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Photo courtesy: Tina BazalaMILWAUKEE - The Utah Blaze is off to its best start in franchise history, advancing to 5-2 after earning a 61-58 victory over the Milwaukee Mustangs on Saturday night in front of a Bradley Center crowd of 6,689. The win marks Utah's third straight, and keeps the team in possession of first place in the West Division of the Arena Football League's National Conference.
The teams battled back and forth throughout much of the night before QB Gino Guidugli found Rookie WR Jared Jenkins on a 14-yard touchdown toss to give Milwaukee a 58-55 lead with 28 seconds remaining in the game. On the ensuing possession, Utah drove to the opponent's three-yard line before an unlikely hero emerged with the game-winning score.
Offensive Coordinator Matthew Sauk searched the depths of his playbook to find a play the Mustangs surely wouldn't be expecting. With just six seconds remaining on the clock, QB Tommy Grady dropped back and scanned the field before dumping the ball off to 315-pound blocking FB Alex Michael. Michael secured the football and trotted into the end zone untouched for the game-winning touchdown.
QB Tommy Grady put forth a spectacular performance, as he threw for 374 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions while completing over 65 percent of his attempts. He added another score on the ground via a quarterback sneak. WR Aaron Lesue caught 12 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, continuing his steak of having multiple touchdown receptions in every game this season. Veteran WR Maurice Bryant contributed two touchdown receptions in his first game wearing a Blaze uniform, as did Alvance Robinson.
For the Mustangs, Gino Guidugli completed 20-of-28 passes for 280 yards and seven touchdowns. His favorite target of the night was WR Marcus Everett, who snared five passes for 67 yards and four touchdowns. Guidugli also found Jared Jenkins for two touchdowns and AJ Kegg for another score.
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game
Utah DB David Hyland
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game
Milwaukee WR Marcus Everett
JLS Ironman of the Game
Milwaukee WR/LB Marcus Everett
AFL Playmaker of the Game
Utah WR Aaron Lesue
Cutters Catch of the Game
Milwaukee WR Marcus Everett (Second-quarter TD catch over the wall)
Spalding Highlight of the Game
Milwaukee DB Kelvin Rodgers (Opening kickoff return for TD)
National Guard MVP of the Game
Milwaukee WR Marcus Everett
