Perhaps this was what NBC was thinking about when it decided to televise the Arena Football League nationally.

Mathias Vavao steamrolled into the end zone from 1 yard out with one second remaining and quarterback Tony Graziani hit Greg Hopkins on a two-point conversion as the Los Angeles Avengers capped an improbable comeback to beat the San Jose SabreCats, 73-72, in front of 14,992 fans at Staples Center on Sunday.

The Avengers had dug themselves a 41-21 hole in the second half as the defending champion SabreCats harassed Graziani into four interceptions, returning two for scores.

"I think we probably lost some viewers," Graziani said of his early performance.

Hopkins and fellow receiver Chris Jackson, a former UC Riverside basketball player, both caught three touchdown passes from Graziani, who finished the game 25 for 38 with seven touchdown passes. Jackson added a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Ingram on a reverse play early in the fourth quarter.

"We showed a lot of character today," Avengers coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "(Graziani) threw four picks but everyone had his back."

After cutting the score to 41-38 in the third quarter on two Graziani-to-Hopkins connections, the SabreCats stretched the lead to 55-38.

However Los Angeles outscored San Jose 35-17 in the fourth quarter.

With San Jose leading 69-65, the Avengers defense made its biggest stand of the game, holding the SabreCats to a field goal to set up the final drive with 32 seconds left.

Following Siaha Burley's superb return to the San Jose 15, Los Angeles got the ball to the 1-yard line and into the hands of crowd-favorite Vavao, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman/fullback.

"They call me Mr. Automatic in practice," Vavao said. "Just get me the ball and let me lean forward, there's a yard right there."

With the score 72-71, Hodgkiss made the gutsy call to go for the two-point conversion. He was rewarded when Graziani connected with Hopkins in the corner of the end zone, sending the crowd into a frenzy and sending the SabreCats to their first loss of the season.

San Jose 13 28 14 17 -- 72

Los Angeles 21 3 14 35 -- 73

First Quarter

SJ--Hundon 22 pass from Grieb (kick failed), 12:45.

LA--Hopkins 30 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 10:52.

SJ--Wagner 32 pass from Grieb (Alcorn kick), 9:18.

LA--Jackson 6 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 7:07.

LA--Clemens 1 run (Hamilton kick), 1:16.

Second Quarter

SJ--Roe 19 pass from Grieb (Alcorn kick), 13:26.

SJ--Thomas 28 interception return (Alcorn kick), 11:09.

SJ--Hernandez 23 interception return (Alcorn kick), 7:54.

SJ--Hundon 11 pass from Grieb (Alcorn kick), 1:37.

LA--FG Hamilton 29, :04.

Third Quarter

LA--Hopkins 31 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 12:37.

LA--Hopkins 4 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 10:24.

SJ--Wagner 12 pass from Grieb, (Alcorn kick) 7:24.

SJ-Keanaaina 11 run (Alcorn kick), 1:06.

Fourth Quarter

LA--Jackson 2 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 13:51.

LA--Ingram 5 pass from Jackson (Hamilton kick), 8:24.

SJ--Hundon 32 pass from Grieb (Alcorn kick), 6:46.

LA--Shaw 34 pass from Graziani (Hamilton kick), 5:15.

SJ--Hundon 45 pass from Grieb (Alcorn kick), 3:34.

LA--Jackson 19 pass from Graziani (kick failed), :55.

SJ--FG Alcorn 21, :32.

LA--Vavao 1 run (Hopkins pass from Graziani), :01.

Attendance--14,992.

SJ LA

First downs 14 22

Rushes-yards 6-25 5-7

Passing 278 345

Missed field goal returns 0-0 1-20

Kickoff returns 10-151 9-224

Interceptions returns 4-65 1-0

Comp-Att-Int 16-22-1 26-39-4

Sacked-yards lost 2-12 1-5

Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0

Penalties-yards 5-33 5-27

Time of possession 26:58 33:02

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING -- San Jose, Keanaaina 4-23, Kinsinger 1-2, Wagner 1-0. Los

Angeles, Clemens 3-6, Vavao 1-1, Graziani 1-0.

PASSING -- San Jose, Grieb 16-22-1 290. Los Angeles, Graziani 25-38-4 345,

Jackson 1-1-0 5.

RECEIVING -- San Jose, Hundon 5-130, Wagner 4-60, McKenzie 3-34, Roe 2-26,

Cobbs 1-2, Keanaaina 1-8. Los Angeles, Hopkins 7-133, Jackson 6-70, Ingram

6-40, Shaw 2-47, Vavao 2-25, Burley 2-22, Washington 1-13.

FIELD GOALS MISSED -- Alcorn (SJ) 61 (Short).