Blaze crush Colorado in second consecutive win, 71-36

Sunday May 11, 2008

Defense Holds Crush to Season-Best 36 Points

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Blaze (2-9) tallied their second win of the season against the Colorado Crush (4-6) on Saturday night. Utah’s 71-36 victory came in front of 13,787 fans at EnergySolutions Arena.

“This was a good team we beat tonight,” said Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. “Our defense had the best game of the year, by far, and hopefully we can carry this confidence to San Jose next week.”

Offensive Player of the Game honors went to Blaze WR JJ MCKELVEY (6-2, 227, Clemson) who recorded nine receptions for 89 yards and four touchdowns. Blaze DB REGGIE DOSTER (5-9, 189, Central Florida) was named Defensive Player of the Game after recording 2.0 total tackles and recovering a fumble for a 48-yard touchdown. DB J’SHARLON JONES (5-8, 188, Colorado State) was named Ironman of the Game after returning four kickoffs for 70 yards and recording 2.5 total tackles.

Utah tallied the first score of the evening with a 49-yard drive completed with a three-yard touchdown pass from QB JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 238 Ohio State) to McKelvey. The Crush answered back with a 28-yard touchdown strike from Crush QB JOHN DUTTON (6-4, 225, Nevada) to WR WILLIE QUINNIE (6-2, 176, UAB). On Utah’s next possession, K STEVE VIDETICH’s (6-2, 228, North Carolina State) 21-yard field goal attempt was successful, keeping Utah on top, 10-7, to end the first quarter of play.

The second quarter was dominated by Utah, holding the Crush to only one touchdown. The Blaze outscored the Crush 20-7, and the first half of play ended with the Blaze leading, 30-14.

The second half of play saw Utah’s continued domination of the Crush with the key to the game being back-to-back Colorado turnovers at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The first came when a Dutton fumble was recovered by Utah’s Doster and returned for a touchdown, and the second came on Colorado’s next possession when Blaze DB EDDIE CANONICO (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) intercepted a Dutton pass leading to another Blaze score. Utah outscored Colorado 35-7 in the fourth quarter, leading to their 71-36 victory.



Germaine finished the night 25-of-33 passing for 289 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Canonico led all defense with 10.5 total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups as Utah’s defense held Colorado to a season-best 36 points.

The Blaze hit the road next week to take on their division foe San Jose SaberCats on Saturday, May 17, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. (MT).

ABOUT THE UTAH BLAZE
The Utah Blaze were recipients of the Best Support Staff Award for the 2006 and 2007 seasons as recognized by the Arena Football League. The Blaze hit the road next week to take on the San Jose SaberCats on Saturday, May 17, with kickoff at 8:30 p.m. (MT). Tickets are available by logging onto www.utahblaze.com or by calling (801) 257-3111. The Blaze are owned and operated by the Ken Garff Automotive Group – www.kengarff.com.