AVENGERS SQUANDER OPPORTUNITIES COLORADO 57, AVENGERS 55.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

For an Arena Football League game that ended with both teams combining to score 112 points, one yard never has felt so long for the Avengers as it did Saturday night at Staples Center.

Favored to win their first ArenaBowl title to start the season in February, the Avengers would have settled simply for finding a way to score from the goal line by the end of their 57-55 loss to the second-year Colorado Crush.

Twice in the second half, the Avengers saw drives short-circuit at the Crush 1-yard line, killing any attempt to overcome a 16-point second-half deficit. They also failed to convert two 2-point conversions that could have tied the game in the fourth quarter.

It was a pinball offense going tilt at the least opportune time, part of a night of missed opportunities. The Avengers' final gasp came with two minutes left when Kevin Ingram caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tony Graziani to make it 50-48.

But Graziani's 2-point conversion throw was low and behind Ingram. The Crush recovered the ensuing onside kick, took advantage of a holding penalty and finished off the Avengers on Kevin McKenzie's 4-yard touchdown catch with 43 seconds left.

Chris Jackson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Graziani with 16 seconds remaining to make it 57-55. Colorado took over possession, and John Dutton proceeded to throw the ball deep into the seats for three downs.

The game, however, will be remembered for the Avengers' futility to cover the final yard, one week after scoring a franchise-record 81 points against Austin.

The first failed chance ended with Graziani being flattened by Dustin Barno on a fourth-down rollout two minutes into the third quarter, a stop Colorado used to take a 44-28 lead.

The second came at the start of the fourth quarter, with Graziani's fourth-down pass finding the arm of Saul Pato and being knocked to the turf. It was a surprising turn for an Avengers team that entered Saturday having converted seven of nine fourth downs this season.

With only the top eight teams making the playoffs, the Avengers (5-4) also fell into a precarious position. They are seventh and only a game ahead of Arizona. They also lost the chance to complete a three-game sweep of Staples Center games.

Still, the Avengers nearly pulled off an inspired comeback. Russell Shaw started it in the third quarter with a leaping 16-yard touchdown catch, and Jackson pulled the Avengers to 44-42 with seven minutes to go on a 13-yard touchdown reception.

The Avengers also struggled in the defensive secondary once again. Colorado's Damian Harrell caught seven passes for 147 yards and found a home in the end zone with four touchdowns.

The Avengers made Henry Douglas their seventh different starting defensive specialist of the season Saturday, the lone problem being that Douglas never before had started in the secondary after spending his college and NFL career at receiver.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Avengers' receiver Chris Jackson tries to get away from Colorado's Ahmand Hawkins.

Edna T. Simpson/Staff Photographer