegas) 105

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:

AVENGERS GET IT DONE
WITH DEFENSE, 33-29

PHOENIX (March 6) -- On a night when the offense struggled, the Los Angeles Avengers found a way to win with defense, beating the Arizona Rattlers, 33-29, at America West Arena on Sunday night.

The Avengers, who were 3-2 after five games in all four of Ed Hodgkiss' years as head coach and improved to 4-2 with a road win in all three previous seasons, continued the trend on a low-scoring evening and own sole possession of first place in the Western Division, going into the team's bye week. Arizona has now lost five consecutive games for the first time in franchise history and fell to 1-5.

The Avengers defense made big plays all night, winning a game that featured less than 500 yards total offense.

The game's biggest play came from Avenger defensive specialist Damen Wheeler, who was named the "ADT Defensive Player of the Game." After being beat by Rattler wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood with Arizona up by three points and just under two minutes remaining, Wheeler never gave up on the play and ran down Gatewood at the 1-yard line.

"I knew I got beat, but I had to make a play," Wheeler said. "We just never quit on defense."

The play proved to be the difference in the game after the defense stopped Arizona four straight times near the goal line, with fullback/linebacker Josh Jeffries coming up with two tackles for losses on Arizona running plays.

The goal-line stand set up the winning score when Avenger quarterback John Kaleo found WR/DB Kevin Ingram for a 36-yard touchdown with just 24 seconds left.

"It was just a slant and go and Kaleo hit me," Ingram said. "We struggled all game on offense, but the guys stepped it up at the end."

Earlier in the fourth quarter, Jeffries, who failed on a block and gave up a costly sack for a safety in the third quarter, came up with a huge interception of Rattler quarterback Sherdrick Bonner at goal line.

"I have never been so mad on the football field in my life after I gave up that sack and safety," Jeffries said. "I knew I had to come out on defense and make a play. Fortunately I backed up in the box and was able to jump and intercept the ball."

The Avenger offense finished the game with just 218 yards, but the defense held Arizona to only 257 yards and intercepted two passes and got the Rattlers to turn the ball over on down three times.

Kaleo finished with less than gaudy numbers, completing 21-of-37 for 214 yards and three touchdowns, but threw no interceptions and ran for a score on a fourth-down play that tied the game at the half at 13-13.

Kevin Ingram was named the "U.S. Army Ironman of the Game" for his one-touchdown, one-interception performance. His interception in the first quarter kept Arizona out of the end zone, proving to be a major play in the Avengers' narrow victory. On offense Ingram caught 6 passes for 60 yards and the score.

Ingram's teammate, wide receiver/linebacker Greg Hopkins did his part for an offense that was out of sync for most of the night, finishing as the game's "Offensive Player of the Game" with 8 catches for 109 yards.

Bonner finished just 17-of-42 for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

Early on in the fourth quarter, it did not look good for the Avengers as Bonner found receiver Siaha Burley for 26-yard touchdown to make it a two-possession game at 29-20. But it was the last time the Rattlers would score.

Burley, a former Avenger, had a monster night for Arizona with 10 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

After Ingram's score put Los Angeles up 33-29 with just 24 seconds remaining, Bonner's final "Hail Mary" attempt came off the net and into a scrum, but eventually fell harmlessly to the turf, allowing the Avengers to escape with the win.


LOS ANGELES (4-2) 0 13 7 13 -- 33
ARIZONA (1-5) 7 6 9 7 -- 29


RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
3/11 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Silas Demary
3/3 Signed to practice squad OS Robert Gordon
3/3 Released from practice squad WR/LB Lance Young
2/26 Signed from practice squad OL/DL Asi Faoa
2/26 Activated from injured reserve DS Damen Wheeler
2/26 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Fred RayDS Traco Rachal
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 TurnerOL/DL Bernard Riley
2/17 Signed to practice squad OL/DL Jerome StevensWR/LB Lance Young
2/10 Activated from injured reserve OL/DL Fred RayWR/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 StevensWR/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 LockeDS Traco RachalOL/DL Bernard Riley


