Dennard's all the Blaze need in record-setting win in Phoenix

PHOENIX — Siaha Burley, the Utah Blaze's top receiver, was in street clothes with a bruised left foot. Aaron Boone, Utah's top offseason offensive acquisition, was also a scratch with a high ankle sprain. Tom Pace, the Blaze's third starting receiver, missed most of the game due to a right ankle sprain.

But who needs them when you have do-everything Ryan Dennard?

The Blaze, behind a team-record seven touchdown receptions by Dennard, downed the rival Arizona Rattlers on Saturday night in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion, 75-71, in Arena Football League action.

The victory was even more sweet to Blaze coach Danny White — the former longtime Rattlers coach — and the many Utah players that used to play for Arizona. The Rattlers won all three meetings a year ago, including a playoff victory that ended Utah's season.

"It feels pretty good," said White. "This was not a monkey, this was a gorilla. It feels good to get it off our backs."

Utah improved to 2-0 with the victory, while the Rattlers fell to 0-2.

Utah trailed virtually the entire game and was down by as many as 19 points in the second quarter. But the Blaze chipped away at the Rattlers lead and found themselves down just two, at 71-69, with 45 seconds remaining following Dennard's seventh score of the night.

That's when Utah's veteran kicker Steve Videtich nailed a perfect onside kickoff. Valentine Chude, in his first game in a Utah uniform, recovered to give the ball back to the Blaze with 42 seconds left.

Two plays later Blaze QB Joe Germaine hit Orshawante Bryant over the middle for the 23-yard, game-winning score with 13 seconds remaining.

This being the AFL, however, it still wasn't over. Behind veteran quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, the Rattlers drove down to the 13-yard line with two seconds on the clock — enough time for one final play. Bonner hit Jeremiah Pope over the middle, but it was good for just 10 yards, leaving the Rattlers' 3 yards short of the victory.

"I'm feeling a lot better now that we won," said Dennard, who played virtually the entire game at receiver on offense while splitting time at linebacker and defensive back on defense. "My legs are about to give out. I'm tired."

That is completely understandable. Dennard, who won the league's award for Ironman of the Week in Utah's season-opening win over New Orleans, is again a leading candidate. He finished with 16 catches for 181 yards and seven scores.