Ryan Dennard, a second-year Utah Blaze player, started at linebacker on Saturday night against the New Orleans VooDoo. But midway through the second quarter, he was forced into double duty when wide receiver Aaron Boone got injured.
Dennard quickly made the most of his chance on offense, catching a touchdown pass late in the second quarter and then running for a score from five yards out in the third quarter on Utah's longest rush of the night.
Dennard also had two huge defensive plays in the fourth quarter when he batted down back-to-back passes by New Orleans quarterback Andy Kelly.
For his two-way success, Dennard was named as the Arena Football League's Ironman of the Week on Tuesday, which is the first time the former Arizona State player has received the award.
"This is a great honor for Ryan," said Blaze head coach/general manager Danny White. "He had a solid all-around game and will be a key part of our team's success this season."
Dennard finished with 2.5 tackles during the Blaze's 63-61 season-opening victory that wasn't decided until Steve Viditech nailed a 23-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
The Blaze are in action Saturday night at 7 against the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix. The game will be broadcast live on the radio (1280 AM) and shown on a tape-delayed basis on Fox Sports Utah at 9:30 p.m.
TOP 5 RANKING: The weekly Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll of AFL teams came out and for the first time in team history, the Blaze are in the Top 5.
Utah, which was ninth in the preseason poll of AFL writers, moved up four spots after beating New Orleans.
The preseason No. 1 team, the Dallas Desperados, remained there after the league's most dominating season-opening victory. Dallas actually kept the New York Dragons scoreless in the first half — which is a very difficult thing to do in the offense-happy AFL — and ended up winning 60-7.
Utah's Western Division rival San Jose SaberCats moved into the No. 2 spot in the poll, followed by the Orlando Predators, the Georgia Force and the Blaze. Arizona, Utah's opponent on Saturday night, received votes but is not currently ranked in the Top 12.
The Blaze, incidentally, have never beaten the Rattlers, having lost three straight times to them last season — including in the first-round of the playoffs.
INJURY UPDATE: Aaron Boone, the former Millard High star, made his professional debut in a Utah uniform on Saturday a memorable one in more ways than one. He caught the longest pass of the game — a 39-yard touchdown bomb thrown by QB Joe Germaine down the left sideline in the first quarter.
But in the second quarter Boone was injured on another pass to the end zone. He suffered a high ankle sprain and had to leave the game. Boone tried to play again despite the injury early in the third quarter but couldn't do it, missing nearly the entire second half. He is listed as "questionable" to play in Saturday's game.
Siaha Burley, Utah's leading receiver, was also banged up against the VooDoo. He suffered a right-foot sprain but is listed as probable to play against his former Rattlers teammates.
NEW ADDITION: Blaze lineman and ex-BYU star Hans Olsen and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their first son — Tommy Rock Olsen — into the world on Monday. The Olsens also have two young daughters.
E-mail: lojo@desnews.com