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Los Angeles Avengers game notes

March 7, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Los Angeles Avengers at San Jose SaberCats
Date: Sunday, March 12, 2006
Kickoff: 3 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: HP Pavilion at San Jose (14,041)
Television: KNBC Channel 4 (Ted Robinson, Charles Davis, Raj Mathai)
Radio: AM 1150 (Larry Kahn, Troy West -- pregame show at 2:30 p.m. [Pacific])
Spanish Radio: ESPN Deportes 1330-AM (Edu Villamar, Mario Amaya)
Internet Radio: www.KNBR.com (San Jose broadcast)
Line: TBA
Series Record: San Jose leads, 8-4
Last Meeting: Los Angeles 54, San Jose 42, May 7, 2005 (HP Pavilion at San Jose)
Officials: Bill Athan (R), Matt Jordan (U), Tim Podraza (HL), Tom Symonette (LJ), Greg Wilson (BJ)
Head Coaches:
Los Angeles -- Ed Hodgkiss (fifth season, 39-29)
San Jose -- Darren Arbet (eighth season, 75-35)

THE AVENGERS: The defending Western Division champion Avengers, who opened their seventh season in the 20-year-old Arena Football League with a 40-31 victory over the Arizona Rattlers, but lost their next five games, continue their toughest stretch of the season with a game at San Jose (2-4) on Sunday, March 12. The clash with the SaberCats is the second of six road games that the Avengers will play in a seven-week span. Los Angeles is off to its worst start since 2001, but is still just one game back in the division. Veteran WR/DB Kevin Ingram has picked up right where he left off last season when he was honored as the AFL¡¦s ¡§Ironman of the Year.¡¨ Ingram leads the team in receptions (44 -- 30 of which have been for first downs), receiving yards (567), touchdowns (11) and interceptions (two). In addition, nearly a third of his receptions (13) have come on third down (No. 1 in the AFL ¡V next closest player has just nine). Aside from Ingram, the Avengers have had some difficulty finding their offensive rhythm. Quarterback Brian Mann (81-of-145 for 1,028 yards and 16 touchdowns, with four interceptions) started three of the first four games and has taken the large majority of the snaps this season, but rookie Sonny Cumbie started in Week 5 versus the Blaze and played well. He completed 29-of-43 for 266 yards and seven touchdowns (with no interceptions), and earned the start the following week at Orlando, where he was 24-of-43 for 295 yards and four scores, with two interceptions. Cumbie, who also played briefly in Week 4 versus Chicago, is completing 61.1 percent of his passes (58-of-95) and has a passer rating of 99.5 (No. 11 in the AFL, first among rookies). Offensive specialist Tony Locke, who opened the season on the injured reserve list, has injected some new life in the Avenger offense in the past four games, catching 29 passes for 349 yards and five scores. Remy Hamilton, who set several league records last season, has remained in a groove, hitting 11 of his 14 field goal attempts this year and earning ¡§Offensive Player of the Game¡¨ honors in the season-opening victory over Arizona. He leads all AFL kickers in scoring with 62 points. Last year, the Avengers effectively utilized a balanced effort rooted in all three phases of the game. L.A. featured a lethal offense in 2005, leading the AFL in scoring percentage (74.4 percent) and posting an average of 53.8 points per game. But the Avengers were also effective on defense and special teams. One player who contributes in all three phases is WR/LB Greg Hopkins, who recently was named to the AFL¡¦s prestigious ¡§20 Greatest Players¡¨ list. He is in his 11th season in the league and will become the fifth player in league history to surpass 10,000 receiving yards in a career in the next few games.

STORYLINES:
ƒ¤ƒnRookie QB Sonny Cumbie to make third start
¡K see statistical comparisons on Page 3
ƒ¤ƒnGreg Hopkins 142 yards from joining ¡§10,000 Club¡¨
¡K see all-time AFL receiving yards chart on Page 4

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS
2006 SCHEDULE (1-5)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 Arizona Win 40-31
Feb. 5 @ Philadelphia Loss 47-33
Feb. 12 @ Grand Rapids Loss 66-41
Feb. 18 Chicago Loss 65-46
Feb. 25 Utah Loss 68-66
Mar. 5 @ Orlando Loss 59-34
Rest of season
Opponent Time
(PT)
Television
Mar. 12 @ San Jose 3 p.m. NBC
Mar. 19 Colorado 3:30 OLN
Mar. 24 @ Arizona 6 p.m. FSN West 2
April 2 @ Las Vegas 3 p.m. FSN West 2
April 9 @ Kansas City 10 a.m. NBC
April 15 @ Utah 6 p.m.
April 22 New York 7:30 FSN West 2
April 29 San Jose 7:30
May 6 Nashville 7:30
May 13 Las Vegas 7:30

