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Utah Blaze game notes

February 14, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Utah Blaze (1-2) at Arizona Rattlers (1-1).
Date: Saturday, February 18, 2006.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. (MT).
Site: U.S. Airways Center (16,321)
Officials: Referee: Riley Johnson; Umpire: Rick Podraza;
Head Linesman: Julian Mapp ; Line Judge: Paul Engleberts;
Back Judge: Bud McClesky
Television: None
Radio: Utah's flagship station 1280 The Zone will broadcast the game live with Ryan Hatch (play-by-play) and Keith Embray (commentary).
Blaze Coaches' Show: Ryan Hatch hosts the Blaze Coaches' Show every Wednesday night on 1280 The Zone at 7-8 p.m.
Internet: Log on to www.1280thezone.com to hear a live webcast of Saturday's game.
Series Record: First game against the Rattlers.
Coaches: Utah, Danny White (14th season; 122-57 regular season, 142-67 overall). Arizona, Gene Nudo (1st season; 0-3 regular season, 0-3 overall).

OVERVIEW: The Blaze look to rebound from their second straight home loss as they take on the Arizona Rattlers (0-3). This will mark the first meeting of Utah head coach Danny White against his former team of 13 seasons. The Rattlers are off to their worst start in franchise history in search of their first win of the 2006 campaign. The Rattlers lost a close battle to the San Jose SaberCats, 58-50, at home last weekend. The Blaze lost a high-scoring affair to the New York Dragons in the 2nd highest scoring game in AFL history, 84-81. Both the Blaze and the Dragons enter the meeting looking to get above the .500 mark. After two consecutive home losses to start the season, the Blaze remain tied in first place as Los Angeles and Las Vegas also lost last weekend. The San Jose SaberCats beat Arizona and there is now a four-way tie atop of the Western Division with a 1-2 record.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the Arizona Rattlers and the Utah Blaze. It will also be the first meeting between head coaches DANNY WHITE and GENE NUDO.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Blaze enter a pivotal point in their season as they go on the road for another divisional game against the Los Angeles Avengers (February 25) looking to gain a solid position for the division tie or lead.

THE SCHEDULES:

2006 Utah Blaze (1-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 28 @ San Jose Won 48-35
Feb. 4 DALLAS Lost 53-56
Feb. 11 NEW YORK Lost 81-84
Game Opponent Time (PT) TV
Feb. 18 @ Arizona 7:00 p.m. 1280
Feb. 25 @ Los Angeles 8:30 p.m. 1280/FSN
Mar. 4 SAN JOSE 7:00 p.m. 1280/FSN
Mar. 10 NASHVILLE 7:00 p.m. 1280
Mar. 16 @ Grand Rapids 5:00 pm 1280/FSN
Mar. 24 LAS VEGAS 7:00 p.m. 1280/KJZZ
Apr. 1 @ Tampa Bay 5:30 p.m. 1280
Apr. 7 ARIZONA 7:00 p.m. 1280/FSN
Apr. 15 LOS ANGELES 7:00 p.m. 1280/KJZZ
Apr. 21 @ Colorado 7:00 p.m. 1280
Apr. 28 @ Las Vegas 8:30 p.m. 1280
May 6 @ Chicago 6:00 p.m. 1280/FSN
May 12 KANSAS CITY 7:00 p.m. 1280/KJZZ

2006 Arizona Rattlers (0-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 @ Los Angeles Lost 31-40
Feb. 3 AUSTIN Lost 34-53
Feb. 12 SAN JOSE Lost 50-58
Game Opponent Time (ET) TV
Feb. 18 UTAH 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 24 @ Columbus 5:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 NASHVILLE 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 10 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 17 @ Las Vegas 8:30 p.m.
Mar. 24 LOS ANGELES 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 2 @ San Jose 3:00 p.m.
Apr. 7 @ Utah 6:00 p.m.
Apr. 15 CHICAGO 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 23 @ Grand Rapids 11:00 a.m.
Apr. 29 @ Dallas 5:00 p.m.
May 6 LAS VEGAS 7:00 p.m.
May 12 @ Colorado 6:00 p.m.

NOTABLES: Seven players and four coaches have previous experience with the Arizona Rattlers... 2005 AFLWA Offensive player of the Year OS SIAHA BURLEY will look to establish some new expansion records in 2006. Burley, who had 117 receptions for 1,542 yards and a league-leading 45 touchdowns, figures to be a threat to re-write the books... The expansion records Burley will be chasing are held by former Detroit Fury OS ROBERT GORDON who tallied 125 receptions for 1,630 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2001... Burley set the single-game expansion record for receiving yards (259) and tied the single-game touchdown mark (6) in last week's loss to New York... QB JOE GERMAINE set the single-game expansion mark for completions (35) and tied the single-game expansion mark for touchdowns (10).

