VooDoo Seeking Second Road Win
Wednesday July 3, 2013
NEW ORLEANS (July 3, 2013) – The New Orleans VooDoo continue their three-game road trip as they travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Blaze.
New Orleans (4-10) is still in the playoff hunt in the American Conference thanks to their victory in Pittsburgh a week ago and were also helped by an Orlando loss. Utah (5-9) will be playing the role of spoiler as they are in last place in the National Conference. The teams last met March 31, 2012 as the VooDoo knocked off the Blaze 72-56 in Salt Lake City.
After a rough outing against San Antonio two weeks ago, quarterback Kurt Rocco returned to form in Pittsburgh. Rocco threw for 201 yards and five touchdowns. He now has 2,307 yards and 49 touchdowns this season. With leading receiver Donovan Morgan hobbled during last week’s game, Rocco relied on former Blaze receiver L.J. Castile who broke out with seven catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns, all season highs. The versatile Quorey Payne only had three receptions, but all three resulted in scores. If Morgan can’t go, Payne and Castile could factor in as well as second-leading receiver Courtney Smith. Quarterback Chris Dixon is also a threat with his legs as he leads the team in rushing.
Tommy Grady leads the Blaze at quarterback and is eighth in the league with 2,951 yards. Grady has 56 touchdowns, but he also leads the league with 25 interceptions. Utah fields the league’s fourth-ranked receiver in Mario Urrutia, who has 122 receptions for 1,488 yards and 34 touchdowns. Urritia has 20 catches in his last two games. Receivers Chase Deadder and Anthony Jackson also had nice games and combined for 15 catches last week against San Jose. Ben Stallings has also been a consistent rusher as he has 117 yards this season.
Defensively, Utah lineman Caesar Rayford is tied for ninth in the league with six sacks. He’s also forced a team high four fumbles. Blaze defensive back David Hyland is tied for eighth in the league with 6 interceptions. The VooDoo are led by DB Cameron McGlenn, who has a team high five interceptions for 100 yards. VooDoo defensive lineman Marlon Favorite shares Rayford’s six sack total. Favorite also has nine tackles for loss.
On special teams, Payne has also been a consistent threat. Payne returned a missed field goal for a touchdown last week in Pittsburgh. He also had his fifth triple-digit yardage total in the kick return game and has 1,047 yards (4th in AFL). Hyland, the Blaze’s return man, is ranked one spot behind Payne with 923 yards but did not play last week.
New Orleans will hope to add to their momentum with another road victory, while also staying alive in the playoff hunt. Utah is coming into this game on a two-game skid and is hoping to reverse that trend this weekend at home. The teams will square off Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. local time in the EnergySolutions Arena.
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About the New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo will play in the New Orleans Arena, an SMG managed facility directly across the street from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as well as, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the last six home games. Single game tickets for VooDoo regular season home games are on sale now by calling 504-875-3900. For more information call (888) 277-5526 for Vice President and Director of Operations, Jason Coffel. The game is on Rush Radio 99.5, WRNO and on the worldwide web at www.wrno.com as well as on Cox 4 in the New Orleans area, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The week following each COX game fans can watch replays on CST.To shop all things VooDoo, visit www.voodoostuff.com and get your gear today.
About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased their fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. CBS Sports Network will broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week on Saturday nights for the entire regular season and postseason through the semifinal round. The ArenaBowl XXVI Championship Game will air on the CBS Television Network on August 17, 2013.
