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Arena football
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 31, 2003
ORLANDO -- Greg Hopkins caught a 32-yard touchdown from Tony Graziani off the end zone nets with time expired to give the Los Angeles Avengers a 64-63 comeback victory over the Predators in an Arena Football League game Sunday.
Orlando took a 63-51 lead on Kenny McIntyre's 11-yard onside kickoff return with 35 seconds left. But the Avengers (7-2) stormed back, first on Graziani's 7-yard touchdown to Chris Jackson with 19 seconds left.
Cornelius Coe recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Graziani drove the Avengers for the victory.
"You know this is going to sound crazy, but we work on that play every week in practice," Graziani said. "What an unbelievable finish."
Graziani was 19-of-31 for 319 yards and six touchdowns, two each to Jackson and Kevin Ingram.
Connell Maynor finished with 192 yards and four touchdown passes and rushed for 41 and another score for the Predators (6-3), who lost their third straight and fell a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Storm in the Southern Division. Travis McGriff caught five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
"It's atrocious that we don't have the mental toughness that we need to play four quarters," Orlando coach Fran Papasedero said. "It's sad the fans have to see this unprofessionalism."
FURY 34, DESTROYERS 14: Andy Kelly threw four touchdowns and Detroit held host Buffalo scoreless in the second half.
Kelly was 26-of-35 for 231 yards, and Junior Lord had three touchdown catches for Detroit (5-4), which moved into a tie with Las Vegas for first place in the Eastern Division.
Tim Carey struggled in his third start of the season, going 11-of-24 for 123 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Buffalo (3-6).
DRAGONS 61, CRUSH 52: Aaron Garcia threw eight touchdowns to lead New York to its first home win.
Garcia was 22-of-31 for 293 yards, and Mike Furrey caught nine passes for 144 yards and four TDs for the Dragons.
John Dutton completed 22 of 32 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and Joe Douglass had 11 catches for 98 yards for Colorado (1-8).