Week 12 Game Notes

Published on June 16, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release


Tampa Bay Storm vs. Utah Blaze

Week 12 - Saturday, June 19, 2010

7:00 p.m. (MT), Maverik Center (9,888)

THE QUICK FACTS:

Game: Utah Blaze (1-8) vs Tampa Bay Storm (6-3)

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2010

Kickoff: 7 p.m. (MT)

Site: Maverik Center (9,888)

Officials: Referee: Steve Strimling; Umpire: Scott Campbell; Head Linesman: John Jenkins; Line Judge: Bart Longson; Back Judge: Clay Reynard

TV: This game can be seen locally on CW30, the official home of the Utah Blaze.

Internet TV: This week's game can be viewed live on Nifty TV. (www.niftytv.com/afl).

Radio: Utah's flagship station 1280 THE ZONE will broadcast the game live with Kyle Gunther (play-by-play) and Hans Olsen (commentary).

Coaches: Utah, Ron James 3rd AFL season; 0-2 regular season, 13-20 overall). Tampa Bay, Tim Marcum (21st AFL Season, 202-96 overall (AFL).

OVERVIEW: The Blaze suffered their fifth consecutive loss of the season at the hands of the Chicago Rush last week, 50-70. Utah looks to pick up their second win at home this week against the Tampa Bay Storm. Last week, the Storm picked up their sixth win of the season versus the Alabama Vipers, 61-55.

THE SERIES: This will mark the second meeting between the two franchises. The two teams met during the Blaze's inaugural season in 2006 where Tampa came out on top, 56-41.

NFL NETWORK SCHEDULE: The National Game of the Week will be showcasing the Orlando Predators as they take on the Jacksonville Sharks. The game will be on live at 6:00 PM Mountain Time and is available exclusively on the NFL Network.

WHAT'S AHEAD: The Blaze visit the Iowa Barnstormers next week on Saturday, June 26 with kickoff at 6 p.m. (MT). The following week, the Milwaukee Iron will visit Maverik Center in their second match-up of the season on Friday, July 2 with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. (MT).

LAST WEEK:

BLAZE FALL TO CHICAGO, 70-50

Utah's losing streak extended to five

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze (1-8) fell to the Chicago Rush (7-3) 70-50 in front of 4,892 fans at the Maverik Center.

"We are just careless with the ball right now and our turnovers are hurting us," said Blaze Head Coach Ron James. "We have some work to do this week in order to get that win."

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game honors went to QB Russ Michna (6-2, 220, Western Illinois) for completing 16-of-19 passes for 217 yards and six touchdowns. FB Robert Boss (6-5, 296, Northern Michigan) earned JLS Ironman of the Game. Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors went to DB Josh Ferguson (5-7, 180, UTEP) for tallying 4.0 total tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.

Utah opened the scoring for the evening with a one-yard carry by QB Mark Thorson (6-6, 240 Western Oregon). The Rush responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass by former University of Utah wide receiver Travis LaTendresse (6-1, 205, Utah). Each team tallied another score before the end of the quarter, 14-14.

Chicago dominated the second quarter of play, outscoring the Blaze, 42-20. The Rush jumped ahead after a successful onside kick resulting in a touchdown from Michna (6-2, 220, Western Illinois) to WR Sammie Parker (5-11, 180, Oregon). FB/LB Damian Walker (6-3, 270, Howard) tallied the only Blaze score of the quarter with a 5-yard carry.

The Blaze re-ignited briefly in the second half of play with touchdown that was recovered on the kickoff by WR/DB Aaron Lesue (5-9, 190, Utah State). However, it wasn't enough to catch-up to the Rush. Michna later connected on two touchdown passes to LaTendresse and Parker. The teams entered the final quarter of play with the Rush on top, 56-30.

QB Taylor Tharp (6-2, 205, Boise State) tallied 20 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Rush.

Thorson finished the night 12-of-20 passing for 142 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tharp completed 7-of-16 passing for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

Hampton led the defense with 7.0 total tackles. He also returned seven kicks for 125 yards.

