No Revenge for Avengers in 65-46 Loss to Rush

Big-play returns and a spotty passing game proved too much for the struggling Avengers to overcome Saturday night as they were defeated by the Chicago Rush, 65-46, at Staples Center.

The Avengers (1-3) hurt themselves by giving up a lengthy interception return and a kickoff return for touchdowns to the Rush (2-2).

“The way we’re playing right now, we’re in trouble,” said Coach Ed Hodgkiss, whose team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs last season by the Rush.

“Do I see a light at the end of the tunnel? Yes, because we’ll get some [injured players] back next week ... but we have to get our quarterbacks playing better, whoever that may be.”

Starter Brian Mann completed 21 of 37 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns, but two of his passes were intercepted in the first quarter. He was replaced in the fourth quarter by rookie Sonny Cumbie, who was activated this week after Ryan Van Dyke -- last week’s starter -- was replaced.

It was a different story for Chicago’s Matt D’Orazio, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Chicago jumped to a 17-3 lead behind a touchdown pass from D’Orazio to Cornelius White and a 45-yard interception return for a score by Jeremy Unertl.

But unlike last week when they fell behind by three touchdowns in the first quarter and never recovered in a 66-41 loss at Grand Rapids, the Avengers rallied behind Mann, who bounced back from the early mistakes with two second-quarter touchdown passes.

After Mann connected with Kevin Ingram for a 45-yard score, the Avengers trailed, 27-24, with 51 seconds remaining before halftime.

D’Orazio completed his second touchdown pass to White before halftime to give the Rush a 34-24 lead at intermission. Then in the third quarter, it went from bad to worse for the Avengers, who fell behind, 48-24, when they turned the ball over on a Mann fumble and gave up two short touchdown runs to Chicago’s Bob McMillen.

After the Avengers’ Remy Hamilton kicked his second field goal, Chicago’s Carlos Right broke the game open with a 55-yard kickoff return to give the Rush a 55-27 lead.

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Arizona 45, Utah 38 -- Damien Groce had 11 receptions for 194 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Rattlers (1-3) past the Blaze (1-3) at Phoenix.

Nashville 58, Colorado 36 -- Clint Stoerner threw for 194 yards and five touchdowns to help the Kats (3-1) defeat the Crush (3-1) at Nashville.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.