AirBoone Scores 7 TDs Blaze lose by 1 in OT on National TV

Sunday, May 16, 2010 By David “Sumoflam” Kravetz http://www.sumoflam.biz Lexington, Kentucky [email protected]

Visit Aaron’s website and journal: http://www.aaronrboone.com Aaron’s Blaze Page: http://www.utblaze.com/booneaaron.php Visit the AFL Website @ www.arenafootball.com Visit the Blaze Website @ www.utblaze.com

Got to http://www.blazenation.com to join Fan Club

Archives of the AirBoone Express are available on Aaron’s website.

**If you would like to share your photos of Aaron Boone for the AirBoone express, please email them to me at address above. You will be credited.

In this edition: -Aaron Boone sets personal 1 game record for TDs -Blaze lose in overtime to Milwaukee -Photo Gallery -AirBoone’s Stats - schedule

Blaze lose to Milwaukee Iron 56-55

(photo courtesy of Russ Anderson)

The Utah Blaze traveled to Milwaukee last Friday to take on the Iron in a nationally televised game. The Iron came in touted as one of the best teams in the league this year and the game also promised to be an AFL record breaking game as Iron WR Damian Harrell was to become the all-time career AFL yardage leader, ending the game by passing Barry Wagner’s 13,363 yards. Harrell finished at 13,398 and that number is sure to grow.

But, the Blaze were not convinced and battled with the Iron throughout the game, including running up 20 unanswered points and then holding the Iron to leave the game tied at halftime 34-34. Both teams battled during the third quarter to leave the game tied 41-41 going into the fourth quarter.

In a suspenseful fourth quarter, each team tallied one touchdown. Within the final seconds of the game, the Blaze sought to run down the clock and seal their victory with a field goal. Yet the Blaze failed to snap the ball prior to the end of the clock, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime the Blaze struck first but the Iron came charging back and then extinguished any Blaze hopes by running a successful two point conversion. Despite loss AirBoone scores career best 7 TDs

(photo by Scott Klepper/SportsPageMagazine.com)

Boone scored the first Blaze points of the game with an 11 yard catch in the first quarter and then went on to score six more TDs, including the score in overtime. The touchdown production for this game shattered Aaron’s single game best of his football career (including high school, college, NFL, NFLE and AFL). His previous best of five TDs occurred twice in 2006 while an AFL rookie with the Kansas City Brigade.

Overall, AirBoone (or in this case, Mr. Touchdown), had 10 receptions for 80 yards, including the 7 TD catches. One of his receptions also led to a first down. Blaze newcomer Akamu Aki led all receivers with 7 catches and 111 yards and the other Blaze touchdown. Chris Francies had 7 catches as well for 82 yards. Boone also had a tackle assist on special teams. For the season, Aaron Boone has 43 receptions in 5 games for 424 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per reception. He has 17 TDs, moving him into a three way tie for 3 rd in the league in that category. He is currently 13 th in the league in receptions.

AirBoone Photo Gallery

Over the past two weeks we have sought after photos of AirBoone in action. Some fans have kindly come through in both sharing photos and also sharing some other sites that had some photos. Here are a few from the last few home games courtesy of Russ Anderson. More to follow in coming weeks.

Boone’s passion: mingling with the young fans (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Boone TD vs. Seattle Shock (Game 1) (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

AirBoone scores a TD (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Boone nabs a TD catch vs. (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Aaron Boone in action during Game 4, Apr. 30, 2010 (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Boone escapes a tackle vs. Bossier-Shreveport (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Boone catches a TD vs. Bossier-Shreveport on Apr. 30 (photo courtesy Russ Anderson)

Blaze travel to Spokane for May 22 game

The next game for the Blaze will be on May 22 when they travel to Spokane to take on the Shock for the second matchup of the season. The Shock lost this weekend to the Oklahoma City Yard Dogz and sport a 5-2 record, including a season opening victory over the Blaze.This game is scheduled to be broadcast LIVE on the NFL Channel at 7 PM CST. All games are broadcast LIVE on The Zone 1280 in Salt Lake City.

