Struggles Continue for Avengers
by Tim Peterson
Published on June 1, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers
(Los Angeles) - San Jose jumped out to a 14 point lead in the first quarter and held on to the advantage the rest of the way in a 66-56 win over the Avengers Saturday night before 15,174 at Staples Center.
Mark Grieb completed 25 of 35 passes for 298 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions to lead the Sabercats. James Roe was his favorite target as he hauled in ten passes for 117 yards and two scores.
The Avengers have been using the platoon system at quarterback through out the year. Sonny Cumbie started the first five games of the year and then Tim Hicks got the nod for the next six. Cumbie got the call again against San Jose with mixed results.
Cumbie threw five touchdown passes and 262 yards while completing 21 of 35. But he also was intercepted in the end zone which halted an Avenger scoring opportunity in the third quarter.
Grieb threw scoring strikes to James Roe and Rodney Wright in the first quarter to get the Cats started.
Cumbie hooked up with LaShaun Ward on a 19 yard scoring pass in the second quarter as the Avengers went into the break down 24-14.
The Cats still led 38-28 at the end of three as Grieb hit Wright again on six and ten yard touchdown passes.
Both teams exploded in the fourth quarter combining for eight touchdowns. Timon Marshall caught three touchdown passes from Cumbie in the final quarter including one covering 26 yards with just six seconds remaining.
But it wasn't enough as the Cats kept applying the pressure. Grieb fired two more TD strikes and Brian Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns to keep LA at bay.
"I thought we played well in spurts. We played a heck of a lot better than we did two weeks ago," said Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss. "My goal is that at the end of the season we are playing great. We need to play better next week and then play better than that the following week."
With the loss LA fell to 4-9 with just three games remaining. But despite their struggles, the Avengers are still alive in the playoff picture.
"I don't want to go to the playoffs and get beat 70-30 and we're out in the first round. There's no consolation in that. That being said it is a reality and it is in the back of our minds that we have a chance to get o the playoffs. But I want the focus to be on getting better," Hodgkiss added.
San Jose improved to 9-5 and is on top in the Western Division. The Sabercats clinched a playoff spot last week.
SJ 14 10 14 28 66
LA 0 14 14 28 56
Passing: SJ- Grieb 25-35-298-7-0. LA- Cumbie 21-35-262-5-1.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 1, 2008
- Blaze Escape with 63-56 Win over Rampage - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Blaze Hold Off Rampage In Road Win, 63-56 - Utah Blaze
- Struggles Continue for Avengers - OSC Original by Tim Peterson
- Force Steal One From Storm, 56-53 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Chicago storms back to defeat Kansas City 52-47 - Kansas City Brigade
- SaberCats Fend Off Avengers, 66-56 - San Jose SaberCats
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