NASHVILLE — For the third game in three outings this season, the Utah Blaze defense struggled to stop their opponent from scoring almost at will.
And this time the Blaze offense was unable to bail the defense out.
The Nashville Kats scored 10 touchdowns — five on the ground and five through the air — to hand the Blaze their first loss of the season, 69-55, Sunday afternoon in the Nashville Arena. It was the Kats' first win on the year, while the Blaze fell to 2-1.
"We need to get better on defense," said Blaze coach Danny White. "Whether it's changing up our schemes or making personnel changes or whatever. We will do what we need to do to get better defensively."
The Blaze actually got off to a fast start. Joe Germaine hit Siaha Burley for a score less than two minutes into the game. After a Nashville touchdown, newly activated Kevin Moffett returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown, giving Utah a 13-7 lead.
Then Nashville quarterback Jeff Smoker, an AFL rookie making his first start, threw an interception to Utah ironman Ryan Dennard. It was Utah's first forced turnover of the season and the Blaze took advantage of it. Two plays later Dennard caught a Germaine touchdown pass, giving Utah a 20-7 lead late in the first quarter.
But Nashville scored to cut the lead to six and then made the trick-play of the game. Kats kicker Jason Witczak, with his back to the Blaze after putting the ball on the tee for the kickoff, hit the ball with the back of his foot for an onside kick. Utah's kicking team wasn't ready for the ball and the Kats recovered. Smoker's second TD pass to Kenny Higgins gave the Kats a 21-20 lead, erasing a 13-point deficit in a matter of seconds.
"We got off to a good start, but the onside kick was a huge play," said White. "It changed momentum and then when we had the chance to make plays, we didn't make them."
Maurice Brown intercepted a Germaine pass early in the second quarter. That set up a touchdown run by Dan Alexander — one of his record-tying five TDs on the ground on the afternoon — giving Nashville a 28-20 lead.
Nashville still led by eight points at the half, 42-34, but then really took control of the game early in the third quarter. The Kats took the opening kickoff in the second half and went on to score and then got the ball back when Blaze receiver Orshawante Bryant fumbled after a catch. Smoker hit Higgins for his third TD of the day midway through the third quarter, giving the Kats a 56-34 lead.
Utah rallied to score the next two touchdowns — on a Frank Carter run and a Justin Skaggs catch — to close the gap to 56-48 with 8:35 to play. The Blaze again pulled to within one score, at 62-55, with 3:07 remaining on a Germaine to Burley hookup. But the Blaze defense couldn't hold and when Germaine threw his second interception of the game in the final minute, the Kats had their first victory of the year.
"We did not deserve to win the game tonight," said White.
In addition to struggling defensively, the Blaze were penalized 11 times for 67 yards.
Germaine was 28-for-38 for 326 yards and six touchdowns, but had two interceptions. Burley had nine catches for 150 yards and three scores, while Bryant had 12 catches for 127 yards and a score. The Blaze played without two of their starting receivers — Aaron Boone and Tom Pace — both of whom are nursing ankle sprains.
"We really needed this win," said Alexander, who had five TD carries for the Kats. "We needed to get out of that two-game funk. We are a better team than we showed the first two weeks and we proved that today. We beat a really good team. Utah is excellent. They are stacked with talent."
The Blaze won't have long to worry about the loss. They host the Grand Rapids Rampage on Friday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
VOODOO 59, GLADIATORS 31: At Las Vegas, Andy Kelly three four touchdown passes — three to Tyronne Jones — to lead the New Orleans VooDoo over the Las Vegas Gladiators. Kelly was 30-of-40 for 269 yards, and Kenny Henderson led the VooDoo (2-1) in receiving with 10 catches for 104 yards and one touchdown. Jones finished with nine receptions for 95 yards. Shaun King threw three touchdown passes for the Gladiators (1-2).
RUSH 61, DRAGONS 40: At Rosemont, Ill., Bobby Sippio caught five touchdown passes and the ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush scored 34 straight points in the second half to defeat the New York Dragons. Sippio finished with nine receptions for 135 yards, and Matt D'Orazio was 18-of-31 for 238 yards and six TDs. The Rush overcame a 30-27 halftime deficit to improve to 2-1. Rohan Davey was 25-of-41 for 245 yards and three touchdowns for the Dragons (0-2).