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 OvertimeCategory 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
· 2-2 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
· 3-2 when they allow less than 60 points
· 2-1 when they allow less than 50 points
· 1-0 when they allow less than 40 points
· 2-0 when they score first
· 4-0 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
· 2-2 when John Kaleo throws for at least 5 TDs
· 4-1 when John Kaleo passes for 200+ yards
· 1-0 when John Kaleo passes for 300+ yards
· 3-0 when John Kaleo doesn't throw an INT
· 2-0 when Kevin Ingram scores two or more TDs
· 2-1 when Kevin Ingram catches 6 or more passes
· 0-2 when Greg Hopkins scores two or more TDs
· 2-2 when Greg Hopkins catches six or more passes
· 1-0 when Josh Jeffries scores at least one TD
· 1-0 when a lineman catches a TD pass
· 3-0 when Remy Hamilton scores at least 12 points
· 0-1 when Antuan Simmons makes at least one INT
· 1-2 when they commit fewer penalties
· 0-2 when they record at least one sack
· 1-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
· 0-1 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
· 3-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
· 1-0 when leading at halftime
· 2-2 when trailing at halftime
· 1-0 when tied at halftime

DS DEBUTS: Although the Avengers have used four defensive specialists in three different combos already this season, the production has been there. Three of the four Avenger DSs have come up with interceptions in their 2005 debuts. Rookie Antuan Simmons picked off two passes at Las Vegas in the season opener. In his first AFL game, Traco Rachal intercepted a pass at Austin in Week 3. And in the loss at Colorado on Feb. 27, veteran Damen Wheeler, fresh off a stay on the injured reserve list, picked off John Dutton pass in the end zone to spark an Avenger comeback attempt. 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 Wheeler and Kevin Ingram, who is normally a WR/DB, remains with the club today.


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.



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.

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 DALLAS:

AVENGERS DEMOLISH DESPERADOS, 60-44

DALLAS (March 21) -- Six touchdown passes by quarterback Tony Graziani and a stingy defense led the Avengers past the Dallas Desperados, 60-44, on Sunday afternoon before 9,312 at the American Airlines Center.

The Avengers, who shut out Dallas in the first quarter, improved to 4-2 on the season, breaking the Desperados' five-game winning streak. Dallas fell to 5-2.

Graziani completed 21-of-33 for 251 yards and three of his six scoring tosses went to WR/DB Kevin Ingram.

"I thought I was a little off today," Graziani said. "I missed a couple of receivers early in the game. But, we did a good job of protecting the football and didn't let up after getting those early stops on defense."

Graziani has thrown 38 touchdown passes this season, against no interceptions (191 attempts). Perhaps just as important, he was not sacked by the Desperados and rarely pressured.

"You have to give credit to the offensive line," Graziani said. "They kept me upright today, which was impressive, going against a team with a great pass rush like Dallas. That's why we won the game."

Avenger offensive specialist Chris Jackson caught a game-high eight passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

"We played well in all three phases of the game," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "When we are healthy and don't turn the ball over, we are a pretty good team."

The Avengers came up with two turnovers versus the Desperados -- one on an interception by FB/LB Josh Jeffries and the other on a fumble recovery by fellow FB/LB Lonnie Ford -- to raise the team's league-leading turnover ratio to +11.

Walter Church, who came in to quarterback the Desperados after starter Glen Gauntt was knocked out of the game with a knee injury, was 13-of-19 for 209 yards and five touchdowns.

WR/DB Will Pettis and WR/LB Bobby Sippio each caught three touchdowns for Dallas.

Sippio's last one came as time expired and before he tacked on a two-point conversion reception to trim an Avenger lead that ballooned to 60-36 with 57 seconds remaining after Ford scored L.A.'s second rushing touchdown of the day from five yards out.


LOS ANGELES (4-2) 10 20 9 21 -- 60
DALLAS (5-2) 0 10 14 20 -- 44

"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
3 @ Austin K Remy Hamilton (L.A.)5 field goals, fumble recovery
4 San Jose WR/LB Greg Hopkins (L.A.)5 catches, 49 yards, 2 INTs, 1 TD
5 @ Colo. WR/LB Kevin McKenzie (Colo.)2 catches, 1 INT return for TD
6 @Ariz. WR/DB Kevin Ingram (L.A.)6 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

"ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was 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
3 @ Austin DS Traco Rachal (L.A.)8 tackles, 1 interception
4 San Jose WR/LB Greg Hopkins (L.A.)2 INTs, 1 returned for TD, 3 stops
5 @Colo. DS Rashad Floyd (Colo.)17.5 tackles (new AFL record)
6 @Ariz. DS Damen Wheeler (L.A.)8 tackles, 1 pass breakup

"OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was 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
3 @ Austin QB John Kaleo (L.A.)17-of-27, 240 yards, 5 TD passes
4 SanJose OS Tony Locke (L.A.)7 catches, 118 yards, 3 TDs
5 @Colo. OS Damian Harrell (Colo.)10 catches, 135 yards, 5 TDs
6 @Ariz. WR/LB Greg Hopkins (L.A.)8 catches, 109 receiving yards

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 15, 2005


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