AVENGER HEAD COACH: One of the brightest offensive masterminds in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Avengers. In his four previous seasons, he compiled a record of 38-24 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 captured their first Western Division championship and compiled a 10-6 record. Under Hodgkiss¡¦ direction, Los Angeles led the league in offensive scoring percentage (74.4 percent) and turnover margin (+17). He finished second in the balloting for AFL ¡§Coach of the Year¡¨ honors. In 2004, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game. 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). 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. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds¡¦ offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001) and was part of an ArenaBowl championship in 1999.

PLAYING FOR HIGH STAKES: Twice in the previous three seasons, the Avengers came one regular-season victory shy of earning the AFL¡¦s No. 1 overall seed. Last season, Los Angeles had already wrapped up its first Western Division championship when it traveled to Grand Rapids. The Avengers led by a touchdown at halftime but eventually lost to the Rampage, 71-65, while resting several key starters in the second half. In other key games on that final regular-season weekend, New York beat Colorado and San Jose beat Georgia, which meant L.A. would have been the No. 1 overall seed if it had beaten Grand Rapids (by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker over Georgia). Two years earlier, the Avengers closed the 2003 regular season with a monumental showdown at San Jose. Both teams entered that contest at 11-4, and the Western Division championship and overall No. 1 seed in the playoffs would go to the winner. The SaberCats won, 47-43, and earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

ROAD WARRIOR: In his last 25 games away from STAPLES Center, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has caught 123 passes for 1,478 yards and 37 TDs. Despite playing alongside a constellation of AFL stars for much of his career, Ingram¡¦s contributions have not gone unnoticed, winning him the ¡§Ironman of the Game¡¨ award in nine road games over the course of the previous two years.

¡§IRONMAN¡¨ INGRAM: In his last 48 games, WR/DB Kevin Ingram has been selected as the ¡§Ironman of the Game¡¨ 17 times. L.A. won all but one of those games. The only loss was the recent defeat at Philadelphia. Ironically, that contest was a homecoming of sorts for Ingram, who grew up in nearby Levittown, Pa. (Harry S. Truman High School).

SERIES INFO: The SaberCats lead the series between the AFL¡¦s only California teams, 8-4. Three of L.A.¡¦s four victories have come at STAPLES Center (47-44 in 2001, 73-72 in 2003, and 71-69 in 2005). The Avengers finally broke though versus San Jose on the road last season, winning for the first time at the HP Pavilion, 54-42, on May 7, 2005. That victory gave the Avengers a sweep of the season series (the SaberCats have been swept only five other times in their 12-year history) and paved the way for Los Angeles to capture its first Western Division title. Seven of the 12 games in the L.A.-S.J. series have been decided by six points or less.

STINGY WITH THE YARDS: The Avengers are currently No. 2 in the AFL in total defense, allowing just 244.8 yards per game. Historically more of an ¡§offensive¡¨ team, the current Avenger total defense statistic is quite a departure from previous seasons. L.A. currently ranks first in the AFL in passing defense (221.7 yards per game) and first downs allowed (103).

Avenger Total Defense (regular season)
Season Total yards allowed Average
2006 1,469 (six games) 244.8
2005 4,921 (16 games) 307.6
2004 4,665 (16 games) 291.6
2003 4,526 (16 games) 282.9
2002 3,991 (16 games) 249.4
2001 3,492 (14 games) 249.4
2000 4,236 (14 games) 302.6

TURNOVER MARGIN TAKES A TURN: After six games this season, the Avengers are -7 in turnover margin (last in the AFL). That¡¦s a far cry from where L.A. was in the previous two seasons. The Avengers led the AFL in turnover margin in 2005 with an amazing +17 (two teams finished way back in second at +8). Last season, Los Angeles had a league-leading 37 takeaways (22 INTs and 15 fumble recoveries). The Avengers turned over the ball only 20 times (fewest in the AFL). L.A. committed only 11 turnovers in its 10 victories last season. In 2004, the Avengers turned the ball over just 11 times (fewest in the AFL) and tied the Chicago Rush for an AFL-best turnover margin of +15. So far this season, the Avengers have come up with only five takeaways (four interceptions and one fumble recovery). Last season at this time, Los Angeles had 15 takeaways (10 interceptions and five fumble recoveries), owned a turnover margin of +8 and was 4-2.

