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Blaze prepare to take on division rival Las Vegas

March 26, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze (3-1) will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Western Division rival Gladiators (1-3) on Sunday, April 1. The game will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. MST on FSN Utah. Utah's flagship station, 1280 The Zone, will also broadcast the game live with KEVIN GRAHAM calling the action.

"Division games are extremely important," said head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. "We don't take any of our division opponents lightly, and we will continue to work hard in order to remain at the top of the Western Division."

This will mark the third meeting between the two teams where the series is currently tied at 1-1. Danny White is 6-3 against the Gladiators in his head coaching career. This will be the first meeting between White and rookie head coach DANTON BARTO.

Three-time Offensive Player of the Game and AFL Offensive Player of the Month candidate, QB JOE GERMAINE, is 106-for-149 passing (71.1%) so far this season. In the Blaze's first four games, Germaine has thrown for a league-leading 1,355 yards and 29 touchdowns (No. 2 in AFL) with only three interceptions. Gladiator QB SHAUN KING is 83-for-142 (58.5%) passing for 1,095 yards and 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

AFL Ironman of the Month Candidate, WR/LB RYAN DENNARD, enters the game with 20 receptions for 224 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense, Dennard has forced one fumble, added two pass breakups, recorded one interception and has tallied 13.5 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss. Dennard has been named AFL Ironman of the Week twice this season.

The Gladiators are led by WR KEVIN PRENTISS who has 26 receptions for 376 yards and 11 touchdowns. He recently became the AFL's all-time single-game TD reception leader by recording nine touchdown receptions in the Gladiator's victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage. On defense, DB EARTHWIND MORELAND had recorded 24.5 tackles, five pass breakups and one forced fumble.

The game will also mark the return of assistant coach RON JAMES to Las Vegas. James spent five seasons with the Gladiators as head coach (2005-06) and assistant head coach/line coach (2002-04).

1280 The Zone will broadcast the Utah Blaze Show on Wednesday night from 7-8 p.m. at Lumpy's Downtown. SCOTT GARRARD will host the show along with guest appearances by assistant coach, HUNKIE COOPER, WR/LB AARON BOONE, and Salt Lake Tribune's Blaze beat writer, JAY DREW.

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