Blaze vs. Arizona in rivalry renewed

PHOENIX — The Arizona Rattlers have already beaten the Utah Blaze both times they played this season. Arizona is a higher seed and is playing at home in today's AFL wildcard playoff game. The Rattlers, for obvious reasons, are favored to win.

That doesn't mean the Blaze lack confidence, however.

"We're a different, much better football team right now (than when Rattlers beat the Blaze on April 7)," Blaze coach Danny White said. "The growth curve for us was much steeper than it was for them, but I think we're to the point now where we've caught up with everybody."

Arizona comes into today's 3 p.m. (MDT) game having won six straight at the US Airways Center — a streak that started when they beat the Blaze 45-38 back on Feb. 18. The Rattlers are also 16-3 all-time in playoff games held in Phoenix.

That home-field advantage is a big reason two-thirds of the AFL players asked predicted an Arizona victory. Six AFL stars — one player from each non-playoff team — made predictions for this weekend's playoff games. The results were published on the league's Web site.

"Arizona is playing well right now, and with them having home-field advantage, it will be tough for Utah to come in and win," said Kevin Ingram of the Los Angeles Avengers. That view

was shared by Grand Rapids' Timon Marshall, Marcus Nash of the Las Vegas Gladiators, and Millard High graduate Aaron Boone, who is now with the Kansas City Brigade.

Two players — Tampa Bay's Shane Stafford and Columbus' Jerald Brown — are predicting a Blaze victory, however. "Andy Kelly gives the Blaze the experience they need at a key position, and Danny White has been there before," said Stafford. "With (Rattlers QB Sherdrick) Bonner being dinged up, I'll take Utah in the upset."

Certainly, the late addition of Kelly has given the Blaze a major boost. The veteran AFL quarterback — the league's all-time leader in touchdown passes and yardage — has led the Blaze to four wins in their past five games.

The Rattlers certainly know all about Utah's recent success and won't likely take the Blaze lightly.

"They have brought in a veteran quarterback that gets the ball out on time and has helped them win," said Arizona coach Gene Nudo. "Winning four of their last five, they are a much different team than they were the last time we played them. . . . We are expecting them to play as tough as they have been lately."

A number of Blaze players and coaches are former Rattlers, and that proved to be a bit of a distraction the last time the teams played each other in Phoenix. They say that won't happen again.