Desperados Do It All to Rout Avengers
A week off didn’t seem to help the Avengers.
Dallas scored on offense, on defense and even on special teams in a 72-50 rout at Staples Center that dropped the Avengers out of sole possession of first place in the Western Division.
This was the start of a difficult stretch for the Avengers (4-3). They will face Tampa Bay, Orlando and New York the next three weeks.
The Desperados (6-2) took control when Jermaine Jones intercepted a John Kaleo pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown for a 49-31 lead with 8 minutes 52 seconds left in the third quarter. On the Avengers’ next possession, Kaleo was called for intentional grounding from the end zone, giving Dallas a safety and a 51-31 lead.
Quarterback Clint Stoerner threw three touchdown passes for Dallas. The Desperados also scored four touchdowns rushing, a season high.
Dallas led, 35-24, at halftime after benefiting from two Avenger mistakes.
The Avengers’ Kevin Ingram mishandled a kickoff and the Desperados’ Bobby Sippio scooped up the ball and returned it four yards for a touchdown, giving Dallas a 14-0 lead.
On Dallas’ next possession, the Avengers’ Antuan Simmons was called for pass interference on a fourth-down play. Will Pettis scored on a one-yard run two plays later for a 21-7 lead.
-- Chris Foster
