Blaze schedule full of history
Josh Fisher
Friday December 8, 2006
Arizona Rattlers: Week 2 at Arizona. Week 8 in Salt Lake City.
These two teams are quickly becoming some of the biggest rivals in the Arena Football League. They met three times in 2006, including the playoffs. Combine the with all the Blaze players with Arizona ties, headed by Coach Danny White, and you can see why these two teams will be forever linked.
Austin Wranglers: Week 6 at Austin.
The Blaze and Wranglers didn’t meet in 2006; they did get together this off-season. Utah traded QB and former AFL Rookie of the Year Adrian McPherson to the Wranglers in November. McPherson was drafted by the Blaze in the expansion draft, but spent the entire season on the team’s exempt list.
Colorado Crush: Week 14 in Salt Lake City.
Last season Utah went to Colorado and handed the Crush a 52-40 defeat at the Pepsi Center. Utah dominated the game most of the night and left the 15,321 fans in attendance in disbelief. It was the second straight win for the Blaze at the time, marking the first time the team had ever win two straight games.
Dallas Desperados: Week 10 in Salt Lake City.
The Desperados return the EnergySolutions Arena in 2007 after putting on a show in the 2006 home opener for the Blaze. Dallas QB Clint Dolezel threw for seven touchdowns and Terrill Shaw had 208 yards receiving in the 2006 meeting. Despite all the Dallas offense Utah was one on-side kick away from having a shot to win the game. Dallas hung on 56-53.
Grand Rapids Rampage: Week 4 in Salt Lake City.
The 2006 meeting in Michigan was the first career start for Blaze back-up quarterback Jason Gesser. Gesser struggled early and the Blaze couldn’t recover, falling 59-49.
Kansas City Brigade: Week 11 at Kansas City.
This is a rematch of Expansion Bowl ’06 in which the Blaze defeated fellow expansion team Kansas City 55-54 in Salt Lake. OL/DL Hans Olsen got a fingertip on a last second field goal attempt by the Brigade to preserve a 55-54 Blaze win. The win earned the Blaze a playoff spot and the 16,855 fans gave Utah the 2006 attendance title.
Las Vegas Gladiators: Week 5 at Las Vegas. Week 12 in Salt Lake City.
This is another division foe for the Blaze. The teams split two meetings in 2006, each winning on the other’s home field. The Gladiators blocked a late field goal attempt to pick up the win in Salt Lake. Blaze line coach Ron James is the former head coach of the Gladiators.
Los Angeles Avengers: Week 7 in Salt Lake City. Week 17 at Los Angeles.
The Avengers are the only division opponent not to defeat the Blaze in 2006. It took a touchdown pass from Joe Germaine to Orshawante Bryant on the game’s final play to escape the Staples Center with a win. The win in Salt Lake started a modest three-game winning streak for the Blaze, pushing them to the playoffs.
Nashville Kats: Week 3 at Nashville.
The Blaze will travel to Nashville in 2007 after dismantling the Kats last season. Utah knocked off the Kats 63-34 in Salt Lake last season. The 34 points were the fewest allowed the Blaze all season.
New Orleans VooDoo: Week 1 in Salt Lake City.
Although the Blaze and VooDoo have never met, New Orleans quarterback Andy Kelly was the Blaze starting QB during the team’s final six games in 2006, including the Arizona playoff game. Kelly led the Blaze to a 4-2 record and a playoff spot.
Orlando Predators: Week 13 at Orlando.
This is the only team on the schedule with no ties to the Blaze from 2006 of the current off-season. The only real tie between the two teams is Blaze WR/LB Justin Skaggs who played in Orlando during the 2005 season. Utah did make a trip to Florida in 2006 when they fell to the Tampa Bay Storm 56-41.
San Jose SaberCats: Week 9 in Salt Lake City. Week 15 at San Jose.
The Blaze began its inaugural year in San Jose with a win over the SaberCats. The Blaze used a 17-0 second quarter to pick up the first win in franchise history 48-35. San Jose returned the favor with a 65-50 win in Salt Lake.
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.
