RATTLERS IN CHARGE AVENGERS FALL TO ARIZONA AGAIN IN STAPLES ARIZONA 42, AVENGERS 38.

Byline: Ross Siller Staff Writer

From the fans who made the five-hour drive for the game to the team that spilled onto the field in celebration Saturday night, it was easy to see the Arizona Rattlers own Staples Center like no one else in the Arena Football League.

The Rattlers improved to 6-0 all-time against the Avengers in Los Angeles as Ricky Parker broke up a pass in the end zone as time expired for a wild 42-38 victory in front of 13,322.

It was the latest in a streak of excruciating losses for the Avengers at home against their division rival. The Avengers now have lost twice to Arizona in overtime, twice on the final play of regulation and once in last year's playoffs.

After four lead changes in the fourth quarter, the Avengers took over the ball with 90 seconds remaining and a chance to win, completing a comeback from 12 points down in the third quarter in a game in which their offense struggled.

Tony Graziani threw to Chris Jackson three times inside the final minute and each was good for a first down. On first-and-goal with 14 seconds left, Graziani found Greg Hopkins on a 5-yard pass down to the 3.

But Graziani's next pass went in and out of Jackson's hands in the end zone and the Avengers were called for holding on third down. That set up a final play from the 13 with 3 seconds left.

Graziani looked for Jackson and Hopkins in the end zone but Parker dived to knock away the pass. The Rattlers won their fifth consecutive game and the Avengers (7-5) now have five losses by a total of 16 points.

The Avengers dropped into a three-way tie for sixth place in the AFL standings with four games to play. The top eight teams will make the playoffs.

Through the first three quarters, the Avengers offense looked lost before finally getting on track. Kevin Ingram turned a screen pass into a 20-yard touchdown and Jackson caught an 8-yard touchdown to put the Avengers ahead 38-35 with six minutes to go.

But Sherdrick Bonner scored on a quarterback sneak with 2 minutes, 35 seconds remaining to put Arizona back in front 42-38.

The Rattlers (8-5) got the stop they needed to start the second half when Wendall Gaines buried Graziani on a fourth-and-4 pass. Arizona then went ahead 28-16 on Tom Pace's 25-yard touchdown reception.

The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie, the first time it has happened in Avengers history. Nelson Garner missed a 26-yard field goal for Arizona and Graziani had a tipped pass go out of the hands of Greg Hopkins and into those of Randy Gatewood.

It was only the second interception for Graziani in 350 attempts this season. But it set the tone for a strange half that ended with the Avengers trailing 21-16 and included Ingram's mad scramble to find a receiver on a failed extra-point attempt.

The Avengers activated defensive specialist Damen Wheeler from injured reserve but gave him another week to rest his sprained knee. Lineman Jeremy Staat also did not play after missing practice Thursday in the wake of close friend Pat Tillman's death.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com