Avengers Forced Into an Overtime Loss

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.

“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.

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.

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.