THE DRIVE FOR FIVE: Head coach Ed Hodgkiss has led the Avengers to a winning season and playoff appearance in each of his four previous seasons at the helm. He is one of only three coaches in Arena Football League history to post winning records in each of their first four seasons as an AFL head coach. Tampa Bay¡¦s Tim Marcum and Orlando¡¦s Jay Gruden are the other two coaches that have accomplished the feat.

Arena Football League Record Book ¡V
Most Winning Season to Begin an AFL Career
1. Tim Marcum (three teams, 1997-2001) 13
2. Jay Gruden (Orlando, 1998-present) * 6
3. Ed Hodgkiss (L.A., 2002-present) * 4
4t. John Gregory (Iowa, 1995-97) 3
4t. Lary Kuharich (Tampa Bay, 1992-94) 3
4t. Pat Sperduto (Nashville, 1999-2001) 3
* Active streak
SONNY CUMBIE: Rookie quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who was 29-of-43 for 266 yards and seven touchdowns in his starting debut on Feb. 25, in a 68-66 loss to the Utah Blaze, cooled off a little bit in his second start last week in Orlando (24-of-43 for 295 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions). He has already inserted his name into the Avenger record book. His 29 completions versus the Blaze ranks second in Avenger history and first among rookies. And Cumbie¡¦s seven scoring tosses versus Utah ranks first among all quarterbacks making their first start for the Avengers (and only Todd Marinovich threw for more scores in a single game as a rookie [10 in 2000]).

Avenger Record Book ¡V
Touchdown Passes in First Start
1. Sonny Cumbie, 2006 (Game 5) * 7
2. John Kaleo, 2005 (Game 1) 5
3t. Tony Graziani, 2002 (Game 1) 4
3t. Todd Marinovich, 2000 (Game 5) * 4
5t. Brian Mann, 2006 (Game 1) 3
5t. Scott Semptimphelter, 2000 (Game 1) 3
5t. Wally Richardson, 2001 (Game 14) * 3
8. Erik Wilhelm, 2001 (Game 3) * 2
9t. Ryan Van Dyke, 2006 (Game 3) 0
9t. Harry Leons, 2001 (Game 13) 0
* AFL rookie season

Avenger Record Book ¡V
Touchdown Passes in First Two Starts
1t. Sonny Cumbie, 2006 (Games 5, 6) * 11 (7, 4)
1t. Tony Graziani, 2002 (Games 1, 2) 11 (4, 7)
3. Scott Semptimphelter, 2000 (Games 1, 2) 9 (3, 6)
4t. Brian Mann, 2006 (Games 1, 2) 7 (3, 4)
4t. John Kaleo, 2005 (Games 1, 2) 7 (5, 2)
6. Todd Marinovich, 2000 (Games 5, 6) * 6 (4, 2)
7. Erik Wilhelm, 2001 (Games 3, 4) * 5 (2, 3)
* AFL rookie season

Avenger Record Book ¡V
Completions in a Single Game
1. John Kaleo (at Colorado, 2005) 31
2. Sonny Cumbie (vs. Utah, 2006) * 29
3t. Tony Graziani (vs. Arizona, 2004) 28
3t. Tony Graziani (at Dallas, 2003) 28
5t. Tony Graziani (at Georgia, 2002) 27
5t. Erik Wilhelm (vs. Detroit, 2001) * 27
7t. Brian Mann (at Grand Rapids, 2006) 26
7t. Tony Graziani (vs. Colorado, 2004) 26
7t. Tony Graziani (vs. San Jose, 2003) 26
7t. Tony Graziani (vs. New York, 2002) 26
7t. Todd Marinovich (at Houston, 2000) * 26
* AFL rookie season

Avenger Record Book ¡V
TD Passes in a Single Game by a Rookie
1. Todd Marinovich (at Houston, 2000) 10
2t. Sonny Cumbie (vs. Utah, 2006) * 7
2t. Todd Marinovich (vs. Milwaukee, 2000) 7
2t. Todd Marinovich (vs. Arizona, 2000) 7
5t. Erik Wilhelm (vs. Detroit, 2001) 6
5t. Todd Marinovich (vs. Florida, 2000) 6
* Starting debut

