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Blaze Start Season 0-2 With Loss To Cleveland, 66-63

March 9, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


CLEVELAND - The Utah Blaze (0-2) suffered their second consecutive loss of the season at the hands of the Cleveland Gladiators (2-0) in front of 14,765 fans on Sunday at the Quicken Loans Arena. This is the first time the Blaze have opened a season with two losses and the fourth time Coach White has experienced an 0-2 start (1992, 1993, 2004, 2008).

"Turnovers were the name of the game," said Blaze head coach and general manager DANNY WHITE. "When you aren't getting stops on defense, turnovers become critical. We lost the turnover battle, and with that, we lost the game."

The first score of the afternoon came on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Blaze QB JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 238, Ohio State) to WR AARON BOONE (6-3, 208, Kentucky). After trading scores for most of the first and second quarters, Germaine's pass to WR J.J. MCKELVEY (6-3, 227, Clemson) was picked off by Cleveland WR SAKEEEN WRIGHT (6-3, 225, Rowan) and returned for a touchdown. Wright was named Defensive Player of the Game with 3.5 total tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.

It wasn't 90 seconds later that a fumbled Utah reception gave possession back to the Gladiators, and a Cleveland fumble on the one-yard line was recovered by Utah, preventing a Gladiators' touchdown. The Blaze marched down the field for the final touchdown of the half. Utah's two-point conversion and Cleveland's last-second field goal gave the Gladiators a 32-29 advantage at halftime.

The Gladiators outscored the Blaze 17-7 in the third quarter. The scoring didn't stop for either team heading into the fourth quarter, and a successful onside kick by newly acquired Blaze K STEVE AZAR (5-9, 195, Northern Illinois) was returned for a touchdown, bringing Utah within three points. Down by three with thirty seconds left on the game clock, another Blaze onside kick fell into the hands of Cleveland, and the contest ended with the Gladiators on top, 66-63.

Offensive Player of the Game honors went to Cleveland QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (5-10, 180, Louisiana-Monroe) who was 24-for-38 passing for 297 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Gladiators WR ROBERT REDD (5-10, 195, Bowling Green St.) was named Ironman of the Game after he recorded seven catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he tallied 3.5 total tackles and one fumble recovery.

Germaine finished the game going 29-for-38 passing for 374 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. McKelvey led all receivers with 11 receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns.

The Blaze will visit the Orlando Predators on Friday, March 14th. Game time is for 5:30 p.m. at Amway Arena.

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