Locke Has Been the Key to Their Success

When the Avengers in the off-season let go of Chris Jackson, one of the top offensive specialists in the Arena Football League, it left open a key spot in the lineup -- and the list of potential replacements was of unknown quality.

Tony Locke, a pre-med student from Ohio State, was just what the doctor ordered.

Locke, who turns 27 this month, has led the Avengers in receiving yards the last five games, topping 100 yards in four of them. He had four catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns in a key 52-49 victory over Chicago two weeks ago. Last week, he caught 10 passes for 166 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-56 victory over Arizona.

Those victories left the Avengers (8-5) tied with San Jose, their opponent tonight in San Jose, for first place in the Western Division.

“Tony has been a big surprise for us this year,” Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss said. “He got a shot at offensive specialist and has made the most of it. He has skills that are important, speed, reliability, durability. But what we like the most is that he has so much room for growth.”

Locke leads the team with 944 receiving yards and his 19 touchdowns tie him with Kevin Ingram for the team lead. Locke has 13 touchdowns in the last five games.

“He has improved each week,” quarterback John Kaleo said. “His last four or five games have been pretty impressive.”

The Avengers were accustomed to getting that kind of production from Jackson, the AFL leader in receiving yards last season. Locke was not handed the spot but, as he did when he played well enough to earn a scholarship after walking on at Ohio State in 1998, he earned his time.

Locke had three touchdown receptions against San Jose in Week 4 and has been in the lineup since.

Locke has plans to become a doctor, but that’s on hold for now.

“I’ve learned in Arena Football that the two most important positions are quarterback and offensive specialists because passing dominates the game,” Locke said. “I got John back there talking in my ear about what needs to be done. We stay out here after practice all the time so he can work with me. That has been a big help.”

*

Remy Hamilton’s first-quarter field goal last Saturday was his 28th this season, second-most in AFL history. He needs four more to match Daron Alcorn’s single-season record.

*

TONIGHT

at San Jose, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- HP Pavilion.

Radio -- 570.

Records -- Avengers 8-5, SaberCats 8-5.

Record vs. SaberCats -- 1-0.

Update -- The Western Division title won’t be decided in this game, but the winner will have a one-game lead with two left. The Avengers are 0-5 in San Jose and will follow this game with one against Las Vegas, which is a game out of first place in the division. “This is a two-game tournament to win the division,” Coach Ed Hodgkiss said. San Jose’s Mark Grieb is the league’s top passer, with a 128.3 rating. He has 72 touchdown passes, second to Philadelphia’s Tony Graziani.