SILAS DEMARY: Avenger lineman Silas Demary broke two fingers on his left hand in the first quarter of the game at Philadelphia on Feb. 5 (and continued to play the entire game) and was placed on the injured reserve list on Feb. 11. He missed two games before returning to action two weeks ago versus Utah. In that game, he registered his first sack of the 2006 season and, in the process, forced a fumble that was recovered and returned for an Avenger touchdown by Greg Hopkins. Although Demary didn¡¦t register a sack in the first two games of the season or in last week¡¦s loss at Orlando, he did apply constant pressure on the quarterback. In the season-opening victory over Arizona, he was in the face of Rattler QB Sherdrick Bonner all afternoon and got credit for three ¡§quarterback hurries.¡¨ The following week, Demary got to Philadelphia Soul quarterback Tony Graziani (a former teammate with the Avengers) early in the first quarter, knocking him to the turf and out of the game with a dislocated index finger on his throwing hand. Demary, the 2005 AFL ¡§Defensive Player of the Year¡¨ and ¡§Lineman of the Year¡¨ award winner, broke what was the oldest record in AFL history with 13.5 quarterback sacks last season. Craig Walls of the Pittsburgh Gladiators established the record with 13 sacks in 1987. Demary played in 15 games for the Avengers in 2005 (he missed the Dallas game on March 18 [L.A.¡¦s only loss at home last year] while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee), but he recorded 12.5 of his sacks in the last eight regular-season games. He broke the record on May 21, 2005, by bringing down Grand Rapids quarterback Michael Bishop for a three-yard loss on the Rampage¡¦s first offensive play of the game. Demary also set a single-game Avenger record with four sacks versus New York on April 10 (three in the first quarter alone).

SACK STORM: Never before in the history of the Arena Football League has there been a defensive performance by a lineman like the one Silas Demary gave last season. As Week 10 began, he had only one sack, but then exploded for 12.5 to end up breaking one of the most elusive and incredible records in the game.

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Sacks in a Single Season
1. Silas Demary (Los Angeles, 2005) 13.5
2. Craig Walls (Pittsburgh, 1987) 13.0
3. Joe March (Denver, 1991) 12.5

TOP BOSSES: Sunday¡¦s game pits two of the league¡¦s winningest coaches against each other. San Jose¡¦s Darren Arbet is ranked third and L.A.¡¦s Ed Hodgkiss is ranked eighth on the AFL¡¦s all-time winning percentage chart (regular season only, minimum 60 games, * active coaches).

All-Time AFL Top Winning Percentages
Head Coaches Record Winning %
1. Perry Moss 75-28-1 .726
2. Tim Marcum * 153-60 .718
3. Darren Arbet * 75-35 .682
4. Danny White * 123-59 .676
5. Jay Gruden * 59-35 .628
6. Mike Dailey * 84-55 .604
7. Pat Sperduto * 37-26-1 .586
8. Ed Hodgkiss * 39-29 .574
9. John Gregory 67-51 .568
10. Todd Shell 53-45 .541
HOPPING UP THE CHARTS: Avenger WR/LB Greg Hopkins is fifth on the league¡¦s all-time receiving yards chart. He has gained 9,858 receiving yards in his 11-year career. Hopkins is one of only six players in AFL history to have 9,000 or more receiving yards.

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Receiving Yards
1. Barry Wagner (San Jose) 13,090
2. Eddie Brown (1994-2003) 12,730
3. Gary Compton (1992-2004) 10,247
4. Cory Fleming (Nashville) 9,912
5. Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles) 9,858
6. George LaFrance (1988-2000) 9,004
7. Calvin Schexnayder (San Jose) 8,812
8. Hunkie Cooper (1993-2005) 8,600
9. Darryl Hammond (Nashville) 8,521
10. Stevie Thomas (1991-2001) 7,906

