Blaze Defense Shines in Huge Win
Josh Fisher
Saturday March 24, 2007
The Blaze defense entered the night having stopped its opponent only three times in three games. Tonight the defense forced seven stops, including forcing five turnovers.
Orshawante Bryant anchored the defense with a team record three interceptions. Bryant also recorded six tackles. “He’s something else,” said head coach Danny White of Bryant. “He catches 12 passes last week, and then gets three interceptions tonight. The guy is just amazing and he’s been that way for a long time.”
Bryant’s fellow starting defensive backs showed up huge as well. Clarence Lawson recorded six tackles, broke-up two passes and forced a fumble that was recovered by Terrence Joseph. Joseph had six tackles on the night.
It wasn’t just the defensive backs. Steve Konopka tied a team record with two sacks, forcing one fumble. Chris Janek also sacked the explosive Rampage quarterback Michael Bishop.
“Our defense played four quarters tonight. The pass rush tonight just dominated the game,” White noted. “It’s been the same guys, but they decided to turn it on tonight.”
Bishop never looked comfortable in the pocket and finished the night just 21-of-36 for 200 yards and two touchdowns. In total he had one less touchdown, two, than interceptions, three.
Offensively the Blaze took advantage of all the defensive stops. Offensive Player of the Game Joe Germaine threw for 268 yards and eight touchdowns. Four of those touchdowns went to Siaha Burley. Burley finished with 10 receptions and 134 yards.
When asked about the defense performance Joe Germaine noted, “All the hard work paid off tonight. What a great effort it was for them. That set the tone for the rest of the game.”
The only downfall of the night may have been the Blaze kick coverage. Rampage return man Timon Marshall returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including the game’s opening kickoff.
Grand Rapids never scored on consecutive drives. They did score on the two possessions following the kick return touchdowns, but never on consecutive drives.
Utah, however, scored on 12-of-14 possessions. The two they failed to convert into points were the final play of the first half when they received one free play because of a Rampage penalty. The other was a missed field on the team’s final possession.
Blaze back-up quarterback Jason Gesser saw some mop-up action on the team’s final two drives. Last season, Gesser made his first career start at Grand Rapids and threw for a league tying record five interceptions. Tonight he was 2-for-2 with 28 yards and one touchdown.
The Blaze never let off, even after building a 55-36 lead after three quarters. Utah outscored Grand Rapids 48-7 over a 35 minute stretch in the first half and early into the second.
“With a big lead it’s really tough to keep playing hard.” White said. “When we put it all together we are a pretty good football team.”
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.
