Avengers Catch a Break

After allowing a couple of Colorado touchdowns Sunday, defensive back Damen Wheeler stepped up with his own big play, which proved to be the difference in the Avengers’ 60-57 come-from-behind victory at Staples Center.

Wheeler intercepted a pass by Colorado’s John Dutton in the final minute of regulation to help the Avengers knock off the defending Arena Football League champion Crush.

“I was just trying to knock it down,” Wheeler said about his juggling interception of a pass intended for Andy McCullough. “I don’t know how I caught it.”

In winning their second consecutive game, the Avengers (3-5) received a solid game from rookie quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who bounced back from an early interception to complete 20 of 37 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns.

Colorado (6-2) outplayed the Avengers most of the game. Dutton completed 20 of 35 passes for 290 yards and six touchdowns. Receiver Damien Harrell, the AFL offensive player of the year in 2005, had nine catches for 169 yards and four touchdowns.

“It’s a carryover from last week,” Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss said. “We were able to create breaks, which is something we weren’t doing early in the season.”

Colorado dominated the first half with Willis Marshall scoring twice and Dutton completing three touchdown passes to Harrell.

The Avengers trailed, 35-22, at halftime but their deficit would have been larger if not for two field goals by Remy Hamilton.

The Avengers scored two touchdowns early in the third quarter when Kevin Ingram caught his second touchdown pass and former USC cornerback Antuan Simmons returned an interception 36 yards for a score.

The Avengers, however, could not maintain the lead, giving up a touchdown run to Dutton and a scoring pass to Ahmad Hawkins that put the Crush ahead, 49-43.

But down the stretch, the Avengers recovered a fumbled kickoff and Wheeler’s interception was enough to pull out a win.