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, 2005 to break a tie with Orlando defensive specialist Kenny ¡§The Glove¡¨ McEntyre at the top of the AFL¡¦s career chart (Nashville¡¦s Darryl Hammond returned an INT 49 yards for a touchdown this season, in Week 2, to tie McEntyre with nine). On the record-breaking play, Hopkins jumped and grabbed 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 ¡V
INT Returns for TDs (regular season)
Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles Avengers) 10
Kenny McEntyre (Orlando Predators) 9
Darryl Hammond (Nashville Kats) 9
Mark Ricks (1996-2004) 7
Hunkie Cooper (1993-2005) 7

LOCKE WAS THE KEY: Much like they did a year ago, the Avengers began this season without offensive specialist Tony Locke. This year, he began the campaign on injured reserve (hand), but returned to action in Week 3 at Grand Rapids (five receptions for 44 yards). Then, on Feb. 18, Locke returned to form, leading the team with nine catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns. On Feb. 25, he led the team with nine receptions once again, totaling 65 yards and a pair of scores. Last week, Locke caught six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Last season, Locke began the year on the practice squad and went on to have a dramatic influence on the L.A. offense after joining the active roster in Week 4. In the first three weeks of the 2005 season, the Avengers averaged just 217.3 passing yards per game. In the 13 games that Locke played in, L.A. averaged 263.4 passing yards per game (reflecting a 21 percent increase). The team¡¦s touchdown passes per game also went up from 4.0 in the first three games to 5.4 in the last 13. Locke, who led the team with 27 touchdown receptions last season, also had six 100-yard games in 2005, and was named the ¡§Offensive Player of the Game¡¨ five times. The Avengers were 4-1 last season when Locke caught at least three TD passes in a game.

KICKING UP A STORM: Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton, who led the AFL in field goals (29), field-goal percentage (.744) and kicking points (185) last season, started off the 2006 campaign on the right foot, booting all four of his field goal attempts (20, 22, 29, 42) in the season-opening victory over Arizona on Jan. 29. Hamilton is 11-of-14 on field goals this season and is a perfect 10-for-10 on attempts inside of 39 yards. The 2005 campaign was nothing short of amazing for him. Hamilton was 29-for-39 (.744) on field goals and opened the year by hitting his first 11 three-pointers. Dating back to the end of the 2004 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, 2005. He scored a total of 22 points versus the Wranglers, came up with a key fumble recovery and was selected as the ¡§Ironman of the Game,¡¨ becoming the first kicker in AFL history to earn that honor. In Week 2 of the 2005 season, 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.¡¨ Last season, he was 6-of-12 from beyond 40 yards (41, 41, 43, 43, 48, 50). Hamilton¡¦s 10 misses in 2005 were from 16 (blocked), 28, 29, 31, 41, 47, 48, 50, 53 and 56 yards out.

RECORD SETTING SEASON: Last season, Avenger Remy Hamilton set a new AFL record for field goal percentage in a single season. In 2004, Jay Taylor of the Orlando Predators set the mark at .720 (18-of-25). Hamilton¡¦s percentage in 2005 was .744 (29-of-39). He and Taylor are the only two players in the 20-year history of the Arena Football League to have a field-goal percentage better than .639. Hamilton also made a run at the league¡¦s all-time record for field goals in a single season, which was set by Daron Alcorn, who kicked 32 in 1999 for the Portland Forest Dragons. Hamilton currently ranks at No. 3 on the AFL¡¦s all-time scoring by kickers and field goals made charts. He is one of three players in league history to boot over 140 field goals. Hamilton¡¦s current field goal percentage is .786 (11-of-14).

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Scoring By Kickers
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 1,253
2. Steve Videtich (Utah) 1,257
3. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 1,125

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Field Goals Made in a Career
1. Mike Black (1993-2004) 178
2. Steve Videtich (Utah) 166
3. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles) 144

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Field Goals Percentage in a Single Season
1. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles, 2005) .744
2. Jay Taylor (Orlando, 2004) .720
3. Steve McLaughlin (Nashville, 2001) .639

All-Time AFL Leaders ¡V
Field Goals Made in a Single Season
1. Daron Alcorn (Portland, 1999) 32
2. Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles, 2005) 29
3. Daron Alcorn (Portland, 1997) 27

WHEELER CONTINUES TO ROLL: Avenger DS Damen Wheeler has come up with 12 INTs in his last 30 games, dating back to the tail end of the 2003 season.

SECRET IS SCORING 60: Dating back to the 2004 season, the Avengers are 9-2 when they score 60 or more points (the only losses came in the 2005 regular-season finale at Grand Rapids, when the Avengers rested several key starters in the second half, and two weeks ago versus Utah). The team did not score more than 55 points in all seven of its losses in 2004, in five of the six defeats last season and in four of its five losses this year.

