Avengers brush aside the Blaze

The Avengers’ Tim Hicks made his second Arena Football League start even more memorable than the first.

Hicks threw eight touchdown passes Saturday night and was not intercepted in L.A.’s 79-62 victory over the Utah Blaze at Staples Center, ending the Avengers’ four-game losing streak.

The Avengers (3-4) came within three points of breaking a four-year-old franchise record for most points in a game, but fullback Lonnie Ford was tackled at the one-yard line on the game’s final two plays.

Hicks, a 28-year-old out of West Liberty State in West Virginia, wasn’t exactly a hot commodity in the AFL, spending four seasons in the AFL developmental league, then serving as a backup in Los Angeles for 23 games before earning his first start April 4 at Colorado.

Hicks threw touchdown passes on his team’s first play from scrimmage in each half. After the Avengers stopped Utah (0-7) on downs to start the second half, Hicks threw a five-yard touchdown pass to offensive lineman Clay Harrell to give Los Angeles a 51-34 lead.

After an interception, Los Angeles scored again when Hicks threw a 45-yard scoring strike to LaShaun Ward.

The Avengers’ defense also clamped down on Utah’s offense, led by former Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine, holding the Blaze to seven third-quarter points, allowing Los Angeles to extend its lead to 72-41.

L.A. entered halftime with a 44-34 lead after scoring a special teams touchdown on the final play of the half.

-- Dan Arritt