2010 Utah Blaze season

2010 Utah Blaze season
Head coach	Ernesto Purnsley (fired June 1) Ron James
Home field	Maverik Center
Results
Record	2–14
Division place	3rd NC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season Next season 2008 2011

The 2010 Utah Blaze season is the 4th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Ernesto Purnsley, who was fired on June 1, 2010, with Ron James named as his replacement.^[1] Home games are played at the Maverik Center, which was known as the "E Center" prior to being renamed on June 8, 2010.^[2] The Blaze missed out on the postseason after finishing the season 2–14, the worst record in the league.

Standings

West Division
Team	W	L	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	CON	Home	Away
z-Spokane Shock	13	3	.812	988	843	4–0	8–2	6–2	7–1
x-Arizona Rattlers	10	6	.625	987	885	2–2	5–5	5–3	5–3
Utah Blaze	2	14	.125	742	1040	0–4	0–10	1–7	1–7

z - Clinched division and conference's best record
x - Clinched playoff berth

Regular season schedule

The Blaze did not open their season in the league's opening week, but instead in Week 2 at home against the Shock on April 9. They visited the Vipers on July 31 for their final regular season game.^[3]

Week	Day	Date	Kickoff	Opponent	Results		Stadium	Report
					Score	Record
1	Bye
2	Friday	April 9	9:05 pm	Spokane Shock	L 34–68	0–1	E Center
3	Saturday	April 17	9:05 pm	Alabama Vipers	L 54–63	0–2	E Center
4	Friday	April 23	8:00 pm	at Chicago Rush	L 40–63	0–3	Allstate Arena
5	Friday	April 30	9:05 pm	Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings	W 65–46	1–3	E Center
6	Bye
7	Saturday	May 22	10:00 pm	at Milwaukee Iron	L 55–56 (OT)	1–4	Bradley Center
8	Saturday	May 22	10:00 pm	at Spokane Shock	L 28–77	1–5	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
9	Saturday	May 29	9:05 pm	Arizona Rattlers	L 58–83	1–6	E Center
10	Friday	June 4	7:30 pm	at Cleveland Gladiators	L 29–75	1–7	Quicken Loans Arena
11	Saturday	June 12	9:05 pm	Chicago Rush	L 50–70	1–8	Maverik Center
12	Saturday	June 19	9:05 pm	Tampa Bay Storm	L 45–60	1–9	Maverik Center
13	Saturday	June 26	8:05 pm	at Iowa Barnstormers	L 32–68	1–10	Wells Fargo Arena
14	Saturday	July 3	7:00 pm	Milwaukee Iron	L 56–82	1–11	Maverik Center
15	Saturday	July 10	9:05 pm	Jacksonville Sharks	L 56–67	1–12	Maverik Center
16	Friday	July 16	10:30 pm	at Arizona Rattlers	L 20–48	1–13	US Airways Center
17	Friday	July 23	8:30 pm	at Dallas Vigilantes	W 51–41	2–13	American Airlines Center
18	Saturday	July 31	8:30 pm	at Alabama Vipers	L 64–68	2–14	Von Braun Center

All times are EDT

Roster

Utah Blaze roster
Quarterbacks 10 Tommy Grady Fullbacks 43 Ben Stallings Wide receivers  1 Braylon Bell 18 Chase Deadder 29 DeJay Lester 21 LaVaughn Macon  2 Kimble Tillman  6 Mario Urrutia		Offensive linemen 50 Jermarcus Hardrick 75 LaVon McCoy 69 Antonio Narcisse 72 Duke Robinson 71 Shannon Tevaga Defensive linemen 44 Mike Alston 92 Luke Black 51 Michael Johnson 57 Keenan Mace		Linebackers 42 Joe Mortensen Defensive backs  9 David Hyland  5 Arness Ikner 31 Maurice Leggett  4 Alfred Phillips 23 Tony Tatum Kickers 12 Kyle Brotzman		Refuse to report -- Mario Henderson OL Other league exempt -- LaMark Brown WR 85 Caesar Rayford DL -- Nick Stephens QB -- Dion Turner DB Injured reserve 80 Jovonne Augustus WR  8 Jason Boltus QB 80 Paul Cox WR  2 Josh Ferguson DB  7 A. J. Jackson WR 11 Antwan Marsh LB 97 Julian Miller DL 77 Neal Tivis OL Inactive reserve Currantly vacant League suspension 22 Aaron Lesué WR Team suspension Currently vacant Recallable reassignment Currently vacant Rookies in italics Roster updated July 26, 2013 24 Active, 14 Inactive → More rosters

