(February 12) This was a true Arena Football showcase as the New York Dragons and the Utah Blaze burned up the scoreboard on Saturday night. The Dragons outlasted the Blaze in an offensive slugfest, 84-81, in Salt Lake City. QB Aaron Garcia completed 24-of-26 passes for 354 yards and 10 touchdowns – one short of his AFL record of 11. For his efforts, he was named the Offensive Player of the Game. The Dragons improve to 2-1 on the season with their second consecutive win on the road.
But the Dragons had trouble containing Blaze OS Siaha Burley. The former Offensive Player of the Year led all receivers with six touchdown catches and 259 yards. Blaze QB Joe Germaine completed 35 of 44 passes for 444 yards and 10 touchdowns in the losing effort.
His 10 touchdowns (like Garcia) are tied the mark for second-highest game total in league history. His 35 completions tied the third-highest total in league history. His 444 passing yards is the seventh-highest total in league history.
For New York, OS Kevin Swayne and WR/LB Mike Horacek each had four touchdown receptions. Horacek had 11 catches for 170, while Swayne had eight for 130 yards. Horacek was named the Ironman of the Game, while DS DaShane Dennis was named the Defensive Player of the Game. He finished with a game-high 12.0 tackles and one pass breakup.
“It was pure heart out there,” said Dragons head coach Weylan Harding. “It was close all the way through and they answered the challenge. There was no quitting tonight. There’s no other way to explain it. I definitely have to give Utah credit, they took us to limit.”
The total combined score is the second highest in Dragons franchise history. The high was set when the Dragons scored 99 points against Carolina on July 7, 2001. A total of 167 points were scored in the Dragons 99-68 victory.
“This game was better because it close all the way through,” said Garcia after the game when asked to compare it to the 99-point game in 2001. “The other game was great, but it was anti-climatic. Tonight, every touchdown was crucial and necessary. We had some bad breaks, tough times and bad bounces, but we’re a family. We pulled it together.”
Added Swayne: “All I have to say is don’t blink because we’ll never stop fighting.”
With one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, the Dragons found themselves trailing 81-77, but Garcia worked his magic. The All-Arena QB hooked up with Horacek on a 26-yard strike with 22 seconds left on the clock. The Dragons defense held off the potent Blaze offense as Utah ran out of time in the fourth quarter.
Dragons’ WR/DB Will Holder also turned in a strong performance. He recorded four catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Late in the second quarter, Dragons WR/DB Mathew Thomas was taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury. He was taken to Salt Lake Regional Medical Center for precautionary measures, but reported full feeling in all of his extremities. Results of x-rays were negative, but Thomas was diagnosed a concussion. He was able to return to arena and celebrate the team’s victory by the end of the game.
Next week, the Dragons head down to Philadelphia to take on the Soul next Sunday. Kickoff has changed to 3:00 PM.
NOTES: The attendance at the Delta Center was 15,213... WR/DB Mathew Thomas made his AFL/Dragons debut...The Dragons inactive players were DS Angel Estrada (calf) and OL/DL Andrew Tippins (healthy)...The Blaze Inactive player were DS Kelvin Hunter, OL/DL Craig Kobel and FB/LB Chris Robinson.