THE IFS...:
If Utah defeats Arizona it would...
*Be Utah's second consecutive divisional win.
*Be Utah's first victory in franchise history against the Rattlers.
*Give Utah a 1-0 series lead over Arizona.
*Give Utah a 2-0 all-time record against Western Division teams.
*Give Utah a 2-0 all-time road record against Western Division teams.
*Give Utah a 2-2 all-time regular-season record.
* Maintain tied or possibly take control of the three-way tie in the division.

THE COACHES:
Utah - Danny White, 14th season
122-57 (.682) reg. season; 142-67 (.679) overall
0-0 career vs. Arizona
White is currently in his 14th season as an AFL head coach and first with the Blaze. White has compiled a record of 142-667 and advanced to the AFL Playoffs in 12 of the previous 13 years (hasn't missed the postseason since 1992). Prior to joining the Blaze, White was the head coach of the Arizona Rattlers for 13 seasons (1992-2004). The AFL Hall of Fame coach has two titles (1994 and 1997) to his credit and has made five ArenaBowl appearances (1994, 97, 2002-04). During his last season in Arizona in 2004, White compiled a 13-6 record and made his third straight ArenaBowl appearance. White, won AFL "Coach of the Year" award in 1993. White officially became the head coach of the Blaze on April 21, 2005. He played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys (1976-88) and helped lead the Cowboys to the postseason five times and won three NFC East titles during his tenure as starting QB. In his first year as a starter (1980), White set the club single-season record for touchdown passes (28) and then broke the record (29) in 1983. Those records still stand as the top two single-season marks in franchise history. He still owns eight Cowboy records and is the member of FOUR Halls of Fame (Arizona Sports, Arizona State, College Football and Arena Football).

Arizona - Gene Nudo, 1st season
0-3 (.000) reg. season; 0-3 (.000) overall
0-0 career vs. Utah
Nudo continues his first season as the Rattlers head coach in search of his first win as an AFL coach. Nudo is the AFL's only three-time Executive of the Year and is celebrating his 12th season with the Rattlers as he worked with then-head coach Danny White since 1995 Nudo joined Arizona as an assistant head coach in 1995 under white after serving as the Arena Football League's Vice President of Football Operations. He then became the team's Vice President of Administration in the 1996 season. The 2002 AFL Hall of Fame Nominee also served as the team's Vice President of Operations for eight seasons before becoming general manager in 2004, White's last with the Rattlers. While overseeing day-to-day football operations, Nudo helped the Rattlers earn five consecutive commissioner awards for the AFL's "Best Organization" (1996-2000) while earning and unprecendented three "Executive of the Year" awards in 1997, 1999, and 2000. Considered one of the pioneers of the AFL, Nudo coached the first-ever Arena Football games in Rockford, Ill. (1986) as well as its "Showcase Game" in Rosemont, Ill. (1987). In his 12 seasons, Nudo's franchises have competed in five ArenaBowls, including a victory with White in 1997.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES
Date Action
Jan. 21 Signed OL/DL Craig Kobel, FB/LB Levi Madrieta, FB/LB Vai Notoa and OL/DL Kautai Olevao. Awarded OL/DL Maurice Anderson from waivers.
Jan. 22 Waived DS Sullivan Beard, OS Hurtis Chinn, QB Tali Ena, FB/LB Mike Hodges, OS Khori Ivy, OL/DL Doug Kaufusi, FB/LB Levi Madrieta, FB/LB Vai Notoa, OL/DL Tevita Ofahengaue, OL/DL Kautai Olevao and WR/LB Emmett White. Released WR/DB Luke Leverson. Awarded FB/LB Chris Robinson (Philadelphia) from waivers.
Jan. 23 Placed WR/LB Ryan Dennard, OS Troy Mason and OL/DL Pat Hughes on the IR. Activated K Steve Videtich from the Refused to Report List. Waived OL/DL Maurice Anderson. Acquired OL/DL Bernard Holsey from Dallas for future considerations.
Feb. 7 Awarded OL/DL Ernest Grant (Georgia) and OL/DL Sean Guthrie (Orlando) from waivers. Placed WR/LB Sale Key on the IR. Waived WR/DB Erin Damond.
Feb. 9 Signed WR/DB Justin Taplin. Activated WR/LB Ryan Dennard from the IR. Placed OL/DL Ernest Grant and OL/DL Sean Guthrie on the Refused to Report List.
Feb. 10 Placed OL/DL Jason Andersen on the IR.

