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Blaze Prepare To Take On Division Foe Las Vegas

May 14, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze (5-6) continue their playoff push when they take on Western Division foe Las Vegas (1-10) at EnergySolutions Arena on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m.

The game will be shown locally on KJZZ 14 with DAVE FOX and ALEMA HARRINGTON serving as talent, while the game can also be heard on 1280 The Zone with KEVIN GRAHAM and TOM GOODHINES calling the action.

"This is a must-win situation for us," said head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. "We have put ourselves tough situations over the past few weeks, but our guys are working hard in order to produce success on the field."

This will mark the fourth meeting between the two teams where Utah leads the series at 2-1. Danny White is 7-3 against the Gladiators in his head coaching career. This will be the second meeting between White and rookie head coach DANTON BARTO.

Four-time Offensive Player of the Game, QB JOE GERMAINE, is 304-for-466 passing (68.2%) so far this season. In the Blaze's first 11 games, Germaine has thrown for a league-leading 3,721 yards and 79 touchdowns with eight interceptions. At this pace, Germaine would potentially finish the season with 5,412 passing yards and 115 touchdowns. If these numbers hold true, Germaine would break records in both categories and become the AFL's all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season.

Despite having sat out one of the first 11 games, WR SIAHA BURLEY is leading the League in receiving yards (1,509) and is ranked second in touchdowns (34). If Burley plays in every game the rest of the season, he would potentially finish the regular season with 51 receiving touchdowns and an impressive 2,264 receiving yards. These numbers would be personal bests for Burley, and it would make Burley the first player in AFL history to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. He would then hold the No. 1 and No. 3 positions in this category. With 52 receiving touchdowns on the season, Burley would rank No. 2 on the all-time leaders list for that category

On defense, the Blaze are led by DB CLARENCE LAWSON who has recorded 49.5 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one interception.

The Gladiators are led by WR/DB THABITI DAVIS who has 87 receptions for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns. On defense, DB EARTHWIND MORELAND had recorded 45.5 tackles, nine pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Gladiator QB BRIAN JONES is 138-for-209 (66.0%) passing for 1,605 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The game will also mark the second meeting this season between coach RON JAMES and his former team. James spent five seasons with the Gladiators as head coach (2005-06) and assistant head coach/line coach (2002-04).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2007


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