POOR DEFENSE SINKS AVENGERS HOUSTON 58, AVENGERS 48.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

The Avengers' quest to erase the bad memories of last season will have to wait at least one more week to be fulfilled.

Once again, the Avengers were plagued by defensive lapses against one of last year's worst teams, the Houston ThunderBears, in a 58-48 loss Thursday in their home opener in front of 7,229 at Staples Center.

Of course, the Avengers (0-2) were also one of last year's worst teams, and that group started the season with seven consecutive losses.

Coach Stan Brock thought things would be different and touted this group as being much improved on defense, but once again, the Avengers were handled fairly easily by the opposing offense.

Brock wasn't ready to place blame on the defense, however.

``I think you have to look at how many turnovers we had and the field position we gave them,'' Brock said. ``Certainly I think we need to do a better job of getting some pressure on the quarterback.''

At least this week it was a talented opposing offense, since Houston quarterback Todd Hammel is the league's career leader in passing yards and the ThunderBears (1-1) led the league in offense.

Hammel was 20 of 35 for 218 yards and threw three touchdown passes as the ThunderBears won for the first time in 10 games dating back to last season.

Just as important to Houston's cause was the play of defensive specialist Carl Greenwood (UCLA), who chased Avengers quarterback Todd Marinovich from the game with three interceptions, including one he returned 8 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Marinovich was benched after Greenwood's touchdown gave Houston a 48-27 lead. Marinovich injured his neck early in the second quarter when he was the victim of an ugly face-mask penalty.

``He couldn't move his neck around, and that's what caused him to throw the ball that way,'' Brock said.

Marinovich finished 12 of 26 for 151 yards. Although Erik Wilhelm (13 of 22, 147 yards, three touchdowns) was steady off the bench, he could not rally the Avengers.

Houston's Scott Szeredy kicked a 14-yard field goal to push the lead to 51-27, but then Wilhelm rallied the Avengers with scoring passes to Russell Shaw and Travis Hannah (10 catches, 132 yards), with a Mark Ricks interception in between.

Hannah's third touchdown of the game cut the deficit to 51-41 but Houston controlled the ball for most of the final eight minutes of the game. Both teams scored in the final minute.