INJURY REPORT - WR/LB SALE KEY and DS KELVIN HUNTER were injured in the home opener versus Dallas. League rules stipulate that players on IR must be inactive for two weeks. Key is eligible to be activated to the active roster in time for Utah's Feb. 25 game at Los Angeles.

Player Injury Status
Troy Mason Left ankle sprain OUT (IR)
Pat Hughes Left knee OUT (IR)
Sale Key Right ankle OUT (IR)
Kelvin Hunter Right knee Questionable


MILESTONES:
*OS SIAHA BURLEY needs 2 rushing TDs for 10 career total.
*WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT needs 9 touchdowns for 50 career, 175 receiving yards for 2,500 career and 7.5 more tackles for 125 career.
*OL/DL BRYAN HENDERSON needs 4 more sacks for 15 career.

2006 LEAGUE TEAM RANKINGS
Category Blaze (Rank) Rattlers (Rank)
Scoring Offense 60.7 (2) 38.3 (17)
Scoring Defense 58.3 (16) 50.3 (11)
Total Offense 325.7 (1) 243.3 (14)
Total Defense 313.3 (17) 255.7 (4)
Pass Offense 316.0 (1) 240.7 (13)
Pass Defense 309.0 (17) 218.0 (3)
Rushing Offense 9.7 (17) 2.7 (18)
Rushing Defense 4.3 (1) 37.7 (18)
Interceptions 1 (t-16) 1 (t-16)
Kickoff Return Avg. 17.2 (9) 18.4 (5)
Def. KO Return Avg. 19.0 (13) 14.8 (4)
Turnover Margin +3 (3) -4 (t-17)
3rd Down Conversions 47.4% (9) 26.1% (18)
4th Down Conversions 33.3% (t-13) 25.0% (t-16)
Sacks By 2 (t-10) 0 (t-14)
Sacks Against 7 ((t-17) 4 (t-13)

BLAZE LEADERS IN 2006
Player Category No.
Germaine Total Offense 993
Germaine Completion Pct. 69
Germaine Pass TDs 20
Germaine Passer Rating 132.12
Germaine Passing Yards 993
Germaine Pass Completions 78
Germaine Pass Yards/Game 331.0
Burley Scoring 72
Burley Touchdowns 12
Burley Receptions 34
Burley Receiving Yards 458
Burley TD Receptions 12
Three-way tie Rush TDs 1
Burley KO Returns 10
Burley KOR Yards 161
Bryant Tackles 10.5

NOTES:
HOW THE WEST IS WON - Up until last season, the Western Division was won by either the DANNY WHITE-led Arizona Rattlers or the San Jose SaberCats. Last season, the Los Angeles Avengers captured their first division title. White's all-time regular season record against the Western Division is 41-19.

WEST IS BEST - The Western Division will be a tough test for the Blaze in 2006. In 2005, the San Jose SaberCats (59.1 points per game, No. 1 in the AFL), Los Angeles Avengers (53.8 PPG, No. 5), Arizona Rattlers (51.0 PPG, No. 10) and Las Vegas Gladiators (49.4 PPG, No. 12) were the leading offensive division in the AFL by combining for an average of 53.3 points per game.

STORYLINES:

HE'S NO. 1 - Entering his AFL 11th season, STEVE VIDETICH connected on 9-of-11 extra points and 0-of-1 field goals for a total of 9 points in last week's loss to New York. Videtich is the AFL's all-time scoring leader for kickers.

ALL-TIME CAREER SCORING (KICKING)
Rank Player Points
1. STEVE VIDETICH, UTAH 1,278
2. Mike Black 1,253
3. Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles 1,168
4. Clay Rush, Colorado 1,079
5. Steve McLaughlin 792

HEY COACH! Blaze head coach DANNY WHITE is currently in four Halls of Fame (Arizona Sports, Arizona State University, College Football and Arena Football). He has 13 years of experience in the AFL and owns two ArenaBowl titles (1994 and 1997), while not having a losing season since 1992. But, did you know that the assistant coaching staff has a combined total of 33 years of Arena Football experience?

