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Avengers Forced Into an Overtime Loss

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Times Staff Writer

Forced to play Monday night because of scheduling conflicts with the more high-profile Staples Center tenants, the Avengers did not mind working late against the Georgia Force.

But they would have preferred a different outcome.

Georgia quarterback Leon Murray’s two-point conversion pass to Dialleo Burks gave the Force a 53-52 overtime victory over the Avengers in front of 10,236.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Avengers (2-2), who dropped their home opener against San Jose last week. They do not play again until March 14 at Grand Rapids, the first of three consecutive road games.

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“We knew we had a tough schedule at the beginning of the season, and we didn’t want to put ourselves in a hole like this,” Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani said.

Last season, Georgia held the Avengers to a season-low 35 points and a season-low 232 yards en route to a 46-35 victory at Staples Center.

The Force sent Monday night’s game into overtime on Steve McLaughlin’s 50-yard field goal on the last play of regulation to tie the score, 45-45.

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The Avengers scored on the first possession of overtime on a 35-yard touchdown pass play from Graziani to offensive specialist Joe Douglass, who was playing in place of injured Chris Jackson. Remy Hamilton added the extra point to give the Avengers a 52-45 lead.

Georgia (2-2) took possession and quickly drove on a 17- and 13-yard passes from Murray to Burks.

Murray’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Dameon Porter made the score 52-51, and the Force did not hesitate to play for the win.

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Murray faked a handoff and rolled to his left before passing to Burks in the left corner off the end zone for a the decisive two-point conversion.

Graziani completed 23 of 36 passes for 253 yards and six touchdowns without an interception, but it was not enough against a Georgia team that has also defeated defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay on the road.

Murray completed 27 of 38 passes for 297 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

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