THE COACHES:

Utah - Ron James, 3rd AFL season

0-2 (.000) 2010 reg. season; 13-20 (.394) overall

This season marks James's first official season with the Blaze franchise. On Wednesday, July 9, 2008, James was promoted to the head coaching position of the Blaze, replacing Danny White. Due to the hiatus of the AFL, James never officially logged a game as the head coach of the Blaze. Prior to his promotion, James completed his second season with the Blaze as the Defensive Coordinator and Director of Player Personnel and 11th season in the Arena Football League.

James was the Head Coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators (now Cleveland Gladiators) for two seasons (2005, 2006). In 2005, his team led the AFL in total offense and team defense, and set 14 new offensive and defensive team records. Prior to being named head coach of Las Vegas, James was the assistant head coach/OL/DL/Special Teams coach of the Gladiators for three seasons. Before joining the Gladiators, he was the line coach for the Houston ThunderBears and Director of Player Personnel from 1999-2001. He also was an assistant coach with the Albany Firebirds from 1990-91.

Tampa Bay - Tim Marcum, 21st season

204-96 (.558) overall

career vs. Utah

Marcum is the winningest head coach in Arena Football history. He enters the 2010 season having won seven ArenaBowl championships and has coached in 10 of the league's 22 ArenaBowls. Marcum is the only coach in Arena Football history to lead three different teams to ArenaBowl championships (Denver, Detroit and Tampa Bay), and is the AFL leader in victories (198), games coached (290 regular season, 36 post season), and post-season victories (25).

A two-time recipient of the AFL Coach of the Year Award (1987 and 1998), Marcum has overseen the Tampa Bay Storm's development into the league's flagship franchise. He was the first coach in AFL history to win more than 100 games and has missed out in playing for the 8 league championship only twelve times in his career. Incredibly, Marcum's AFL clubs have advanced to the postseason in 18 of 20 seasons, including a league-record 15 consecutive appearances with the Storm (1991-2005).

THE IFS...

*Give Utah a 1-1 record all-time versus the Storm

*Give Utah a 2-8 regular-season record for 2010.

*Give Utah a 2-4 home game record for 2010.

*Give Utah a 26-35 record in franchise regular season.

*Give Utah a 26-38 overall, including playoffs.

MAKING THEIR MARK

Despite having a rough start this season, several Blaze players are still ranked within the Top 10 of the AFL statistical leaders.

WR/DB BRANDON HAMPTON ranks second in the AFL in Kickoff Return yards with 1,202. He also ranks fifth in Kickoff Return Yards per attempt with 21.9. He also ranks eighth in all purpose yards (1347) and tenth in all purpose yards per game (149.7)

WR AARON BOONE ranks sixth in total scoring (162) and seventh in total scoring per game (18.0).

LB PATRICK BODY ranks fourth in the AFL for Fumbles Forced per Game (.3)

K BEN SCOTT ranks fifth in the FG % (57.1%).

DL CAESAR RAYFORD ranks ninth in the AFL in Tackles for Loss per game (.6)

MILESTONES:

*WR WENDALL WILLIAMS needs 24 catches to reach 150 career receptions. He also needs 134 yards to reach 1,500 in career yards.

*DB TOURE CARTER needs 4.0 total tackles to reach 100 career.

*OL/DL VAKA MANUPUNA needs 1.0 total tackles to reach 50 career.

STORM PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB BRETT DIETZ - Brett Dietz has been a calming force for the Storm all season long while under center. As the QB Dietz has led the team to a 6-3 record, while averaging 305.4 yards passing a game. Dietz has also thrown for 60 touchdowns so far this season.

DB BRANDON HEFFLIN - Hefflin has been shutting down opposing offenses all season long. Through nine games Hefflin has 68 tackles and 12 pass breakups, pacing the aggressive Storm defensive.

PLAYER TIES:

Storm DL TIM MCGILL was once on the Blaze's exempt list while with the Packers of the NFL, but was traded prior to ever appearing with the Blaze.

TAMPA DB BRANDON HEFFLIN and BLAZE DB'S ANTONIO MALONE and PATRICK BODY all played collegiately at Toledo.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Arena Football League Stories from June 16, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central