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Utah Blaze game notes

February 21, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Utah Blaze (1-3) at Los Angeles Avengers (1-3).
Date: Saturday, February 25, 2006.
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (MT).
Site: STAPLES Center (17,942)
Officials: Referee: David Lambros; Umpire: Al Granado;
Head Linesman: Bill Ward; Line Judge: Brain Matthews; Back Judge: Joe Duncan
Television: FSN West (Live) & FSN Utah (delayed, 9:30 p.m.) with Billy Macdonald (play-by-play), John Jackson (commentary) and Lindsay Soto (sideline) calling the action.
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 Avengers.
Coaches: Utah, Danny White (14th season; 122-58 regular season, 142-68 overall). Los Angeles, Ed Hodgkiss (5th season; 39-27 regular season, 39-31 overall).

OVERVIEW: The Blaze look to rebound from their third straight loss as they take on the Los Angeles Avengers (1-3). This will mark the 13th meeting of Utah head coach Danny White against the Avengers. The Avengers are also in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Avengers lost 65-46, against the Chicago Rush at home last weekend. The Blaze lost an emotional 45-38 contest to the rival Arizona Rattlers at U.S. Airways Center. The Blaze enter the meeting looking to remain in a tie for first place of the Western Division. After three consecutive losses, the Blaze remain tied in first place as all Western Division teams - Arizona Rattlers, Las Vegas Gladiators, Los Angeles Avengers, San Jose SaberCats and Utah - hold 1-3 records. San Jose travels to Chicago, Arizona plays at Columbus, Las Vegas heads to Dallas, while Utah at Los Angeles play Saturday.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the Los Angeles Avengers and the Utah Blaze. It will also be the ninth meeting between head coaches DANNY WHITE and ED HODGKISS. Coach White holds a 6-2 advantage in the coaching match up and has never lost (9-0) at STAPLES Center.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Blaze enter a pivotal point in their season as they are in the middle of a three-game Western Division swing. After playing Los Angeles, the Blaze returns to the Delta Center to host two games. The first will be against the two-time ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (Mar. 4), then Nashville Kats (Mar. 10).

THE SCHEDULES:

2006 Utah Blaze (1-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 28 @ San Jose Won 48-35
Feb. 4 DALLAS Lost 53-56
Feb. 11 NEW YORK Lost 81-84
Feb. 18 @ Arizona Lost 38-45
Game Opponent Time (PT) TV
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 Los Angeles Avengers (1-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 ARIZONA Won 40-31
Feb. 5 @ Philadelphia Lost 33-47
Feb. 12 @ Grand Rapids Lost 41-66
Feb. 18 CHICAGO Lost 46-65
Game Opponent Time (ET) TV
Feb. 25 UTAH 8;30 p.m. FSN
Mar. 5 @ Orlando 10:00 a.m. NBC
Mar. 12 @ San Jose 4:00 p.m. NBC
Mar. 19 COLORADO 4:00 p.m. NBC
Mar. 24 @ Arizona 7:00 p.m. FSN West2
Apr. 2 @ Las Vegas 4:00 p.m. FSN West2
Apr. 9 @ Kansas City 11:00 a.m. NBC
Apr. 15 @ Utah 7:00 p.m. KJZZ
Apr. 22 NEW YORK 8:30 p.m. FSN West2
Apr. 29 SAN JOSE 8:30 p.m.
May 6 NASHVILLE 8:30 p.m.
May 13 LAS VEGAS 8:30 p.m.
NOTABLES: 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 is currently on pace to record 164 receptions 2,392 yards and 56 touchdowns (all would be AFL records)... 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)... Germaine is currently on pace to record 396 completions, 5,064 yards and 88 touchdowns.

THE ‘O' SHOW: WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT recorded his first multiple touchdown game on April 27th 2002 against the Los Angeles Avengers. The five receptions he recorded in the game were a season high in his rookie year. On June 6th 2004, Bryant recorded 13 receptions for 126 yards in a first-round playoff battle with the Los Angeles Avengers.

SIAHA RELIEF: OS SIAHA BURLEY's best defensive season came in 2003 when he recorded 34 tackles and six pass breakups as a member of the Los Angeles Avengers. Burley, then moved to Offensive Specialist the following season in Arizona. This was Burley's only season with the Los Angeles Avengers.

TICK KICKS: K STEVE VIDETICH is playing only his second game against the Los Angeles Avengers. In his first game he was 8-of-9 on extra-point attempts.

FAMILIAR FACE: FB/LB KEVIN CLEMENS spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Avengers from 2003-2004. His best season came in 2003 when e rushed for 38 yards.

IN THE HUNT: DS KELVIN HUNTER's best career game came against the Los Angeles Avengers on May 1st, 2004 when he recorded 12 tackles in the game. He also contributed a pass break up to help the team.

THE IFS...:
If Utah defeats Los Angeles it would...
*Be Utah's second divisional win and give them a winning percentage against divisional opponents (2-1).
*Be Utah's first victory in franchise history against the Avengers.
*Give Utah a 1-0 series lead over Los Angeles.
*Give Utah a 2-1 all-time record against Western Division teams.
*Give Utah a 2-1 all-time road record against Western Division teams.
*Give Utah a 2-3 all-time regular-season record.
* Give Utah at least a share of the division lead.

THE COACHES:
Utah - Danny White, 14th season
122-58 (.678) reg. season; 142-68 (.676) overall
9-3 career vs. Los Angeles
White is currently in his 14th season as an AFL head coach and first with the Blaze. White has compiled a record of 142-68 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).

