VooDoo Set for First Road Trip of 2012 with Trek to Utah Blaze
March 29, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (March 29, 2012) - The New Orleans VooDoo (0-2) will travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utah Blaze (2-1) this Saturday, March 31, at 9:00 p.m. in EnergySolutions Arena. The game will be shown live in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Acadiana on Cox 4 with pre-game starting at 8:30 p.m.
The VooDoo fought hard, but fell to the Milwaukee Mustangs on Friday night, 65-42, after racking up 15 penalties throughout the game. The loss extended the team's home losing streak to 12 games.
However, WR Greg Ellingson and QB Kurt Rocco served as bright spots in the loss, each having career games. Ellingson finished with 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while Rocco notched a career-high 343 yards passing, throwing for 300-plus yards for the second consecutive week. Rocco only had three 300-yard passing performances last season in Cleveland as a rookie.
"It was a tough loss for all of us, but it is a long season and we are moving forward," said O'Hara about last week's game versus Milwaukee. "Utah has a loaded team; they have a great quarterback and a good pass rush. Our team knows that we have to play sound in the game to keep pace."
Last week, the Utah Blaze stirred up the League by defeating the top-ranked San Jose SaberCats, 60-59. SaberCats' QB Tommy Grady shined all night as he completed 33-of-51 attempts for 339 yards with 7 touchdowns and one interception. Blaze WR Aaron Lesue was Grady's go-to receiver, catching a game-high 15 passes for 125 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Blaze's offensive attack is complemented by its strong defense that recorded a League single-game record 10 sacks against the Iowa Barnstormers in a Week 2 victory.
Utah holds the all-time series advantage, 2-1, and claimed the last matchup in 2011, winning 62-58 in Salt Lake City. In last year's contest, the VooDoo held an 18-point - 45-27 - lead in the 3rd quarter, but the Blaze battled back to tie the game with 3:45 left on a Chris Bocage 2-yard touchdown run. The Blaze would go on to take the lead and never look back on their next offensive series.
The VooDoo was led by Alvin Ray Jackson on defense in the loss with 3.0 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception.
VooDoo on Television: Cox 4
VooDoo on the Radio: 99.5 FM WRNO "Rush Radio"
VooDoo Broadcast Team: Ken Trahan (play-by-play), Jon Norris (color), Brandon Rizzuto (sideline)
VooDoo on the Internet: www.wrno.com
VooDoo live game feed: www.ustream.tv/NewOrleansVooDoo
VooDoo live statistics: http://livestats.prestosports.com/neworleansvoodoo
Arena Football League Stories from March 29, 2012
- Command Suffer Third Straight Loss to Start 2012 - Kansas City Command
- Power Lose to Milwaukee 40-63 - Pittsburgh Power
- Mustangs Dominate Power 63-40 - Milwaukee Mustangs
- Orlando Predators Fall to San Antonio Talons, 47-34 - Orlando Predators
- Blaze Assigned Former Ute Ed Ta'amu - Utah Blaze
- Georgia's Shipp Voted Week 3 National Guard MVP - AFL
- Barnstormers Announce Coaches Clinic - Iowa Barnstormers
- Philadelphia Soul Return Home for Division Showdown - Philadelphia Soul
- SaberCats Look to Rebound on Friday, March 30 - San Jose SaberCats
- Top 25 Players in AFL History: #22 Chris Jackson - AFL
- VooDoo Set for First Road Trip of 2012 with Trek to Utah Blaze - New Orleans VooDoo
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