Avengers lose season opener to SaberCats
Avengers second-year quar-terback Sonny Cumbie picked up where he left off last season with an impressive effort against San Jose on Sunday night, but it wasn’t enough.
Led by veteran quarterback Mark Grieb’s six touchdown passes, the SaberCats led from start to finish and defeated the Avengers, 66-58, in the Arena Football League season opener for both teams at Staples Center.
Cumbie, who started the final 12 games last season and was a rookie-of-the-year finalist, had a strong game, completing 25 of 41 passes for 315 yards and seven touchdowns.
“You can just tell with his decision making that he’s matured,” wide receiver Kevin Ingram said. “He’s making the easy throws. The type that he didn’t get a chance to get down last year when he had to jump right in there.”
The Avengers, who finished 5-11 last season and failed to make the playoffs for the first time under Coach Ed Hodgkiss, tried an onside kick to start the game, but it failed. The SaberCats took advantage on the next play with a touchdown pass from Grieb to Ben Nelson.
After Cumbie completed his first touchdown pass to Lenzie Jackson, Grieb completed a touchdown pass to James Roe and Rodney Wright ran for a touchdown to give the SaberCats a 21-7 lead.
In the second quarter, the Avengers rallied with a short touchdown run by Lonnie Ford and an interception by Silas Demary that set up a Remy Hamilton field goal to cut San Jose’s lead to 21-17.
But the SaberCats, the defending Western Division champions, responded with a touchdown run by Matt Kinsinger, a field goal by A.J. Haglund and Nelson’s second touchdown catch to offset Cumbie scoring passes to Ingram and Rob Turner to take a 38-31 lead in at halftime.
In the third quarter, Nelson caught his third touchdown pass but the Avengers tied the score at 45-45 on Cumbie touchdown passes to Ingram and Jackson. That’s when the game turned.
The SaberCats scored the next 14 points. Grieb completed his fourth touchdown pass to Nelson, San Jose recovered the ensuing onside kick and then Wright scored his second touchdown to give San Jose a commanding 59-45 lead at the start of the fourth.
Over the final quarter, the Avengers made things interesting and had an opportunity to tie the score in the final minute but fell short.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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