Blaze Open Season with Win on Final Play
Josh Fisher
Sunday March 4, 2007
The two teams came out on fire in the first half. Utah opened with a four play, 45 yard drive capped off when Joe Germaine found Siaha Burley on a 15-yard strike, putting the Blaze up just over four minutes into the game. New Orleans then marched right back and tied the score when former Blaze quarterback Andy Kelly connected with Darnell McDonald to tie the game at seven. On the drive Kelly threw for 52 yards, thanks to penalties, giving 40,000 for his career.
Combined the teams had 10 first half possessions, all resulted in touchdowns. The VooDoo even got a kickoff return for a score by Tyronne Jones in the half. The teams totaled 76 first half points with the Blaze leading 42-34. The only first half blemish for either team was an Eric Houle missed PAT after a second quarter VooDoo touchdown.
The first stop of the night came on Utah’s first possession of the third quarter. After New Orleans scored to make it 42-41 for Utah, the VooDoo defense made its only stop of the night. They forced Utah into a dropped pass and almost recorded two sacks, one turned into a zero yard rush by Germaine the other was a holding penalty.
Following that stop New Orleans took its first lead at 48-42 when Kelly found Kenny Henderson for the third of his four touchdowns. Kelly finished the night with 285 yards and eight touchdowns. Henderson recorded his four scores on only five catches.
The teams traded scores on the next three possessions before the Utah defense made a stand. After a Frank Carter touchdown run and a blocked PAT the Blaze attempted an on-side kick that was unsuccessful. No matter, the defense forced two incompletions and Defensive Player of the Game Chris Janek recorded one of his two sacks leading to a missed Houle field goal from 34 yards.
Again the teams traded scores and Utah took over with 37 seconds to play at their own five trailing 61-60. Led by Germaine, the Offensive Player of the Game, Utah marched down to the VooDoo eight to set-up Viedtich’s heroics.
“It wasn’t the prettiest kick, but we’ll take it,” Videtich said.
Germaine finished the night with 330 yards and five touchdowns. “Joe (Germaine) was magnificent tonight,” noted head coach Danny White.
As exciting as the game was, it was marred by penalties. Utah committed 12 penalties for a team record 87 yards, several eliminating big plays. The VooDoo didn’t help themselves either with 13 penalties for 74 yards. Three of those penalties cancelled Blaze turnovers.
“(Penalties) are what I talk about and preach all the time,” said VooDoo Coach Mike Neu. “You can’t afford to have self-inflicted penalties and give your opponent extra opportunities.”
Burley led Utah with 11 catches for 160 yards. He scored two touchdowns, extending his consecutive games streak to 23 games. Ryan Dennard was named the Ironman of the Game after scoring two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, plus recording two huge pass break-ups late in the fourth quarter.
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.
