A fresh start for Avengers
Second-year quarterback Sonny Cumbie wasn’t even on the Avengers’ active roster when they began last season, but he ended up starting the team’s final 12 games.
He finished the year with 3,241 passing yards and 59 touchdowns with only 10 interceptions -- numbers good enough to make the Arena Football League All-Rookie team -- but the Avengers failed to make the playoffs with a 5-11 record.
Cumbie will open this season as the Avengers’ No. 1 quarterback and said it was his goal to lead the team back into postseason play.
“Everyone in the league starts off 0-0 and every team thinks that it can win it all this year; we’re no different,” said Cumbie, who averaged 267.2 yards passing during starts last season. “There is so much quality in this league. Every team is strong.
“All we can do is just go out there and give all we can each week.”
It starts tonight against the defending Western Division champion San Jose SaberCats.
“I know, what a tough way to make your first season-opening start,” said a smiling Cumbie, who passed for 10 touchdowns and 626 yards with two interceptions in two games against San Jose last year.
“They’re a good, veteran football team that’s always well-coached.”
*
TONIGHT
vs. San Jose, 7
Site -- Staples Center.
Radio -- 570.
Records (2006) -- Avengers 5-11, SaberCats 10-6.
Record vs. SaberCats (2006) -- 1-1.
Update -- San Jose Coach Darren Arbet is in his ninth season and has led the SaberCats to seven consecutive winning seasons. Last year, San Jose won its sixth Western Division title but was eliminated in the playoffs by eventual AFL champion Chicago. The Avengers have won three of the last four meetings between the teams.
Tickets -- (888) 283-6437.
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