Blaze focus is on postseason

Two Utah Blaze offensive stars — quarterback Joe Germaine and receiver Siaha Burley — are on the verge of smashing all-time Arena Football League records entering tonight's regular season home finale against the San Jose SaberCats.

But thanks to Monday night's defensive performance — as unlikely as it was impressive — it's almost like the Blaze offense is taking a back seat for the time being.

Simply put, if the Blaze defense can continue to play like it did in giving up just 14 points against the Colorado Crush, Utah will be a legitimate ArenaBowl contender.

"The whole reason for this turnaround has been the defense," said Blaze coach Danny White, whose team is now on a modest two-game winning streak. "I'm focused on the defense, I know that. If they can continue to play the way they have the past two weeks, I'm sure that Joe (Germaine) and Siaha (Burley) and Tom (Pace) and the rest of the offense will play well enough for us to win."

Getting a win tonight won't be easy. They face a San Jose team that has already clinched the Western Division title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They opened the season 3-3 but have since reeled off seven consecutive victories. Utah, in fact, was one of those victims, losing 69-48 in San Jose earlier this season.

The SaberCats "are playing right now as well as anybody," said White. "They are one of the top three teams in the league, so it will be a great, great test for us. We'll find out exactly where we are."

Utah entered Monday's ESPN2-televised game giving up an average of 60 points per outing. But Colorado was held to a franchise-low 14 points — and was held scoreless in the middle two quarters — against an inspired Blaze defensive effort.

"Giving up just 14 points in arena football is really unheard of," said Blaze defensive coordinator Hunkie Cooper. "It was a great feat against a great Colorado offense. We were physical that night and all those breaks that have gone against us in previous games went our way — but you create your own breaks with hustle."

The question now is whether or not the Blaze defense can continue to play well or if it will return to its early-season struggles.

"We've got a little swagger now and we're playing good football," said Cooper. "We're peaking at the right time. We want to continue that into the playoffs."