Regular season

Week 2: vs. Spokane Shock

The Blaze did not open the season well, never scoring more than twice in any quarter during the game. Quarterback Michael Affleck completed only 4 passes for 42 yards by halftime. At halftime the Blaze trailed 35–14. Brett Elliott replaced Affleck at the start of the 3rd quarter. Elliott fared slightly better, completing 10 of 17 passes for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns, but it was not enough to get the Blaze back into the game, as they lost to the former AF2 team by 34 points.

Week 3: vs. Alabama Vipers

Utah came up short in a game that featured several lead changes. Both teams exchanged touchdowns until the Vipers had consecutive scores in the 3rd quarter. The Blaze were able to cut the deficit to 49–46 going into the 4th quarter, but did not score again until the final minute of the game. By that time, the game out of reach, and the Blaze dropped to 0–2. Brett Elliott, who came into the previous week's game after halftime, got the start in this game, throwing for 231 yards and 4 touchdowns. None of Utah's receivers caught for over 100 yards.

Week 4: at Chicago Rush

The Blaze remained winless after being defeated by the undefeated Rush. Utah was the first to score in the game, but it was their only lead of the night. The Rush answered with a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie, and took the lead on a 1-yard run following a blocked field goal attempt by Utah. At halftime, the Blaze trailed 28–14. In the 3rd quarter, after an onside kick by the Rush following another touchdown went out of bounds, the Blaze scored a touchdown on the very next play, cutting the deficit to 35–20, but it was the closest they would get to Chicago, eventually losing by a final score of 63–40. Brett Elliott finished with 316 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. Chris Francies was the leading receiver with 129 yards on 9 receptions and 3 touchdowns.

Week 5: vs. Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings

The Blaze earned their first win of the year by defeating the Battle Wings, thanks in part to their defense. With a 24–20 lead in the 2nd quarter, Bossier–Shreveport looked to take the lead on what would be their last drive of the 1st half. Facing a 4th down just 2 yards away from the end zone, the Battle Wings got a new set of downs following a costly pass interference penalty by the Blaze defense. However Utah was able to keep the Battle Wings out of the end zone with a goal-line stand. Missing a field goal on the last play of the quarter, the score remained 24–20 at halftime. On the Battle Wings' first drive of the 3rd quarter, the Blaze came up with an interception, and the offense capitalized on the takeaway with a touchdown. The defense continued to come up with stops in the 4th quarter which allowed the offense to continue to build on its lead and secure the victory. Brett Elliott threw for 237 yards and had 8 total touchdowns in the game. With 97 yards and 2 touchdowns, Chris Francies was the leading receiver.

Week 7: at Milwaukee Iron

Week 8: at Spokane Shock

Week 9: vs. Arizona Rattlers

Week 10: at Cleveland Gladiators

Week 11: vs. Chicago Rush

Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Storm

Week 13: at Iowa Barnstormers

Week 14: vs. Milwaukee Iron

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Sharks

Week 16: at Arizona Rattlers

Week 17: at Dallas Vigilantes

Week 18: at Alabama Vipers

References

2010 Arena Football League American Conference National Conference South Division Southwest Division Alabama Vipers Jacksonville Sharks Orlando Predators Tampa Bay Storm Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings Dallas Vigilantes Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Tulsa Talons Midwest Division West Division Chicago Rush Cleveland Gladiators Iowa Barnstormers Milwaukee Iron Arizona Rattlers Spokane Shock Utah Blaze Related Articles: 2010 Arena Football League season | ArenaBowl XXIII | 2010 All-Arena Team | Arenas | Rosters

Utah Blaze Founded in 2006 Resurrected from the Utah Valley Thunder in 2010 Based in Salt Lake City, Utah The Franchise Franchise Seasons Arenas Maverik Center EnergySolutions Arena Head Coaches White Purnsley James Playoff Appearances (4) 2006 2007 2008 2012

Utah Blaze seasons 2006 2007 2008 2009 AIFA 2010 2011 2012 2013 NOTE: The "new" Utah Blaze started in the 2009 AIFA as the Utah Valley Thunder, and joined Arena Football One at the end of the season.