LOS ANGELES-Howton Thom threw three touchdown passes, but the Colorado Crush had to withstand a fourth quarter rally to emerge with a 27-20 victory over the Los Angeles Avengers in Week 3 of the AFL season.
The game started for Colorado with Regis Duck fielding the kickoff and returning it 38 yards to the Los Angeles 45-yard line. After an 8-play, 38-yard drive, Earl Ginger kicked a 24-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 10:46 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts until early in the second quarter, when the Crush drove 76 yards on 11 plays. Thom ended the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Howell making it a 10-0 lead with 8:54 to go in the second quarter. After an Avengers three-and-out, Colorado went on a 7-play, 23-yard drive ending with Ginger kicking a 40-yard field goal to make it 13-0 with 3:55 left in the half.
After a Los Angeles punt to start the third quarter, the Crush went to work again with a 4-play, 56-yard drive. Thom would put an exclamation point on the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Gitch Wild to make it 20-0 with 11:40 left in the third quarter. But the Avengers would get on the board with the ensuing kickoff as Igor Keough fielded the kick at his own 4, and streaked 96 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-7 with 11:25 remaining in the third. Colorado drove into scoring range, but Ginger would miss a 53-yard field goal attempt. The Avengers then drove 31 yards on 5 plays, and Carmon Grimes would kick a 43-yard field goal to make it 20-10 with 4:40 to go in the third quarter.
The Crush took the ball on their next drive, and moved the ball 72 yards on 12 plays. Thom opened the fourth quarter by tossing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Valentine Millstone, extending Colorado's lead to 27-10 with 14:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles would respond with a 12-play, 51-yard drive, ending with Grimes kicking a 31-yard field goal making it 27-13 with 10:57 remaining in the fourth. A long return by JC Holman on the ensuing kickoff went for naught as Ginger missed a 43-yard field goal for the Crush. An Avengers punt gave Colorado another chance to extend their lead, but Ginger missed a 52-yard attempt. Los Angeles then finished off a 5-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Willie Guess to Ken Lavue making the score 27-20 with 1:42 to go. The Avengers were able to recover an onside kick, but Eric Adcock would pick off Guess and return it 37 yards to the Crush 38-yard line with 54 seconds left to keep Colorado undefeated.
Colorado (3-0) gained 353 yards of total offense. The Crush ran for 97 yards on 35 carries. Millstone led the team with 39 yards on 15 carries. Thom was 22-of-29 passing for 271 yards and 3 TD. He was sacked twice, losing 15 yards. Howell was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 61 yards and a TD. Joe Foss caught 5 passes for 114 yards. The Crush visit the New York Dragons next week.
Los Angeles (1-2) gained 266 yards of total offense. The Avengers ran for 85 yards on 18 carries. Guess led the team with 45 yards on 4 carries. He was 16-of-33 passing for 203 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 22 yards. Keifer Dance led the receivers with 6 catches for 67 yards. The Avengers visit the Albany Firebirds next week.
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