Offensive/Defensive Line coach, FLINT FLEMING, played in six ArenaBowls and has three titles (1990, 1992 and 1997) during his 16 years in Arena Football. He was also named to the AFL's 15th Anniversary Team. Offensive coordinator and future AFL Hall of Famer, HUNKIE COOPER, is the AFL's all-time all-purpose yards leader (20,587), two-time Ironman of the Year (1999-2000) and AFL MVP (1993) during his 13 years in the AFL. Assistant Offensive/Defensive Line coach, LINDSAY HASSELL, played four years with the Oklahoma Wranglers (2000-01) and Arizona Rattlers (2002-03).

Despite being in his first season of coaching Arena Football, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, LEE LESLIE, brings 21 years of coaching experience, including 14 championship titles and a year of coaching in the NIFL (Utah Warriors).

IT'S A NUMBERS GAME - What's the big deal about a number? If you ask Utah Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE, it means a lot. One of the interesting stories early in the Blaze's inaugural season involves rookie OL/DL GARRETT SMITH. Smith is not only trying to make and immediate impact, but also trying to "earn" his number.

Smith wants to wear Coach White's old number (11), but will be wearing No. 12 against New York.

"Coach (White) made it clear that choosing a uniform number is not a right, it's a privilege," Smith said. "It will be something that I have to earn and I don't plan on letting him down. I intended on earning it at some point this season."
CLIMBING THE CHARTS - Head coach DANNY WHITE picks up where he left off after a year absence from the AFL coaching ranks. The AFL Hall of Fame coach is currently No. 2 on the league's all-time coaches win list. Below is a list of the all-time winningest coaches in AFL history.

ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES
Coach, Team Victories This Week
Tim Marcum, Tampa Bay 176 ORLANDO
Danny White, Utah 142 @ Arizona
Mike Hohensee, Chicago 96 @ Los Angeles
Mike Dailey, Colorado 91 @ Nashville
Perry Moss 86 --
Darren Arbet, San Jose 83 @ Grand Rapids

EXPANSION TEAMS IN ARENABOWL - The Blaze will be in elite company if they make it to the ArenaBowl XX in Las Vegas on June 12. In the 20-year history, only the expansion Detroit Drive won an ArenaBowl title in their inaugural season in 1988.

EXPANSION PACE - The Blaze started off on the right foot with their 48-35 victory over the San Jose SaberCats in Week 1. The New Orleans VooDoo had the best record for an expansion team in 2004 when they finished at 10-6 won a Southern Division title. Below is a look at the most recent expansion teams and how they finished their respective seasons:

EXPANSION TEAMS REGULAR-SEASON RECORDS
TEAM YEAR RECORD
UTAH BLAZE 2006 1-2
Kansas City Brigade 2006 0-3
New Orleans VooDoo 2004 10-6
Austin Wranglers 2004 8-8
Philadelphia Soul 2004 5-11
Colorado Crush 2003 2-14
Dallas Desperados 2002 7-7
Detroit Fury 2001 7-7
Chicago Rush 2001 7-7
Los Angeles Avengers 2000 3-11

NEW YORK PLAYER TO WATCH:

QB SHERDRICK BONNER - One of the best quarterbacks in AFL history, Bonner is currently among the all-time leaders in passing yards (33.458), touchdowns (670), completions (2,687) and attempts (4,324). He was selected as one of the 20 Greatest Players in AFL history. His 94 career victories are the most by any quarterback in AFL history.

BLAZE SCORES 81, FALL TO DRAGONS
Second-Highest Scoring Game in AFL History

SALT LAKE CITY - In the second-highest scoring game in the 20-year history of the AFL, the Utah Blaze (1-2) became only the second team in league history to score more than 80 points in a losing effort on Saturday to the New York Dragons, 84-81, in front of 15,213 fans. With five and a half seconds left in the game, QB Joe Germaine threw an incomplete pass as the clock expired for the second straight three-point loss at the Delta Center.

"It's unfortunate. The guys played really hard tonight," head coach Danny White said. "Things can change very, very quickly in this game. This was a pretty emotional game. We have to get it out of our system quickly and get ready for the next one."

Germaine set career highs in attempts (45), completions (35), yards (444), and touchdowns (10) in the losing effort. His 10 touchdowns are tied the mark for second-highest game total in league history. His 35 completions tied the third-highest total in league history. His 444 passing yards is the seventh-highest total in league history.

Offensive specialist Siaha Burley also enjoyed a career day on the field setting career best in receptions (16), yards (259) and tied his career TD total (6). His 16 receptions is the fifth-highest game total in league history, and his 259 receiving yards is the third highest. His six touchdowns rank second-highest in league history. But even with these impressive performances, only one thing remained on the players and coaches minds after the game.

