A Tough Day for Avengers
There was no escaping Al Lucas’ presence in what became a disappointing day for the Avengers.
Lucas’ locker was transported east, becoming a monument for his teammates at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. A moment of silence in tribute to Lucas, who died during last Sunday’s game, started the Avengers’ day, and a tough 51-48 loss to Nashville ended it. His No. 76 was all over the field, on the helmets of each player and on the back of Avenger lineman Silas Demary, who wore Lucas’ jersey.
And seated in the front row was Lucas’ father, David, and brothers, David and Lenny, who came from Macon, Ga., to support the team. All wore a Lucas jersey, more reminders.
The Lucas family returns to Macon today, as does the Avenger team, for the burial of a player who all said was an inspiration.
“I can’t say how we’re going to deal with tomorrow,” said Demary, who was the first player introduced before the game and knelt in the end zone for a brief prayer.
“To see Al laying there, it is going to be real difficult for a lot of guys, for me. I don’t know if there will ever be closure. It was very emotional for me to see his picture on the JumboTron [before the game], to be reminded that he was never going to be with us to celebrate again.”
There was nothing for the Avengers to celebrate Sunday. They remained deeply saddened by the loss of Lucas, who died of an apparent spinal-cord injury while making a tackle on a kickoff. They were then stung by a difficult loss that ended with a mad scramble.
Remy Hamilton set up for a 54-yard field-goal attempt that would have tied the score. A bad snap prevented it, and a rugby-like scramble followed, with Avenger players desperately trying to move the ball upfield, and being called for an illegal forward pass in the process.
Bernard Riley, who had replaced Lucas in the lineup, was the last Avenger to have the ball, rolling it toward the end zone in an act of desperate hope, then remained prone, head in hands.
It ended the game, but not the pain.
“I couldn’t help but think about Al all through the game,” Avenger lineman Sean McNamara said. “But I know Al wouldn’t want us to be sitting at home crying. He would want us to find a way to do our job.”
A reminder of that was in the locker set aside for Lucas’ effects. McNamara said the team would set up a locker at their remaining road games.
“I look at that locker and it brings strength to me,” Demary said. “Al brought courage to us all.”
Demary highlighted that by using Lucas’ jersey, after seeking permission from his family -- “I just wanted it out there one more time making sacks,” he said.
Demary ended the first half by sacking Nashville quarterback Leon Murray, which prevented a possible touchdown. He also retrieved the ball from the Avengers’ first touchdown, and said it would go to the Lucas family.
Those were among the handful of highlights for the Avengers, who watched Nashville’s Jarrick Hillery return two kickoffs for touchdowns and gave up a 45-yard touchdown pass from Murray to T.T. Toliver on Nashville’s first play.
Toliver, who played with Lucas in Tampa Bay two years ago, knelt in the end zone and pointed skyward after scoring.
Quarterback John Kaleo threw five touchdown passes, and the Avengers overcame their traditional slow start. They scored on their first four possessions of the second half, then came up one play short.
“Hopefully, we can get a win [next week],” Coach Ed Hodgkiss said. “The guys are disappointed about things now. But just like it has been all week, we’re going to go day by day.”
That itinerary will take them to Macon today.
“We’re going to pay our respects to Al, his family and friends,” Kaleo said. “After that, we’re going to try to move on, because that is what Al would want us to do. We tried to do that today and came up short.”
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In other games Sunday:
Las Vegas 56, Philadelphia 49 -- Clint Dolezel threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Joe Douglass with one second left to give the Gladiators a victory over the Soul at Philadelphia. Dolezel completed 28 of 43 passes for 341 yards and eight touchdowns, and Ricky Ross led the Gladiators (7-5) in receiving with eight catches for 92 yards and three touchdowns. Tony Graziani threw three touchdown passes for the Soul (5-7).
Tampa Bay 54, Austin 42 -- Shane Stafford threw five touchdown passes -- three to Lawrence Samuels -- to help the Storm beat the Wranglers, 54-42, at Austin, Texas. Stafford completed 25 of 41 passes for 207 yards for the Storm (7-4). John Fitzgerald threw four touchdown passes for the Wranglers (4-8).
Chicago 75, Colorado 51 -- Etu Molden scored a team-record six touchdowns to help the Rush beat the Crush, 75-51, at Rosemont, Ill. Molden had nine catches for 159 yards and five touchdowns, and returned an on-side kick for another score. Raymond Philyaw tossed eight touchdown passes for the Rush (7-4). The Crush fell to 8-3.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