Los Angeles - Ed Hodgkiss, 5th season
39-27 (.591) reg. season; 39-31 (.557) overall
0-0 career vs. Utah
One of the brightest offensive masterminds in the AFL, Ed Hodgkiss is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Avengers. In his four previous seasons, he compiled a record of 38-24 and advanced to the AFL Playoffs each year. In his first two seasons at the helm, he directed the Avengers to a 19-11 record. No head coach in league history has won more games in his first two seasons than Hodgkiss. Last season, the Avengers captured their first Western Division championship and compiled a 10-6 record. Under Hodgkiss' direction, Los Angeles led the league in offensive scoring percentage (74.4 percent) and turnover margin (+17). He finished second in the balloting for AFL "Coach of the Year" honors. In 2004, the Avengers went 9-7 and led the AFL in scoring, averaging 56.5 points per game. In 2003, the Avengers won a franchise-best 11 games and earned a first-round playoff bye. Hodgkiss, who was the runner-up for the 2003 AFL "Coach of the Year" award, oversaw the league's most efficient offense, which scored 122 touchdowns (most in the AFL) on only 619 total plays (least in the AFL). Hodgkiss became the head coach of the Avengers on Oct. 5, 2001, and signed a five-year contract extension shortly after a 2002 season that saw him adroitly pilot the team to an 8-6 mark and into the postseason for the first time in franchise history. In his first season as a head coach at any level, he instantly established the Avenger offense as one of the most feared in the AFL, scoring an average of 52.2 points per game. Prior to joining the Avengers, Hodgkiss was the Indiana Firebirds' offensive coordinator for three seasons (1999-2001) and was part of an ArenaBowl championship in 1999.
RATTLERS HAND BLAZE, 45-38, LOSS
White, Former Rattlers Unsuccessful in Return to Phoenix

PHOENIX - Arizona Rattlers OS Damien Groce hauled in 11 receptions for 194 yards and four touchdowns as the Rattlers (1-3) defeated the Utah Blaze, 45-38, on Saturday night at U.S. Airways Center for their first victory of the season.

Groce, who earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, hauled in two fourth quarter touchdowns to keep the Blaze (1-3) at bay and helped give Arizona head coach Gene Nudo his first career victory in front of 11,206 fans.

Arizona's Bonner completed 22-of-33 passes for 315 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Arizona DS Joe Todd earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game after recording 7.0 total tackles, an interception and five pass breakups. Former Ironman of the Year, WR/DB Randy Gatewood, took Ironman of the Game honors with three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown. He also added 3.0 total tackles and recovered a key onsides kick late in the contest to preserve the victory.

Utah's Joe Germaine finished the game 21-of-37 passing for 273 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Siaha Burley led Blaze receivers with seven receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES
Date Action
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.
Feb. 16 Signed DS Sullivan Beard. Awarded FB/LB Josh White (Austin) from waivers. Activated OL/DL Ernest Grant from the Refused to Report List. Activated and waived OL/DL Patrick Hughes. Placed DS Kevin Moffett on the IR.
Feb. 17 Traded FB/LB Josh White to Dallas for past considerations.
Feb. 20 Awarded OL/DL John Culp (Columbus) from waivers. Activated OL/DL Jason Andersen and placed him on recallable waivers.
Feb. 21 Released FB/LB Jermaine Younger.


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)
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:
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.

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 5-of-5 extra points and 1-of-2 field goals for a total of eight points in last week's loss to Arizona. Videtich is the AFL's all-time scoring leader for kickers.

ALL-TIME CAREER SCORING (KICKING)
Rank Player Points
1. STEVE VIDETICH, UTAH 1,286
2. Mike Black (1993-2003) 1,253
3. Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles 1,189
4. Clay Rush, Colorado 1,096
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 Los Angeles. "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 AUSTIN
Danny White, Utah 142 @ Los Angeles
Mike Hohensee, Chicago 97 SAN JOSE
Mike Dailey, Colorado 91 @ Philadelphia
Perry Moss 86 --
Darren Arbet, San Jose 83 @ Chicago

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 1-3
Kansas City Brigade 2006 1-3
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

LOS ANGELES PLAYER TO WATCH:

WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM - Kevin Ingram won last seasons "U.S. Army Ironman of the Year" after having and outstanding season in all phases of the game. He lead the team with 86 receptions and 1,052 years with 23 touchdowns. Defensively, he led the Avengers with 6 interceptions and was second on the club with 68 tackles. On special teams, he lead the team in kick off returns and averaged a team-high 104.1 all-purposed yards per game. This season, Ingram leads the team with 28 receptions and 432 yards with seven TDs. He also leads the team with two interceptions.

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 OS Damien Groce, 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 DS Joe Todd, 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 WR/DB Randy Gatewood, 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 0-1 1-0
40-49 points 1-0 0-1
50-59 points 0-1 0-1
60-69 points 0-0 0-0
70-79 points 0-0 0-0
80+ points 0-1 0-1

GAMES DECIDED BLAZE COACH WHITE
by 7 or fewer points 0-3 42-25
by 3 or fewer points 0-2 18-12

Leading/Tied after the 1st 1-1 84-22
Trailing after the 1st 0-2 38-36

Leading/Tied at Half 1-1 97-21
Trailing at Half 0-2 25-37

Leading/Tied after the 3rd 1-0 107-16
Trailing after the 3rd 0-3 15-42

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

Scoring More Than 10 1-3 122-58
Scoring More Than 20 1-3 122-57
Scoring More Than 30 1-3 120-50
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 1-3 63-30
Sunday games 0-0 18-12

vs. West 1-1 41-20
vs. Central 0-0 26-9
vs. South 0-0 19-9
vs. East 0-2 21-10



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 21, 2006


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