Victory Is a First for Avengers, 50-46

A week after suffering a 53-point loss in San Jose, the Avengers rebounded to earn the first regular-season victory in franchise history, holding off the New England Sea Wolves, 50-46, before 6,112 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn.

Todd Marinovich fired a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chris Jackson with 23 seconds to play to help the Avengers (1-7) end a seven-game losing streak. It was the first time the Avengers have had a lead in the second half.

But Kyle Pooler’s kickoff hit the scoreboard, giving New England the ball on its 20-yard line and one final chance.

New England quarterback Tim Carey, who attended Los Alamitos High, found receiver Kerry Brown for a 24-yard gain with eight seconds left. On the game’s last play, from the Avenger six-yard line, Carey’s pass fell incomplete.

New England dropped to 5-3.

“This is a feeling I’ve been waiting for for a long time,” Marinovich said. “Everyone was calm on the final drive. We knew we would score; it was just a matter of when.”

Marinovich completed 18 of 34 attempts with one interception. All four of his touchdown passes came in the second half.

Carey, replacing injured starter Chad Salisbury (dislocated hip), competed 17 of 34 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns. But his interception was returned 47 yards by the Avengers’ Larry Thompson for a touchdown with 6:16 left in the fourth quarter, tying the score, 43-43.

New England kicker Matt George booted a 22-yard field goal with 1:31 remaining to give the Sea Wolves their last lead, 46-43.