Avengers Lose as New York Scores in the Final Seconds
After playing most of the last two months on the road, the Avengers returned to Staples Center on Sunday night and suffered a last-second 70-61 loss to the New York Dragons.
Quarterback Nick Browder accounted for eight touchdowns, including a scoring pass to Mike Horacek with three seconds remaining to give the Dragons their first win ever over the Avengers.
In losing their fifth consecutive game, the Avengers dropped to 3-10 but still have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs as a wild card despite having the worst record in the American Conference. That’s because in the Arena Football League this year, 12 of 18 teams will qualify for the playoffs this year.
The Avengers’ Sonny Cumbie, a rookie quarterback from Texas Tech who has passed for more than 2,400 yards with 48 touchdowns this season, rallied the Avengers back from deficits throughout the game, completing 18 of 35 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns.
But the Avengers’ defense could not stop New York when it counted as they appear headed to their first non-playoff season under Coach Ed Hodgkiss, who is in his fifth year.
The Avengers, who had played six of their last seven games on the road, scored first when former USC standout Lonnie Ford scored on a 17-yard touchdown run. But New York (8-5), which is in second place in the Eastern Division behind Dallas, bounced back with two touchdown passes from Browder to Horacek and a 48-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown by lineman Andrew Tippins to take a 20-10 lead early in the second quarter.
New York’s first-half lead did not last long when Avenger lineman Reggie Rhodes recovered a Browder fumble in the end zone and Cumbie completed scoring passes to Tony Locke and Kevin Ingram to help the Avengers take a 31-27 lead at halftime.
Cumbie, who established a franchise record with 212 consecutive pass attempts without an interception this season, had that streak broken on the Avengers’ first possession of the second half when he was picked off by DaShane Dennis, who returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.
Grand Rapids 45, Arizona 42 -- Peter Martinez kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to give the Rampage the victory in Grand Rapids, Mich.
It was the fourth field goal of the game for Martinez, a team record for the Rampage (4-9).
Sherdrick Bonner was 22 for 35 for 261 yards and six touchdowns for Arizona (7-6).
Chicago 67, Las Vegas 47 -- Matt D’Orazio threw eight touchdown passes -- six to Bobby Sippio -- and also ran for a score in the Rush’s victory over the Gladiators in Rosemont, Ill.
D’Orazio was 22 of 34 for 309 yards for the Rush (5-8). Craig Whelihan threw six touchdowns for the Gladiators (5-8).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
