Utah defeats Kats
March 10, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The Nashville Kats went to Utah on Friday looking to get back to the winning track against the expansion Blaze, but only found themselves completely derailed in an ugly 63-34 loss. It was the Kats' worst defeat in franchise history.
Nashville's offense turned the ball over seven times and never got into sync, while the Kats struggled to slow down a high-flying Blaze offense which racked up 218 total yards and scored on all but three of their 12 possessions in the game. The Kats' defense, which entered the game allowing a league-low 38 points per game, gave up a whopping 63 on the night.
Utah's Joe Germaine finished 14-of-20 for 160 yards and two TD's. Backup QB Jason Gesser, who briefly replaced Germaine, also threw for a pair of TD's, as did Orshawante Bryant, who hit Bryant Henderson for a 23-yard score on a trick play in the second quarter. Five different Blaze receivers found the end zone, but Siaha Burley led the way with four catches for 40 yards and a score.
It was easily the Kats' worst performance of the season, but it continued a disturbing trend that has seen the Kats turn the ball over 13 times and get flagged 29 times in the last three games.
Utah wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, finding the end zone in a four-play, 44-yard drive that took less than three minutes off the clock. The Blaze then recovered the ensuing kickoff after it took a funny bounce off the net and fullback/linebacker Kevin Clemens punched in for his second score of the game just six plays later, giving Utah a 14-0 edge before Nashville had even touched the football.
After the initial barrage, the Kats offense got going, despite briefly losing starting quarterback Clint Stoerner with an ankle injury suffered on Nashville's first possession. Backup Leon Murray, seeing his first action of the season, succeeded Stoerner and hit Jermaine Lewis for a 15-yard TD pass just four plays later to cut the deficit to 14-6. Stoerner eventually returned and led the Kats to TD's on their next two drives, but Nashville's offense could not slow the Blaze, who found the end zone on their first four possessions of the game.
Trailing 28-20, the Kats wasted an excellent opportunity when they recovered a Utah fumble with less than a minute before the half, then fumbled the ball back two plays later. Germaine found John Culp for another score with just :12 before the break, and went to the locker room up, 35-20.
Nashville's fortunes went from bad to worse in the third quarter, as Stoerner fumbled again and was picked off before being removed in favor of Murray. Stoerner finished the game 8-of-16 for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The Kats turned the ball over on their first three possessions of the second half, including an INT by Murray, and fell behind 49-20 before finally finding the end zone for the first time in the second half on a 14-yard TD pass from Murray to Toliver with 4:43 left in the game. By that point, the game was hopelessly out of reach, and Utah tacked on two more TD's before the final buzzer.
Murray wound up 13-for-25 for 150 yards and three TD's. He was intercepted twice.
The Kats (4-3) return to action at home next Friday against the Chicago Rush. Utah moves to 3-4 on the year.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 10, 2006
- Rush falls to Colorado 49-42 - Chicago Rush
- Utah defeats Kats - Nashville Kats
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- Destroyers can't force win, fall 68-50 to Georgia - Columbus Destroyers
- SaberCats sign OL/DL Van Brown - San Jose SaberCats
- Georgia victorious over Columbus - Georgia Force
- AFL week seven injury report - AFL I
- Ogron goes for world record during Blaze halftime - Utah Blaze
- Destroyers present Professional Football Night March 18th - Columbus Destroyers
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