Blaze hope QB Kelly keeps 'hot hand'

Utah Blaze coach Danny White spent much of last week trying to determine which of his two starting quarterbacks would play in his team's important season finale against the Kansas City Brigade.

White decided on AFL veteran Andy Kelly — over Joe Germaine — in large part, he said, because Kelly was familiar with the Brigade's defense, having been a Kansas City player when the season began. Kelly then went on to lead the Blaze to a dramatic, one-point win.

Using the same theory — that familiarity is an advantage — Germaine would get the start this week in the playoff opener when the Blaze face the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix on Saturday afternoon. After all, Germaine spent the previous two seasons with the Rattlers.

But that isn't the case. Kelly, now 4-1 with the Blaze, is expected to start his sixth consecutive game for Utah.

"Andy will start on Saturday," said White. "He's got the hot hand. He's played well in four out of five games."

Germaine started the first seven games of the season for Utah before his middle finger was broken on his right (throwing) hand during a win over Nashville on March 10.

The injury caused him to sit out seven straight games before being reactivated and playing well in the second half against Chicago two weeks ago. Germaine is certainly still in the Blaze's long-range plans, as he was given a new two-year contract last week, which will keep him in Utah through the 2008 season.

"Joe will be ready to go. It's the same kind of deal where I would be totally confident with either one of them," said White. "But Andy will start."

With Kelly getting the nod on Saturday, it means the Blaze will be using their third starting quarterback against Arizona this season in as many games. Germaine started the first game in Phoenix, a 45-38 Utah loss. Jason Gesser was the starter when the teams played in the Delta Center on April 7, a 64-52 Rattlers win, which was Utah's fourth consecutive setback.

It was that very night that White got on the phone to Kelly to invite him to join the Blaze. Kelly, who had just been cut two days earlier by the Brigade, hopped in his car and drove to Utah the next day and was in the starting lineup the following week.

Germaine has remained a true team player as Kelly has taken over the starting job.