AVENGERS ROMP INTO TIE FOR FIRST AVENGERS 61, G.R. 51.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

Even after the Avengers reached the midpoint of their season Sunday with another impressive victory, coach Ed Hodgkiss wasn't willing to concede much after his team defeated the first-place Grand Rapids Rampage 61-51.

But there was someone watching among the 13,849 at Staples Center who had something to say about the Avengers' Arena Football League championship prospects.

``I think they can win it,'' Grand Rapids coach Michael Trigg said. ``I think there are about six that can, us included, and they're one of them. But L.A.'s a team that definitely has the opportunity to win the ArenaBowl.''

Indeed, the Avengers set themselves up for the second half of the season with a convincing victory over the Rampage. At 6-2, the Avengers are tied with four other teams for the AFL's best mark. They have won three games in a row and are four games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.

``If they want to stop the season right now and start the playoffs, we'll take it,'' said Hodgkiss, whose team will have a showdown next Sunday against the Orlando Predators, also 6-2. ``But I don't think they're going to do that. We still have a long way to go.''

The numbers told only part of the story Sunday, as Tony Graziani completed 20 of 27 passes for 222 yards and seven touchdowns. Graziani also benefited from the best protection he has seen all season, with Grand Rapids rarely laying a hand on him.

``When they give me time, it's unbelievable what this offense can do,'' said Graziani, who had been sacked 12 times in the first seven games this season. ``I don't think I got hit but a couple of times.''

The Avengers scored on 10 of their 11 possessions - with Greg Hopkins catching three touchdowns - and kept pace with their 55.3-point average this season. But the Avengers' defense, behind 11.5 tackles from newly signed Cornelius Coe, recorded its second consecutive strong showing, as well.

A week after holding Indiana to a franchise record-low 20 points, the Avengers slowed Grand Rapids (5-3), which trailed by 24 points two minutes into the second half and scored two touchdowns in the final 1:48 to make the score more respectable. The Rampage had been averaging more than eight touchdowns a game.

With the Avengers leading 20-13 in the second quarter, Graziani connected with Hopkins on a 15-yard touchdown, the first of 17 unanswered points. The run started after Sean McNamara recovered an onside kick.

The Avengers went into the locker room leading 30-17 on Remy Hamilton's 17-yard field goal. They added another touchdown to start the second half when Graziani threw a 19-yard pass to Chris Jackson. The Avengers never looked back after that.