Blaze Open Season with 68-34 Loss to Spokane
Published on April 10, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze opened the 2010 Arena Football League season Friday night with a 68-34 loss to the Spokane Shock in front of 5,032 fans at the E Center.
Aaron Boone led the Blaze (0-1) with eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while Wendell Williams had four catches for 54 yards, while rushing for one touchdown. Blaze starter Michael Affleck completed 4-of-12 passes for 42 yards with one interception, while Brett Elliott completed 10-of-17 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
"(We had) a lot of mistakes for our first game. We'll have to take the good and bad out of it. There were some good individual efforts," Utah Blaze Ernesto Purnsley said. "We were able to see what we need to correct so they don't happen in our next game."
The Shock (1-1) scored the first 14 points of the game before Utah's Brandon Hampton, who was named the JLS Ironman of the Game, returned a Spokane kick 54 yards for the Blaze's first score. After the Shock scored again, Hampton struck again with a 56-yard kick return to cut the lead to 20-14.
Before the end of the first half, Spokane QB Kyle Rowley, who was named the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game, threw two more of his six touchdown passes in the game, to build a 35-14 Shock lead at the break.
He connected on two more touchdown passes early in the second half to increased the lead to 49-14.
Elliott threw both of his touchdown passes to Boone in the second half (3, 9 yards). Early in the fourth quarter Williams scored on an 8-yard run.
Spokane's Aaron Robbins had three tackles, a fumble recovery, pass break-up and a sack in earning the Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors.
The Blaze finished with 149 yards total offense, while Spokane tallied 309.
The Blaze are back in action Saturday, April 17, 2010, when they host the Alabama Vipers at 7 p.m. at the E Center. Single-game tickets can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com. Group and season tickets are also available by calling 888-99BLAZE or information can be found at www.utblaze.com.
Arena Football League Stories from April 10, 2010
- Week 2 Saturday Night Preview - AFL
- Shock burn Blaze, 68-34 - Spokane Shock
- Vipers a 63-49 winner over Jacksonville at VBC - Alabama Vipers
- Blaze Open Season with 68-34 Loss to Spokane - Utah Blaze
- Sharks Get Stung by Vipers - Jacksonville Sharks
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