"We are very disappointed. I had an opportunity on the last play to win and I didn't get it done," Burley said afterwards. "That is what is in my head right now"

"We didn't win, first and foremost. It was a back and forth game," Germaine said. "We didn't make the play at the end of the game to win it."

For the second consecutive game, the Blaze allowed the visiting team to score first as the Dragons capitalized on an early fumble to jump out to an early 7-0 lead. The teams traded touchdowns until the final 13 seconds of the half, when great special teams took over the game. Burley caught his fourth TD of the half after a successfully recovered an onside kick. The Blaze then recovered an awkward bounce off the goalpost on the kickoff and score on a 5-yard TD to Tom Pace, Germaine's sixth TD pass of the half. On the very next play, the Kevin Moffett recovered another Blaze bounce in the end zone for a 21-point swing to build a 49-34 lead heading into the break.

The Dragons were able to tie the game at the end of the third quarter with two late touchdowns including a 54-yard kickoff return by Kevin Swayne. Both teams traded three touchdowns apiece in the fourth quarter, but the Dragons ended up on the winning side of the scoreboard as they won the battle of PATs. The Blaze had a PAT kick blocked on the first TD of the quarter and failed on their second PAT two-point conversion on an incomplete pass. However, the Dragons were able to capitalize on a two-point conversion to Horacek and that proved to be the difference in the ball game.



WEEKLY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opponent Player
@ San Jose QB Joe Germaine, Utah
DALLAS OS Terrill Shaw, Dallas
NEW YORK QB Aaron Garcia, New York
@ Arizona
@ Los Angeles
SAN JOSE
NASHVILLE
@ Grand Rapids
LAS VEGAS
@ Tampa Bay
ARIZONA
LOS ANGELES
@ Colorado
@ Las Vegas
@ Chicago
KANSAS CITY

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Opponent Player
@ San Jose DS Kelvin Hunter, Utah
DALLAS DS Jermaine Jones, Dallas
NEW YORK DS DaShane Dennis, New York
@ Arizona
@ Los Angeles
SAN JOSE
NASHVILLE
@ Grand Rapids
LAS VEGAS
@ Tampa Bay
ARIZONA
LOS ANGELES
@ Colorado
@ Las Vegas
@ Chicago
KANSAS CITY

IRONMAN OF THE GAME:
Opponent Player
@ San Jose WR/DB Orshawante Bryant, Utah
DALLAS WR/DB Will Pettis, Dallas
NEW YORK WR/LB Mike Horacek, New York
@ Arizona
@ Los Angeles
SAN JOSE
NASHVILLE
@ Grand Rapids
LAS VEGAS
@ Tampa Bay
ARIZONA
LOS ANGELES
@ Colorado
@ Las Vegas
@ Chicago
KANSAS CITY


THE BLAZE RECORD WHEN...:

Scoring Allowing
0 - 9 points 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-0
20-29 points 0-0 0-0
30-39 points 0-0 1-0
40-49 points 1-0 0-0
50-59 points 0-1 0-1
60-69 points 0-0 0-0
70-79 points 0-0 0-0
80+ points 0-0 0-0

GAMES DECIDED BLAZE COACH WHITE
by 7 or fewer points 0-2 42-24
by 3 or fewer points 0-2 18-12

Leading/Tied after the 1st 1-0 84-21
Trailing after the 1st 0-2 38-36

Leading/Tied at Half 1-1 97-21
Trailing at Half 0-1 25-36

Leading/Tied after the 3rd 1-0 107-16
Trailing after the 3rd 0-2 15-41

Lead/Tied Turnover Ratio 1-1 93-23
Trailed Turnover Ratio 0-1 29-34

Scoring More Than 10 1-2 122-57
Scoring More Than 20 1-2 122-56
Scoring More Than 30 1-2 120-48
Scoring More Than 40 1-2 114-30
Scoring More Than 50 0-2 86-16
Scoring More Than 60 0-1 34-4
Scoring More Than 70 0-1 11-1
Scoring More Than 80 0-1 3-1
Scoring More Than 90 0-0 0-0

Monday games 0-0 3-1
Wednesday games 0-0 1-0
Thursday games 0-0 6-2
Friday games 0-0 31-13
Saturday games 1-2 63-29
Sunday games 0-0 18-12

vs. West 1-0 41-19
vs. Central 0-0 26-9
vs. South 0-0 19-9
vs. East 0-2 21-10

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