Avenger Offense Fires Up on Road

Forget the comforts of home, the Avengers like it just fine on the road.

The Avengers improved their Arena Football League-leading road record to 5-1 with a 71-35 victory over the Chicago Rush before 13,927 Sunday at Allstate Arena.

“We’re underdogs every time we come on the road, and it’s so much easier to go out there and play,” said offensive specialist Chris Jackson. “And it’s awesome to take the home fans out of the game.”

The win lifted the Avenger record to 7-4, the same as Chicago’s.

The last 10 minutes of the opening half proved pivotal as the Avengers scored 30 unanswered points to build a 50-21 halftime lead. The Avengers made the Rush pay for three turnovers in that span, including Jason Moore’s interception of a pass by Chicago quarterback Raymond Philyaw that he returned 35 yards for a touchdown and a 34-21 L.A. lead. Philyaw, who was hit on the play by Avenger lineman Al Lucas, injured his knee and did not return to the game.

The Avengers, with the AFL’s second-ranked offense, were dazzling as quarterback Tony Graziani completed 19 of 25 passes for 261 yards. Four of his eight touchdown passes went to Jackson.

The first came midway through the opening quarter, after an Avenger fumble recovery.

Graziani tossed a 28-yard scoring pass to Jackson on the next play.

“When they left me one on one, I think me and Graziani played real well,” said Jackson, who had seven catches for a game-high 135 yards. “He put the ball right where I was going to be.”

In other Arena Football League games:

Las Vegas 60, Detroit 34 -- Clint Dolezel threw five touchdown passes, four to Marcus Nash, as the Gladiators (4-7) ended a losing streak at four with a victory over the Fury (4-7) before 9,988 at Las Vegas.

Arizona 46, Indiana 43 -- Sherdrick Bonner passed for 337 yards and six touchdowns as the Rattlers (7-5) held off the Firebirds (6-6) before 9,587 at Indianapolis.

Tampa Bay 46, Columbus 36 -- Andre Bowden ran for two touchdowns to lift the Storm (5-7) over the Destroyers (3-8) before 15,108 at Columbus, Ohio.

Orlando 64, Dallas 49 -- Joe Hamilton tied a career high with six touchdown passes to lead the Predators (6-5) over the Desperados (6-5) before 12,105 at Orlando, Fla.

San Jose 63, Georgia 34 -- Mark Grieb’s eight touchdown passes led the SaberCats (9-2) over the Force (4-8) before 8,145 at Duluth, Ga.

New Orleans 63, Austin 59 -- John Fitzgerald threw seven touchdown passes to lead the VooDoo (9-2) over the Wranglers (6-5) before 11,355 at Austin, Texas.

Associated Press contributed to this report.