Avengers Are the Best in the West

What happens in Las Vegas doesn’t always stay there. Sometimes, it merely switches teams.

The Las Vegas Gladiators, who capitalized on three turnovers by the Avengers during a season-opening victory in Las Vegas, missed three conversion attempts Saturday night during a 63-60 loss to the Avengers before an announced 11,873 at Staples Center.

Las Vegas kicker Mark Lewis missed two point-after kicks, both hitting the right goalpost. Gladiator quarterback Clint Dolezel also attempted a two-point conversion pass that failed.

Michale Spicer bulled into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown with 2:27 left after initially being stood up near the line of scrimmage to give the Avengers the go-ahead points in a victory that clinched the franchise’s first Western Division title.

The Avengers (10-5) will play host to a first-round playoff game May 29 after playing at Grand Rapids next Saturday in their regular-season finale.

Las Vegas (8-7) drove to the Avenger four-yard line on its final possession, but fullback Marlion Jackson was stopped a couple of inches short on fourth-and-one. The Avengers took over with 34 seconds remaining and gained two first downs to run out the clock.

Avenger quarterback John Kaleo passed for five touchdowns, giving him 499 in his career. Greg Hopkins had three touchdown catches -- all in the first half -- and Kevin Ingram two.

The Gladiators had taken a 60-56 lead with 8:14 left when Jackson cut outside and skirted the sideline on a 46-yard touchdown run.

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Georgia 63, Dallas 56 -- Matt Nagy threw nine touchdown passes in Atlanta to help the Force clinch the top spot in the National Conference.

Nagy was 25 of 32 for 307 yards for the league-leading Force (11-4). Chris Jackson had 12 receptions for 173 yards and five touchdowns.

Clint Stoerner threw four touchdown passes for the Desperados (7-7-1), who were eliminated from playoff contention.

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New Orleans 69, Austin 68 -- Andy Kelly threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Thabiti Davis with 1:37 to play to give the VooDoo a home victory. Kelly was 34 of 46 for 361 yards and nine touchdowns to help the VooDoo (9-6) remain in playoff contention. Aaron Bailey had 12 catches for 134 yards and five touchdowns, and Davis finished with nine catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

John Fitzgerald threw four scoring passes for the Wranglers (6-10).

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Arizona 54, San Jose 44 -- Sherdrick Bonner threw six touchdown passes at Phoenix to help the Rattlers (6-9) defeat the defending ArenaBowl champions. Bonner was 18 of 29 for 228 yards.

Mark Grieb threw four scoring passes for the SaberCats (8-7).

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Associated Press contributed to this report.