UNIONDALE, NY-Chip Kindrick and Cameron Devlin each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in leading the Los Angeles Avengers past the New York Dragons 34-21 in the opening week of AFL Season 2.
The game didn't start out well for the Avengers, as Willie Guess fumbled on a scramble and Hans Magnolia recovered for the Dragons at the Los Angeles 38-yard line. Six plays later, Faron Emerson hit Booker Starling for a 7-yard touchdown giving New York a 7-0 lead with 11:22 left in the first quarter. Guess would turn the ball over again, as he was intercepted by Parker Kincaid who returned 13 yards to the Avengers 40-yard line. The Dragons would punt, and Los Angeles finally get going offensively with a 9-play, 81-yard drive. Kindrick would score a on a 5-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7 with 5:25 remaining in the first.
After trading punts, Emerson would be victimized by the pick as Courtney Harrelson intercepted him in the end zone. But Guess would get picked off again, this time by Fulton Bingham at the LA 45-yard line. Eight plays later, Paden Caspar ran in from the 1 for a touchdown to give New York a 14-7 lead with 7:45 remaining in the half. The Avengers would punt, but Emerson would get intercepted by Clem Wallen at the Dragons 31-yard line. However, the Avengers couldn't score on the drive, as Carmon Grimes missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. The teams traded punts, and Harrelson would pick Emerson off again, but Grimes would miss a 31-yard field goal at the end of the half.
The teams traded punts to open the second half, then Los Angeles got the spark they needed when Kinsey Vance tackled Chase Hamil in the end zone on an ill-fated flair pass for a safety to make it 14-9 with 10:37 to go in the third quarter. After the ensuing safety kick, the Avengers drove 72 yards on 6 plays. Devlin finished it off with a 15-yard touchdown run. Los Angeles successfully converted on a 2-point attempt to take a 17-14 with 9:16 remaining in the third. Hugh Strickland fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and Grimes recovered for the Avengers at the New York 18-yard line. Three plays later, Kindrick scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 24-14 with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter. After a bad punt by the Dragons' Tyrell Tadwell of 6 yards, the Avengers took over at the Dragons' 41-yard line. After four plays gained six yards, Grimes would kick a 52-yard field goal to pull ahead 27-14 with 3:36 remaining in the third.
Early in the fourth, Emerson would be picked off by Gus Wolfe who returned it 30 yards to the Los Angeles 36-yard line thwarting a New York drive. Guess fumbled after being sacked by Jean Hotze and Bill Sharp recovered for the Dragons at the 30-yard line. But the Dragons couldn't take advantage and turned it over on downs. Grimes would miss a 24-yard field goal attempt on the next possession, then Emerson would get stripped and Wolfe recovered at the New York 40. Following a pair of punts, Los Angeles would go 44 yards on 4 plays, and Devlin scored on a 2-yard run to make it 34-14 with 1:10 left in the game. New York would go 64 yards on 6 plays, and Emerson connected with George Larron for a 24-yard too-little, too-late touchdown pass on the last play of the game to make it 34-21.
Los Angeles (1-0) gained 332 yards of total offense. The Avengers ran for 148 yards on 35 carries. Kindrick led the team with 79 yards on 18 carries and 2 TD. Guess was 16-of-28 passing for 205 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 21 yards. Alfie Tharp was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 96 yards. The Avengers visit the San Jose Sabercats next week.
New York (0-1) gained 299 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 107 yards on 21 carries. Freddy Ashercraft led the team with 68 yards on 10 carries. Emerson was 24-of-45 passing for 207 yards, 2 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 15 yards. Elvis Darnell was the leading receiver with 8 catches for 66 yards. The Dragons host the Grand Rapids Rampage next week.
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