Brigade's early barrage leads to 60-41 defeat of Utah Blaze

Published on May 12, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


KANSAS CITY - Pressure. Defined as urgency, harassment and influence, pressure was the theme of the Brigade's 60-41 win over the Utah Blaze Saturday night in front of 13,655 at Kemper Arena.

For Kansas City, there was a need to pressure one of the league's top quarterbacks, Joe Germaine, much like the defense did last week against Philadelphia's Justin Wood. For Utah, the league's top ranked offense heading into the contest, the pressure was on to end a three-game losing streak that has tarnished their 5-2 start to the season.

With the Arena Football League's top defense in the Brigade and top offense in the Blaze squaring off, something had to give. The Brigade's pressure prevailed en route to obliterating numerous single-game franchise records.

Four first half records were broken when the Brigade forced four interceptions - a pair each from Nick Ward and Kenny McEntyre - scored 40 points and allowed just seven, and Raymond Philyaw's six touchdown passes. He totaled eight for the game, also a team record. The four interceptions were the most given up by Utah in its history.

The Brigade (6-4) continue its alternating home-road schedule next week when the team visits the New York Dragons, Sunday, May 20 at 7 p.m. Entering Saturday night's game, Kansas City sat just a half-game behind Colorado for second place in the Central Division and 1.5 games ahead of Nashville. The playoff picture is getting clearer, but there are still five conference games to play in the next seven weeks.

The Brigade set up shop on its opening drive in its own end zone - starting at their one-yard line. But in Arena Football, just a handful of plays can make up for any disadvantage in field position. Philyaw completed his first three passes to put the Brigade in Blaze territory. It wouldn't be long before the Brigade began its barrage of scores as Philyaw found a wide open Boo Williams two plays later.

With the game tied on the next Kansas City possession, Philyaw dissected the Blaze secondary with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Charles Frederick that pushed the Brigade ahead for good at 14-7. The pressure was then on Utah quarterback Joe Germaine and the Brigade truncated what looked to be a Blaze scoring drive when Nick Ward picked off a Germaine pass that continued the Brigade's momentum heading into the second quarter.

Just a few ticks into the second quarter, Philyaw hit Frederick to put the Brigade near midfield before arcing a beautiful 28-yard pass that Anthony Hines reeled in for Kansas City's third score. The Brigade continued to trouble Germaine on the next Blaze drive, when defensive pressure forced him to dink a pass off the turf before his next attempt was tipped into Ward's hands.

Philyaw went deep and for the jugular on his first pass on the Brigade's ensuing possession. He looked for Hines again and hurled a 26-yard bomb his way but a Utah defender was all over him and drew a pass interference flag. Upon second glance, however, Hines had actually reeled in the pass for his second touchdown of the day to improve the Brigade's lead to 26-7.

Kenny McEntyre joined his teammates in scorching the Blaze offense when he added another interception to Germaine's total, this one in the end zone. Just when it appeared the Brigade were finished dominating the first half, McEntyre picked off another pass that was bobbled against the wall by a Blaze receiver.

With four seconds left in the half, Williams pulled in his third touchdown pass - this one off the net - to make the advantage 40-7 midway through the game. The Brigade scoring wouldn't be hindered in the second half as Frederick provided the team's third quarter scoring with a pair of touchdowns - one receiving and one rushing - that made it 54-27 heading into the game's final 15 minutes.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 12, 2007


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