JACKSON PROVIDES THE ACTION AVENGER WITHIN ONE OF TD-CATCH RECORD; TEAM ON TRACK FOR BYE AVENGERS 63, ARIZONA 49.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

With 1 minute, 35 seconds left in the third quarter Sunday, Avengers offensive specialist Chris Jackson hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tony Graziani, tucked the ball under his right arm and bowed to the fans at America West Arena like a leading man on Broadway.

For the Arena Football League's master of the end-zone celebration, there was nothing more to do. Jackson caught six touchdowns, exhausted every possible act once there, and the Avengers danced past the Arizona Rattlers 63-49 in Phoenix.

``I had my family and my people here in the stands,'' Jackson said of the bow. ``We're out here working hard for this, and that was my way of saying I appreciate the support they're giving me.''

The Avengers' defense forced three first-half turnovers to give coach Ed Hodgkiss his first victory in four games against the Rattlers. Most important, the Avengers (10-4) kept pace for a first-round playoff bye with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

But Jackson - and his celebrations on an afternoon in which NBC chose to spotlight them across the league - indeed was the story Sunday. And his performance was spectacular.

Jackson, the last remaining expansion Avenger, finished with 10 receptions for 172 yards, moving within one touchdown catch of matching the AFL's single-season record of 46, set by Iowa Barnstormer Mike Horacek in 2000.

And Jackson also treated the crowd of 13,194 to some more of his imaginative moves. One week after winning a place on the teaser to ``SportsCenter'' for sitting in the end zone and driving a mock bus with two teammates, Jackson showed what was waiting in reserve.

After his first touchdown catch, Jackson joined Siaha Burley and Greg Hopkins in an imitation of a double-dutch routine. He later spun a ball in the end zone like a top, counting each revolution. And Jackson revisited the bus with Burley in the second quarter.

``We all collaborate a little on it,'' Jackson said. ``We each put our finger into what we're doing. All we want is just to have some fun out there.''

Hodgkiss, meanwhile, said he prefers it when his star receiver is acting in the end zone. Even in a visiting arena against a division rival in what was a must-win game.

``I don't usually get to see them until I watch film of the game afterward,'' Hodgkiss said. ``I like it when our guys are having fun out on the field. We tend to play better when we're loose as a team.''

By the end of the game, though, after his final 40-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, Jackson returned to his staple all season, slamming the ball against the uprights. It was the final blow against the Rattlers (8-6), who fell behind 35-14 at halftime and never recovered.

Hodgkiss called it his team's best performance of the season, and few could argue with the assessment. Graziani completed 22 of 31 passes for 289 yards and eight touchdowns (against no interceptions) as the Avengers decisively ended Arizona's winning streak at four games.

The Avengers also paid back Arizona for an 82-76 overtime loss three weeks ago at Staples Center. In the first half Sunday, Damen Wheeler intercepted an end-zone pass, Mike Ulufale recovered a botched goal-line handoff and Cornelius Coe stripped the ball from Hunkie Cooper after a catch.

With the victory, the Avengers remained a game behind Tampa Bay (11-3) for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They have two games remaining - home against Colorado on Saturday, at San Jose on May 17 - but closed in on a first-round bye Sunday.

``We're definitely in much better shape now,'' said Jackson, who was coming off the Avengers' loss last week to Dallas. ``We got back on the right track and got back some momentum.''