SaberCats Overpower Avengers

There is still one game left on the schedule, but the Los Angeles Avengers’ first season in the Arena Football League, for all intents and purposes, ended Saturday when the San Jose SaberCats outlasted the Avengers, 75-72, before 13,034 at Staples Center.

But more important than the loss on the field was the loss of Avenger lineman Victor Hall and quarterback Todd Marinovich.

Hall suffered a neck injury in the third quarter when he hit the wall and 6-foot-3, 302-pound teammate Pete Ohnegian fell on him as the two were trying to tackle San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb.

Hall was carried off the field on a stretcher and transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for X-rays.

“[Hall] said he felt tingling down his back and spine,” Avenger owner Casey Wasserman said. “The doctors wanted to take no chances.”

John Tamanaha, Avenger vice president of communications, said Hall was able to move his arms and legs.

Before his injury, Hall blocked a field-goal attempt by SaberCat kicker Chris Sailor in the third quarter and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

Marinovich reinjured his left rib cage in the first quarter after hitting the turf following an incomplete pass. He did throw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Chris Jackson on the next play but left the game after the score and said he wasn’t sure he could play in next week’s finale against Buffalo.

Even if the Avengers (3-10) had won Saturday, their playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. They had to win Saturday, beat Buffalo next Friday in Buffalo and get help from the teams playing Florida, Houston and New Jersey.

Grieb, the league’s top quarterback, completed 20 of 31 attempts for 346 yards and six touchdowns. He has 55 touchdown passes (and only three interceptions) on the season.

Scott Semptimphelter, in relief of Marinovich, threw five touchdowns passes.