Blaze win fourth straight at home, 65-56
Tuesday June 10, 2008
Defense Creates Turnovers in 4th Quarter to Defeat Avengers
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Blaze (5-10) defeated the Los Angeles Avengers (4-10) in front of a national television audience on Monday night, 65-56. A massive fourth quarter effort by the Blaze defense turned a tight game into a sure victory in front of a season-high 16,054 fans at EnergySolutions Arena.
“This win is a tribute to the resiliency of this team in the second half of the season,” said Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. “This game is a perfect example of a bunch of guys taking ownership of this team who refused to give up.”
The Avengers were the first team to put points on the board with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Avengers QB SONNY CUMBIE (6-4, 225, Texas Tech) to WR LASHAUN WARD (6-0, 200, California). The Blaze answered back with a three-play scoring drive that was capped off with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Blaze QB JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 238, Ohio State) to Offensive Player of the Game WR HUEY WHITTAKER (605, 228, South Florida). Whittaker finished the night with five receptions for 65 yards and three touchdowns. Both teams tallied another score to end the first quarter with a 14-14 tie.
Los Angeles outscored the Blaze 16-14 in the second quarter to keep a 30-28 halftime lead.
Both teams tallied two touchdowns a piece in the third quarter, but the Blaze inched ahead in the final seconds of the quarter with a successful 28-yard field goal attempt by K STEVE VIDETICH (6-2, 228, North Carolina State). Utah led, 45-44, entering the final quarter of play.
The turning point of the game occurred when Ward caught a 40-yard Cumbie pass on a critical fourth down, but Utah DB EDDIE CANONICO (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) forced a fumble at the one-yard line that was returned 28 yards by Blaze DB DAMON MASON (5-9, 195, Southwestern Louisiana). Germaine threw a touchdown on the following play to WR JJ MCKELVEY (6-3, 227, Clemson) to give the Blaze an eight-point lead.
On the following possession, Blaze DL MAURICE FOUNTAIN (6-4, 247, Clemson) sacked Cumbie and forced a fumble that was picked up by Defensive Player of the Game LB KELVIN MORRIS (6-3 236 Clemson) for a touchdown, sealing the 65-56 Utah victory. With that game-clinching play, Morris recorded his sixth fumble recovery of 2008, breaking the AFL rookie record for most fumble recoveries in a season. Morris tallied 5.0 total tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup on the night.
Blaze FB RODNEY FILER (6-2, 266, Iowa) was named Ironman of the Game after recording 0.5 tackles for loss, three rushes for 25 yards and two touchdowns. Germaine finished the evening 16-of-30 passing for 240 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.
Following the their bye week (Week 16), the Blaze will hit the road for their final game of the regular season against the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, June 21 with kickoff set for 8 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 following their bye week to face the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, June 21, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. 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.
