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DENVER - The Utah Blaze (5-8) kept their playoff hopes alive when they defeated the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush, 53-40, in front of 15,321 fans at the Pepsi Center on Friday night.
Veteran QB ANDY KELLY, who is 2-0 since joining the team and becoming the starter, earned Offensive Player of the Game honors by connecting on 27-of-37 passes for 314 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
"They are the defending champions for a reason," said Blaze head coach/general manager DANNY WHITE. "We put together a total team effort in a hostile environment. I am very pleased with the effort we put together out there tonight."
After holding the Crush to a field goal on the opening drive of the game, Utah FB/LB KAUTAI OLEVAO scored on a one-yard touchdown run to give the Blaze a 7-3 lead.
The Blaze held a 14-10 lead after FB/LB KEVIN CLEMENS scored with 10 minutes left in the first half. Colorado then answered when FB/LB ANTHONY DUNN sacked Kelly for a safety and narrowed the lead to 14-12. Dunn then followed the next drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Crush the 19-14 lead with 1:57 remaining in the first half.
The game swung when DS THAL WOODS intercepted a pass with seven seconds in the first half. Kelly then found OS SIAHA BURLEY on a 17-yard score and give the Blaze a 21-19 halftime lead. A lead they would not relinquish.
The Blaze came out in the second half and put points on the board when Kelly found WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT on a 30-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 28-19. The Crush answered when QB JOHN DUTTON found OS DAMIAN HARRELL on a five-yard scoring pass to bring the score to 28-26.
Ironman of the Game, WR/LB JUSTIN SKAGGS added a receiving and a rushing touchdown in the second half as the Blaze outscored the Crush 31-21 to clinch the victory.
Skaggs had four receptions for 38 yards, two total touchdowns and a forced fumble. Woods earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game by recording 5.5 total tackles and a key interception, while helping keep Harrell in check for most of the game. Harrell finished with eight receptions for 79 yards and three touchdowns - which tied the single-season record with 46.
The Blaze travel to Las Vegas next week and return to the Delta Center to face expansion Kansas City on May 12. Tickets for the game are available at www.utahblaze.com, the Delta Center box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (801) 325-SEAT or at all Ticketmaster outlets.
--BLAZE--
