SAN JOSE-The San Jose Sabercats fell behind early, but scored 31 straight points in pulling away from the Los Angeles Avengers 34-17 in Week 2 of the AFL season.
The Avengers got the ball rolling early with a 10-play, 81-yard drive. Igor Keough finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead with 10:06 remaining in the first quarter. Andre Stanfill was picked off by Clem Wallen who returned it 9 yards to the San Jose 13-yard line. After three plays gained nine yards, Carmon Grimes kicked a 21-yard field goal to go up 10-0 with 6:59 remaining in the first. After Kirby Hudspeth returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Avengers 49-yard line, San Jose went on a 5-play, 49-yard drive. Alan Sale caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Stanfill to make it 10-7 with 4:09 to go in the first quarter.
The teams would trade punts into the second quarter, then the Sabercats would drive 53 yards on 10 plays. Sale ran in for a 3-yard touchdown run, and San Jose took a 14-10 lead with 8:49 left in the second quarter. Mac Shockley picked off Willie Guess at the Sabercats' 38-yard line, then had to punt. But Chip Kindrick fumbled on the return, and Scooter Colby recovered for San Jose at the Los Angeles 29-yard line. Seven plays later, Stanfill hit Turk Costigan for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10 with 4:08 left in the half.
San Jose opened the second half with a 5-play, 57-yard drive. Hack McDonald caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Stanfill to make it 28-10 with 12:45 remaining in the third quarter. Los Angeles punted, and the Sabercats would drive 41 yards on 9 plays, ending with a 50-yard field goal by Ethan Wycoff making it 31-10 with 5:04 left in the third.
The teams traded punts into the fourth quarter, then Los Angeles was turned away on fourth down at the San Jose 34-yard line. After another exchange of punts, the Avengers faced a fourth-and-10 at their own 27-yard line. The snap to Nino Schwarz on a punt was bobbled, and his desperation pass to Keough fell incomplete. Wycoff would miss a 41-yard field goal attempt, then Los Angeles drove 69 yards on 8 plays, ending with Guess throwing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Devlin with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter making it 31-17. The Avengers' onside kicked failed, then the Sabercats drove seven yards on three plays. Wycoff then made a 53-yard field goal to make it 34-17 with 52 seconds to go.
San Jose (1-1) gained 305 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for 137 yards on 33 carries. Sale led the team with 55 yards on 15 carries and a TD. Stanfill was 17-of-28 passing for 188 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 20 yards. Costigan led the receivers with 5 catches for 61 yards and a TD. The Sabercats visit the Arizona Rattlers next week.
Los Angeles (1-1) gained 283 yards of total offense. The Avengers ran for 66 yards on 17 carries. Kindrick led the team with 41 yards on 9 carries. Guess was 22-of-40 passing for 234 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 17 yards. Ken Lavue (52 yards) and Clovis Awtrey (45 yards) each caught 5 passes in the game. The Avengers host the Colorado Crush next week.
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