Utah Hits the Road to Face Heated Division Opponent
June 12, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release
SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze (8-5) travels to Spokane this weekend to take on the Shock (7-5) in a battle of intense division rivals. The two teams previously squared off during a Week 9 matchup in which the Blaze emerged with a convincing 84-63 victory.
Utah is coming off its most dominant performance of the season after handing the Chicago Rush its worst loss in franchise history. The 68-28 drubbing gave the Blaze - for the time being - sole possession of the fourth and final National Conference playoff spot. Meanwhile, Spokane earned a strong victory of its own last weekend after overcoming the Kansas City Command, 70-46. Kickoff from Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is scheduled for 8:00 PM MT.
After entering Week 14 with the Arena Football League's last-ranked scoring defense, the Blaze have engineered an immaculate turnaround on that side of the ball. Utah held Chicago to a season-low 28 points while forcing three turnovers on downs and one interception. The secondary unit is playing with a new sense of confidence and has allowed an average of just 212.5 aerial yards per game over its last two contests. At the same time, Utah's defensive line appears revitalized, often collapsing the pocket while causing errant throws by opposing quarterbacks.
"It is a good sign for any team to be playing better defense as the season winds down," said President & Head Coach Ron James. "A continued level of confidence on the defensive side of the ball is vital when you are making the final push towards the playoffs."
Utah's defense will need another strong performance as they take on the AFL's fifth-ranked scoring offense (60.2 ppg). Shock QB Kyle Rowley has thrown 22 touchdowns over the past three games while Spokane has averaged 66.7 points per contest. In their last meeting, Shock WR Brandon Tompkins hauled in10 passes for 168 yards and seven touchdowns against the Blaze. It's imperative that Utah slow down Spokane's aerial attack this time around.
"We will need a strong defensive outing against Spokane this weekend," said James. "They are a well-coached team with a high-powered offense led by a championship-caliber quarterback."
When the Blaze offense takes the field, it will be a matchup of the League's top-ranked passing attack against its worst-ranked passing defense. Spokane has allowed an average of 318.5 aerial yards per contest, placing at the bottom of the AFL. However, DB Terrance Sanders has a knack for causing turnovers and ranks fourth with eight interceptions on the season. Utah must protect the football to achieve its usual offensive success.
"Offensively, we need to remain efficient throughout the game. They are an opportunistic defense that plays well at home. This game has all the markings of playoff type atmosphere."
Spokane's greatest strength lies in its special teams. The Shock boasts the AFL's second-best kickoff return (19.8 avg) and kickoff coverage units (43.2 avg). Spokane K Kenny Spencer is also the League's most efficient when it comes to PATs (94.9%). On the other hand, Blaze K Kyle Brotzman is no slouch, and gave Utah two extra possessions last week by bouncing a kickoff off the uprights and successfully booting an onside attempt.
"Special teams are the 'X' factor in any AFL game. Spokane is one of the elite teams in every special teams category. We will need to excel in the kicking game this week to bring home a win."
The Utah Blaze vs. Spokane Shock can be viewed online through the Arena Football League's exclusive partnership with Ustream, the leader in live and interactive video streaming. Visit www.UTBlaze.com/LIVE to stream the game live and at no cost! Game coverage can be heard in the Salt Lake City area on The Zone 1280 AM/97.5 FM, the radio home of the Utah Blaze.
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