Losing Streak Is Over...For Las Vegas
Josh Fisher
Sunday May 20, 2007
Both the Utah Blaze and Las Vegas Gladiators entered Friday night’s game on losing streaks. Utah on a mild four-slide compared to the nine-game streak of the Gladiators. Utah had more to play for while Las Vegas was just playing out the string. Mark a win for the Gladiators.
Las Vegas rallied from 21 points behind in the first quarter and won the game 54-53 on a 22-yard Steve Azar field goal as time expired. Las Vegas outscored the Blaze 33-18 in the second half.
The entire game changed during a 10-minute stretch during the third and fourth quarters. Utah went ahead 42-28 with 5:42 left in the third quarter on Siaha Burley’s third touchdown of the game. Utah attempted an on-side kick that was recovered by the Gladiators. Las Vegas took charge from there.
Nick Rolovich, making his first career start at quarterback for the Gladiators, took over. He found Thabiti Davis on the second play of the drive for a touchdown. The Blaze lead was now 42-35.
Utah’s next possession was dominated by the Gladiator defense. Utah gained one first down before holding penalty forced them into a third-and-15 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Gladiator defensive lineman Karon Riley sacked Joe Germaine for a six-yard loss. Then as Utah lined up for a 60-yard field goal they were penalized for a delay of game. That led to a 62-yard attempt by Steve Videtich. Riley broke through and blocked the kick, forcing the ball out-of-bounds for a safety.
Las Vegas then took the ensuing drive 41 yards for the go-ahead score when Rolovich found Marlion Jackson on a screen pass. Jackson cutback across the field and scampered 32 yards for the score. Add the PAT and just like that it was 44-42 for the Gladiators.
The game was back-and-forth from there before Azar’s winning kick as time expired. Riley was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his performance.
Blaze Head Coach Danny White said after the loss, “We are obviously not a good team. We played at their level all night instead of at our normal tempo.”
Former University of Utah star Travis LaTendresse torched the Blaze in his return to Utah. LaTendresse was named the Offensive Player of the Game after compiling nine catches for 117 yards and four touchdowns.
Rolovich finished 28-of-42 for 329 yards and seven touchdowns. He was never intercepted or sacked.
“Once again, no sacks, we lost the game up front,” White stated. “We have to keep trying to find players that are willing to do whatever they need to do to play at a championship level.”
Blaze receiver Tom Pace had a big night with 11 catches for 146 yards. After the game he commented, “We have to figure out what went wrong and what we need to improve in. I think we played a little too conservative in the third quarter.”
For Blaze center Hans Olsen it went like this, “That might be one of the most disappointing losses in my entire football career.”
