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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Blaze (4-4) fell to the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-6), 65-53, in front of 7,667 on Tim Dahle field at EnergySolutions Arena. After being down by 20 in the second quarter, Utah fought back to take the lead before falling in the final minutes. The loss was the first at home for the Blaze this season.
"It's a tough loss for us," said Head Coach Ron James. "We made some mistakes and that kept us from being able to pull off the comeback. Now we have to move on and gear up for San Jose next week."
The game started out with an unfortunate bounce for the Blaze, as Milwaukee recovered the opening kickoff. The Blaze defense forced the Mustangs to kick a field goal attempt, and K Garrett Lindholm (5-10, 190, Tarleton State) converted for the first points of the game. The Blaze responded with a score of their own on a 21-yard touchdown pass from QB Tommy Grady (6-7, 245, Utah) to WR Aaron Lesue (5-10, 195, Utah State). The quarter ended with the Mustangs leading, 24-6, after three consecutive touchdowns.
The Blaze began their comeback attempt at the start of the second quarter with another touchdown pass from Grady to Lesue. But the Mustangs countered with a 44-yard touchdown pass from QB RJ Archer (6-2, 220, William & Mary) to WR Dwayne Eley Jr. (5-10, 180, Stony Brook). After another Mustang field goal, Grady hit WR Eddie Jackson (6-4, 220, West Virginia) in the end zone as time expired and the teams entered the locker room with Milwaukee leading, 33-19.
After trading scores to start the second half, Utah was given a new life when LB Devin Johnson (6-3, 240, Utah State) recovered a Milwaukee fumble and returned it 23 yards. Grady then found WR Aaron Boone (6-3, 215, Kentucky) in the end zone to cut the Mustang lead to three as the third quarter ended.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Utah recovered another Milwaukee fumble and once again capitalized with a Grady to Boone touchdown to take their first lead since 4:27 remaining in the first quarter. Milwaukee snagged the lead back with a one-yard rushing touchdown by WR Brent Holmes (5-9, 170, Texas A&M-Kingsville). The Mustangs extended their lead to six with only 16 seconds remaining, giving the Blaze one last drive. On the final play of the game, Milwaukee DB Kelvin Rogers (6-1, 182, Minnesota State) intercepted a pass intended for Boone in the end zone, returning it for a touchdown. Milwaukee handed the Blaze their first home loss of the season with a final score of 65-53.
Grady finished the night completing 28-of-48 passes for eight touchdowns, while Boone led Blaze receivers with four touchdowns. DB Rod Mosley (5-11, 185, Texas A&M) led the defense with 7.5 total tackles.
