Blaze Lose Division Contest On The Road, 79-62

Published on April 13, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


LOS ANGELES - The Utah Blaze (0-7) remain winless in 2008 as they suffered their second division loss of the season at the hands of the Los Angeles Avengers (3-4). The 79-62 loss came in front of 14,861 fans at the STAPLES Center on Saturday night.

"The end of the second quarter and the majority of the third are difficult times for us," said Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. "We will keep changing things up and keep playing guys that are mentally tough and have a lot of energy."

The Avengers opened up scoring for the evening with an impressive 43-yard touchdown pass from Offensive Player of the Game QB TIM HICKS (6-4, 240, W. Liberty State) to WR LASHAUN WARD (6-0, 200, California). Hicks finished the night 18-of-29 passing for 284 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Utah answered back QB JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 238, Ohio State) connected with WR JJ MCKELVEY (6-3, 227, Clemson) on a 17-yard TD pass.

Los Angeles K DAVID DAVIS (5-10, 175, USC) failed to convert the PAT on their next touchdown, but after Utah scored on their next possession, Davis put a 29-yard field goal through the uprights. Another Blaze touchdown looked to end the first quarter, but Avengers WR TIMON MARSHALL (5-11, 190, Ottawa) ran a Blaze kickoff 57 yards into the endzone to put his team on top, 23-21, to end the first quarter of play.

Both teams traded scores throughout the second quarter with Utah K STEVE AZAR (5-9, 195, Northern Illinois) missing a PAT of his own. Both teams missed field goals on their last possession of the half, but a 3-yard net recovery by Avengers FB/DL JOSH JEFFERIES (6-3, 260, Appalachian State) kept Los Angeles in the lead, 44-34, to close the first half. Jefferies earned Ironman of the Game honors and also recorded 2.0 total tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Los Angeles' defense opened up the action for the second half, stopping Utah on downs and then immediately scoring on a five-yard touchdown pass from Hicks to OL CLAY HARRELL (6-2, 300, Northern State). Turnovers proved to be costly for Utah as they were outscored, 28-7, during the third quarter.

Utah scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter and forced a fumble to set them up for another touchdown, but their 21-7 performance in the final quarter wasn't enough to come away with the victory. The Blaze lost the division contest with a score of 79-62

Germaine ended the night 28-of-40 passing for 362 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception. McKelvey led all receivers with 11 receptions for 171 yards and five touchdowns. Avengers DB DAMEN WHEELER (5-9, 180, Colorado) was named Defensive Player of the Game after recording 5.0 total tackles and one interception.

Utah returns to EnergySolutions Arena next week to take on the defending ArenaBowl XXI Champion and Western Division foe San Jose SaberCats. The Blaze and the SaberCats are set to kickoff on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. (MT).

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 13, 2008


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