Turner Says the Final Game Is ‘About Pride’

A week after ending a six-game losing streak with an impressive 16-point victory over playoff-bound Nashville, the Avengers will play their final game against Las Vegas at Staples Center on Saturday.

At 4-11, the Avengers will miss the playoffs for the first time under Coach Ed Hodgkiss, but they still have plenty to play for, according to receiver Rob Turner.

“It’s really about pride,” said Turner, who has caught five touchdown passes in the last two games. “You’re representing yourself as a player.... It’s important to keep playing hard.”

After being slowed most of last season because of injuries and getting limited playing time most of this year, Turner has made the most of recent opportunities.

At 6 feet 3, Turner is a former basketball standout who is the tallest among the Avenger wideouts. In the last two weeks, Turner has 13 catches for 108 yards, and his hoop skills have helped him become rookie quarterback Sonny Cumbie’s favorite target near the end zone.

“In the arena league, the field gets a lot smaller down there,” said Turner, who had three receptions for touchdowns in the Avengers’ 73-56 victory last week. “I’m able to change speeds a lot like you do on the basketball court.”

Turner’s play has not gone unnoticed.

“He’s a guy who has been with us a couple of years and he’s always been very good in practice,” Hodgkiss said. “We gave him a chance early in the season and he didn’t do that well. But we wanted to see if he’s a guy who could help us, so the last few weeks he’s been in there and he’s done a good job.”

Turner, in the final season of a two-year contract, understands that Saturday will be his last game to impress.

“In a way, this year has not worked out like I had hoped,” he said. “But I’m getting my chance now.”

*

Hodgkiss on next season: “We’re going to get back to basics. Camp will definitely be a little tougher.... We don’t want to repeat the type of season that we had this year.”

*

The Avengers’ Kareem Kelly, who has 14 catches for 122 yards and one touchdown, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League this week. Saturday’s game could be the last for the Avengers’ Greg Hopkins, who is running for the Republican nomination for representative of the 50th District in Pennsylvania.