In 2007, as the Utah Blaze entered their second AFL season, hopes were high with a powerful offense and a handful of key free agent signings designed to bolster their defense.
After a hot start, however, injuries took their toll on the Blaze, and the team endured a long stretch of poor outings. The diagnosis inoperable brain cancer and subsequent death of popular teammate Justin Skaggs also made it a season Utah players, coaches and fans will never forget.
One constant through virtually every week of the 2007 season — Joe Germaine, Siaha Burley and Co. could score points in bunches as the Blaze qualified for another trip to the AFL playoffs.
Here's a look at the 2007 season:
WEEK 1:
Blaze 63, VooDoo 61
The season opened up with a bang as Utah got a game-winning field goal from Steve Videtich at the final horn to beat New Orleans.
In front of 14,222 fans at EnergySolutions Arena, Joe Germaine had a somewhat ho-hum game with just 330 yards and four touchdowns.
Record: 1-0
WEEK 2:
Blaze 75, Rattlers 71
Beating their rivals for the first time, the Blaze got 10 touchdown passes from Joe Germaine to score a huge road win over Arizona. Ryan Dennard had 16 catches, 181 receiving yards and seven touchdowns while also recording six tackles on defense.
The win was the first against the team coach Danny White and several Utah players were once a part of.
Record: 2-0
WEEK 3:
Kats 69, Blaze 55
At Nashville, Utah suffered its first loss of the season as the Blaze were unable to stop the Kats' rushing game.
Though the AFL is a pass-happy league, Nashville fullback Dan Alexander had five rushing touchdowns to stun the Blaze. Joe Germaine had six passing touchdowns, but it wasn't enough.
Record: 2-1
WEEK 4:
Blaze 83, Rampage 42
In what might be its best overall game ever, Utah crushed the Rampage at EnergySolutions Arena behind a resurgent defense and a potent offense.
The point difference was the largest in team history and Orshawante Bryant had a monster game with three interceptions, six tackles and a pass breakup. Joe Germaine threw for 268 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions.
Record: 3-1
WEEK 5:
Blaze 57, Gladiators 47
At Las Vegas, Utah jumped out to a 21-3 first quarter lead and cruised to a win as Siaha Burley had eight catches for 163 yards and four TDs. Joe Germaine had seven more passing TDs to keep up his record-setting pace and DB Clarence Lawson added a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six tackles.
The game was the last for Utah in Las Vegas as the Gladiators moved to Cleveland after the season.
Record: 4-1
WEEK 6:
Wranglers 65, Blaze 64
At Austin, the Blaze were stunned on the road as the Wranglers completed a big comeback to snap their four-game losing streak.
Utah had a chance to take a 7-point lead with three minutes left, but a two-point conversion attempt failed and Austin, led by former Blaze roster member Adrian McPherson, rallied for the win.
Record: 4-2
WEEK 7:
Blaze 76, Avengers 63
At EnergySolutions Arena, the Blaze got 10 touchdown passes from Joe Germaine to get back on the winning track and improve to 5-2.
Forcing three first-half fumbles, Utah jumped out to a big early lead and never looked back as the Blaze stayed unbeaten at home.
Record: 5-2
WEEK 8:
Rattlers 83, Blaze 69
Utah's home win streak ended in a big way as Arizona's Randy Gatewood grabbed five touchdown passes from Sherdrick Bonner.
Bonner continued to be a thorn in Utah coach Danny White's side with nine TDs through the air on 17-of-19 passing.
Record: 5-3
WEEK 9:
SabreCats 69, Blaze 48
At San Jose, Utah was held to a season-low offensive output as the SabreCats' forced five turnovers and sacked Joe Germaine four times.
The Blaze fell behind early when Trestin George returned the opening kick for a score and San Jose's Mark Grieb converted a turnover into a touchdown to put Utah behind 14-0 just four minutes into the game.
Utah's Joe Germaine had 356 yards and seven touchdowns passing, but had his consecutive attempts without an interception streak end after 194 passes.
Record: 5-4
WEEK 10:
Desperados 66, Blaze 59
Utah's losing streak reached three games as the Eastern Division power from Dallas got a touchdown with seven seconds left to pull out a win.
With 13,734 fans packing EnergySolutions Arena, Dallas' Clint Dolezel hit Willis Marshall on a 45-yard strike to stun the crowd.
Record: 5-5
WEEK 11:
Brigade 60, Blaze 41
At Kansas City, Utah lost
its fourth straight as its top-ranked offense failed to produce enough points.
Instead, the top-rated defense reigned supreme, picking off Joe Germaine four times and allowed only seven first-half points.
Record: 5-6
WEEK 12:
Gladiators 54, Blaze 53
Utah reached crisis mode, dropping its fifth straight game, as Las Vegas escaped EnergySolutions Arena with a tight win thanks to a 22-yard field goal by Steve Azar with less than a second to play.
Former Utah Utes star Travis LaTendresse caught three TDs to help Las Vegas snuff out the Blaze.
Record: 5-7
WEEK 13:
Blaze 65, Predators 62
At Orlando, Utah ended its losing ways as Siaha Burley had 14 receptions for 191 yards and four TDs.
Tom Pace came up big for the Blaze as he added 131 return yards, nine receptions for two TDs and recovered three onside kicks to keep the Predators at bay.
Record: 6-7
WEEK 14:
Blaze 51, Crush 14
In one of the most impressive performances in AFL history, Utah evened its record at 7-7 by shutting down the once-powerful Colorado Crush and allowing only 14 points in an ESPN2 game.
Utah was inspired by Justin Skaggs, who showed up in the locker room just prior to game time and watched the dominating win from the bench after having additional tests to determine the extent of his illness.
Utah's defense pitched a shutout over the second and third quarters and the 14 points was the lowest in Colorado history and also set a Utah record. Kicker Steve Videtich booted three field goals for the Blaze.
Record: 7-7
WEEK 15:
SaberCats 70, Blaze 49
Trying to secure a playoff spot, Utah came up empty as San Jose's Mark Grieb threw 10 touchdown passes at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Blaze were the 8th straight victim of the SaberCats, who clinched the division win and a top playoff seed. Joe Germaine threw his 100th touchdown of the season in the game, but it was not enough for the Blaze.
Record: 7-8
WEEK 16:
Blaze 47, Avengers 37
At Los Angeles, facing a must-win situation, Utah advanced to the AFL playoffs for the second time in as many years with a huge road win.
Utah's defense came up with six interceptions Siaha Burley and Joe Germaine set records and the Blaze earned a rematch with Los Angeles in the playoff opener. Utah dedicated the victory to Skaggs, who passed away just days earlier.
Burley became the first professional football player to record more than 2,000 receiving yards in a season and Joe Germaine became the first AFL quarterback to record more than 5,000 yards in a season.
Record: 8-8
PLAYOFFS:
Avengers 64, Blaze 42
At Los Angeles, Utah was unable to repeat the magic from the previous week and fell to the Avengers in the rematch — this time ending the Blaze's season.
Los Angeles was able to score 37 unanswered points to take control of the game as Utah committed five turnovers during that stretch.
The Blaze got five touchdowns from Joe Germaine, but also saw Siaha Burley, the AFL offensive player of the year play his last game as a member of the team.
E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com