QUICK-STRIKE OFFENSE: Sixty-six of L.A.¡¦s 145 offensive touchdowns dating back to last season were scored on ¡§drives¡¨ of three plays or less. In fact, 18 of them were on one-play ¡§drives.¡¨ Over the course of the last three seasons, 204-of-386 Avenger TDs were of the quick-strike variety (61 on a single play).

Avenger Touchdown Drives (2003-06)
Total TD
Drives Quick Strikes (percent) 1 Play Score
2003 124 81 (65 %) 25
2004 117 57 (49 %) 18
2005 112 55 (49 %) 13
2006 33 11 (33 %) 5
Total 386 204 (53 %) 61

SIX ARE ROOKIES: Six of the 20 players on L.A.¡¦s current active roster are rookies. They are quarterback Sonny Cumbie, wide receiver/linebacker Antoine Burns, fullback/linebacker Lavell Mann, and linemen Jemelle Cage, Trevor Hutton and Victor Leyva. Of the 29 players that have seen action for Los Angeles this season, 10 are rookies. Last season, 17 of the 34 players who suited up for the Avengers experienced their first taste of AFL action in 2005 (including five players that are still with the club -- Richard Seals, Bernard Riley, Antuan Simmons, Michale Spicer and Rob Turner)

SLOW STARTERS: Continuing a trend that began last season, the Avengers have been getting off to slow starts in 2006. In its first six games this season, Los Angeles has scored just 41 points in the first quarter, while opponents have countered with 87 points. The Avengers pick things up in the second quarter, scoring a total of 71 points, but that still trails the opposition (103 points). The only quarter in which the Avengers have outscored their opponents is the fourth, where L.A. currently holds an 80-74 advantage. In 16 regular-season games last season, the Avengers scored only 133 points in the first quarter (average of 8.3), while opponents countered with 171. The second quarter was when the Avengers shined brightest, scoring a total of 258 points (average of 16.1). L.A. also did well in the third quarter, racking up 252 (average of 15.8). But, things slowed down in the fourth quarter, when the Avengers were outscored, 275-212.

¡K WHEN THEY DID GET AHEAD: The Avengers have held the lead at halftime in only seven of their last 21 games and went on to win six of those games.

¡K AND AFTER THREE QUARTERS: The Avengers are 41-11 all-time when leading or tied after three quarters.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS:

AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Western Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Arizona 2 4 0 .333 237 280
Las Vegas 2 4 0 .333 301 335
San Jose 2 4 0 .333 306 319
Utah 2 4 0 .333 338 351
Los Angeles 1 5 0 .167 260 336

Central Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Colorado 5 1 0 .833 341 320
Nashville 4 2 0 .667 319 229
Chicago 3 3 0 .500 320 324
Grand Rapids 2 4 0 .167 290 310

NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Eastern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Dallas 5 1 0 .833 329 281
Columbus 3 3 0 .500 249 260
New York 3 3 0 .500 331 360
Philadelphia 3 3 0 .500 294 288

Southern Division
W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Austin 5 1 0 .833 311 272
Orlando 4 2 0 .667 287 275
Tampa Bay 4 2 0 .667 337 329
Georgia 3 3 0 .500 324 259
Kansas City 1 5 0 .167 241 287

BANNER DAY: Prior to the season-opening victory over Arizona, the Avengers showcased the newest addition to the wall at STAPLES Center -- their 2005 AFL Western Division championship banner, which includes a tribute to the late Al Lucas.

BACK UNDER .500: L.A.¡¦s 59-56 victory over the Arizona Rattlers on April 30, 2005 meant that, for the first time in Avenger history, the franchise could boast a winning record. In their seventh season of play, the Avengers are currently 1-5 and have slipped to an all-time regular-season record of 47-49.

RARE SLIDE: In the ¡§Ed Hodgkiss Era,¡¨ which now spans 68 regular-season games, the Avengers have been under .500 for only five weeks ... the past four weeks (1-2, 1-3, 1-4 and 1-5) and following last year¡¦s season-opening loss at Las Vegas (0-1). Furthermore, until the team¡¦s current five-game slide, the Avengers had never lost more than two consecutive games with Hodgkiss at the helm.

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