At This Point, It Could Go Either Way

After finishing with a franchise-record 11 victories in 2003, the Avengers proclaimed they would settle for nothing less than an appearance in the ArenaBowl this season.

At 7-5 before today’s game at Tampa Bay and the start of the final quarter of the season, the Avengers could conceivably run the table and equal their record for victories.

They also are flirting with the possibility of missing the playoffs.

The inconsistent Avengers, coming off a loss to Arizona last week, are in a three-way tie for sixth place. They probably need at least two victories in their remaining four games to make the postseason for the third consecutive year.

The game against the defending ArenaBowl champion Storm (6-7) is the first of two in a row for the Avengers in the Eastern time zone. Next week, the Avengers play the New York Dragons (7-5) on Long Island.

“It’s probably better that we’re on the road,” said Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss, whose team is 5-1 on the road and 2-4 at Staples Center.

The Avengers end the regular season at home against Las Vegas (5-7) and Orlando (6-6).

“If we win three of our last four, we know we’re in the playoffs,” Hodgkiss said. “Some people speculate that with nine wins, you’d probably need some help from other teams.”

The Avengers helped themselves last season by pulling out several last-second victories.

This season, they have fallen short on offense several times in the waning moments of games, including last week’s 42-38 loss to Arizona at Staples Center.

“It’s the same guys as last year -- we just haven’t gotten it done,” Hodgkiss said. “Doing a better job in those situations has been our priority this week in practice.”

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Defensive specialist Damen Wheeler is set to play today after missing the last five games because of a knee injury.

The Avengers are 3-0 in games that Wheeler has started and finished this season.

Wheeler will probably replace Jason Moore in the lineup, with Ben Kelly playing the other defensive-specialist spot.

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Avenger quarterback Tony Graziani ranks second in the league in passing behind San Jose’s Mark Grieb.

Graziani has completed 257 of 387 passes (66.4%) for 3,315 yards and 75 touchdowns with two interceptions. His rating is 130.5.

Grieb has completed 245 of 330 (74.2%) for 3,100 yards and 62 touchdowns with four interceptions. His rating is 137.6.

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Lineman Al Lucas, who signed a free-agent contract with the Avengers in October, helped the Storm win the ArenaBowl title last year.

Avenger defensive coordinator Doug Kay held the same position for the Storm during its 1993 championship season.

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The Avengers’ third annual charity golf tournament, benefiting the Malibu Foundation for Youth and Families, will be played May 24 at MountainGate Country Club.

Details: (310) 407-0503 or www.laavengers.com/promotions.php.

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TODAY

at Tampa Bay, noon PDT, Channel 4

Site -- St. Pete Times Forum.

Radio -- XTRA (690 and 1150).

Records -- Avengers 7-5, Tampa Bay 6-7.

Record vs. Storm -- 0-0. (Tampa Bay defeated the Avengers, 66-41, on July 27, 2002, in the AFL playoffs. The Avengers won the only regular-season meeting, 38-24, on May 17, 2002, at Staples Center).

Update -- The Avengers play the defending ArenaBowl champion in the first of two consecutive road games. The Avengers, however, are not complaining. They are 5-1 in away games this season. Their loss to Arizona last week put them in a three-way tie for sixth place in the playoff race. Eight teams earn postseason berths. Tampa Bay started 3-7 but has won three games in a row, including last week’s 63-58 victory over Orlando. Receiver/defensive back T.T. Tolliver amassed 154 all-purpose yards, caught two touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the third game in a row.