Defense Controls Game as Blaze Earn First Home Win
Josh Fisher
Saturday March 11, 2006
"This is a great shot in the arm for us," Head Coach Danny White exclaimed of his defense. "We just felt like we never allowed them to get into any kind of rhythm. We gave them some great pressure."
Nashville went through two quarterbacks, Clint Stoerner and Leon Murray, but neither was very effective. Murray was forced into action during the first quarter after Stoerner was knocked down and twisted his knee. He did return in the second quarter, but wasn’t the same after the hit. Murray came back into the game with about five minutes left in the third quarter, but could only manage two scoring drives the rest of the game.
"I know one thing, I’ve got to play better," Stoerner commented. "I’ve got to be more accurate and do what I can do personally to make this team better."
The Kats defense held down the high octane Blaze offense. Utah finished with just 218 total yards; including a season low 192 yards passing. Much of those low numbers is due to the fact that they had to go less than 20 yards to score four times.
The highlight of the night for Utah had to be WR/DB Orshawante Bryant’s 23-yard touchdown pass to OL/DL Bryan Henderson. Bryant took a backward pass from quarterback Joe Germaine, and then threw the ball across the field to a streaking Henderson who had to run under the ball, and by a defender, to make the catch for six. "It wasn’t the perfect ball. Last time I threw a ball he dropped it, but it felt good," Bryant said of his throw.
Bryant was named Ironman of the Game after throwing for a touchdown, grabbing three passes for a team-high 58 yards, plus recording 4.5 tackles and adding an interception. His pick bounced off the top of the wall right into his hands. "The interception shot off the wall and it was a great feeling," said Bryant.
Blaze back-up quarterback Jason Gesser also got his first action of the year, completing four passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns. In total, three Blaze player threw a touchdown pass on the night.
The win moves Utah to 3-4 on the season, and gives them a first home win in four chances. "It might be the pants," Hans Olsen noticed. Utah wore its silver pants at home for the first time this year. The 14,052 fans in attendance might ask them to always wear to terrible looking ensemble as long as the keep winning. Offensive Player of the Game Chris Robinson said, "I think we are never going to change our silver pants."
Josh Fisher has been a fan of the AFL for as long as he can remember. He followed the Arizona Rattlers since they began playing. Josh works for the University of Utah
as their head statistician. He is also the media contact for Klub Boom
Volleyball Club and the head volleyball coach at Park City High School.
