Fantastic Finish Eludes the Avengers This Time

The Avengers seemed to own the Arena Football League trademark on last-second heroics this season.

Before Sunday’s game against Arizona, four of the Avengers’ league-leading eight victories were clinched on the final play.

Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton had two chances to add to the total, but he twice missed 26-yard field-goal attempts and the Rattlers escaped with an 82-76 overtime victory before 12,352 at Staples Center.

The loss, in a game that featured a league-record 23 touchdowns, ended the Avengers’ five-game winning streak and dropped them to 8-3.

Hamilton, who ranks first among AFL kickers in scoring with 105 points, missed wide left with two seconds left in regulation and wide right with 4:17 remaining in overtime.

After Hamilton’s second miss, Arizona took possession and won the game on a 24-yard run by receiver Hunky Cooper with 1:36 left.

“I was hitting the ball well all game,” said Hamilton.

“It was just a matter of I needed to do it at the end and I didn’t come through.”

Though the Avengers remain on pace to be one of the top four seeded teams for the playoffs, the defeat was costly. Center and nose guard Sean McNamara suffered a fractured right ankle and might miss the rest of the season.

Neither the Avengers nor Rattlers (6-5) struggled offensively while combining for the third-highest point total in AFL history. The Avengers established franchise records for points and points allowed.

“The scoring pace was just unbelievable,” Arizona Coach Danny White said.

Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani completed 19 of 28 passes for 328 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. He has 69 touchdown passes this season, breaking the team record of 67 he set last year.

Arizona quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, a 10-year veteran from Cal State Northridge, established personal bests by completing 37 of 54 passes for 471 yards. He tied a career-best with nine touchdowns, and has 501 in his career.

The Avengers tied the score, 76-76, on a 19-yard pass from Graziani to Siaha Burley with 4:55 remaining.

Avenger lineman Chris Butterfield recovered the ensuing onside kick, and the Avengers chewed up the clock while driving to Arizona’s 11-yard line for Hamilton’s potential game-winning kick.

On fourth and seven in overtime, Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss again summoned Hamilton.

“When I yanked the first one I was really down and disappointed,” Hamilton said. “Then, when I got the second opportunity, I even went up to coach and said, ‘Thanks for the second chance, because I’m going to make this for you.’ ”

Hamilton, however, missed just to the right of the right upright.

“I have great confidence in Remy,” Hodgkiss said. “In a 16-game season the ball is not going to bounce your way every time.”

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Raymond Philyaw threw a 30-yard touchdown to Eddie Brown with seven seconds left as the Indiana Firebirds (5-6) beat the Dallas Desperados (6-5), 61-57, at Indianapolis.... Clint Dolezel threw five touchdowns, and the Grand Rapids Rampage (8-3) held the Las Vegas Gladiators (6-5) to a season low in points in a 69-21 victory at Grand Rapids, Mich.... Billy Dicken threw seven touchdowns and the Chicago Rush (5-6) set a franchise record for points in a 76-58 victory over the Colorado Crush (1-10) at Denver.