Boone-o-Meter Stats for 2010:

After 5 games

Passes caught : 43 -Game 1 vs. Spokane: 8 -Game 2 vs. Alabama: 8 -Game 3 at Chicago: 9 -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport: 8 -Game 5 at Milwaukee: 10

Total Yards : 424 -Game 1 vs. Spokane: 90 -Game 2 vs. Alabama: 84 -Game 3 at Chicago: 78 -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport: 92 -Game 5 at Milwaukee: 80

Longest Reception : 32 -Game 2 vs. Alabama: 32 yard reception in 2 nd Quarter

Touchdowns : 17 -Game 1 vs. Spokane 3Q: 3 yd TD pass from Bret Elliott -Game 1 vs. Spokane 4Q: 9 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 2 vs. Alabama 3Q: 7 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 2 vs. Alabama 4Q: 13 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 3 at Chicago 1Q: 4 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 3 at Chicago 3Q: 10 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 3 at Chicago 4Q: 2 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport 1Q: 16 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport 2Q: 4 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport 3Q: 6 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 1Q: 11 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 2Q: 1 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 2Q: 11 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 3Q: 12 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 3Q: 4 yd TD pass from Elliott -Game 5 at Milwaukee 4Q: 3 yd TD pass from Elliott (career game record 6 th ) -Game 5 at Milwaukee OT: 12 yd pass from Elliott (career game record 7 th )

Points After Touchdowns : 3 -Game 1 vs. Spokane 4Q: PAT from Elliott -Game 2 vs. Alabama 3Q: PAT from Elliott -Game 2 vs. Alabama 4Q: PAT from Elliott

First Downs : 15 -Game 1 vs. Spokane: 3 -Game 2 vs. Alabama: 3 -Game 3 at Chicago: 4 -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport: 4 -Game 5 at Milwaukee: 1

Tackles : 5 -Game 2 vs. Alabama: 2 -Game 3 at Chicago: 1 -Game 4 vs. Bossier-Shreveport: 1 -Game 5 at Milwaukee: 1

AirBoone’s AFL Career Stats thru May. 14, 2010

Passes caught: 276 Total Yards: 3120 Longest Reception: 45 yards Receiving Touchdowns: 67 Points after Touchdown: 3 Rushes: 1 Rushing Yds.: 4 Kick returns: 5 Kick Return Yds: 61 Kick Return TDs: 1 ( 9 yds in 2007) Tackles: 14

Career Highs :

Receptions in a game: 14 Utah vs Georgia March 29, 2008 Total yards in a game: 170 Utah vs Georgia March 29, 2008 Longest reception in AFL: 45 yards in 3Q vs. Orlando March 14, 2008 First downs in a game: 10 Utah vs Georgia March 29, 2008 Touchdowns in a game: 7 Utah at Milwaukee, May 14, 2010 Receptions in a season: 135 in 2008 Touchdowns in a season: 23 in 2008 Total Yards in a season: 1526 in 2008

Items of note: -In only his second game in the AFL, while with the Kansas City Brigade, AirBoone set franchise single-game records for receptions (13), yards (157) and touchdowns (5) - Boone was one of three Blaze receivers to record 1,500-plus receiving yards, 100-plus receptions and 20-plus receptions in the regular season in 2008. It is the only time the feat has been done in AFL history. -Selected to the AFL All-Rookie Team in 2006 -Selected as Kansas City Brigade Rookie of the Year in 2006 -Breaks the 3000 yard career receiving mark on April 30, 2010

Following is the 2010 Utah Blaze Schedule. Note that the April 23 and May 14 games will be televised nationally on the NFL Channel.

Date Visitor Home Time TV Record 4/9 - 68 Utah Blaze - 34 7 PM MST 0-1 4/17 Albama Vipers - 63 Utah Blaze - 54 7 PM MST 0-2 4/23 Utah Blaze - 40 - 63 7:30 PM CST NFL 0-3 4/30 Boss/Shreveport - 46 Utah Blaze - 65 7 PM MST 1-3 5/14 Utah Blaze - 55 Mil. Iron – 56 7 PM CST NFL 1-4 5/22 Utah Blaze Spokane Shock 7 PM PST 5/28 Utah Blaze 7 PM PST 6/4 Utah Blaze Clev. Gladiators 7:30 PM EST 6/12 Chicago Rush Utah Blaze 7 PM MST 6/19 Utah Blaze 7 PM MST 6/26 Utah Blaze Iowa Barnstorm 7 PM CST 7/2 Milwaukee Iron Utah Blaze 7 PM MST 7/9 Utah Blaze 7 PM MST 7/16 Utah Blaze Arizona Rattlers 7 PM MST 7/24 Utah Blaze Dallas Vigilantes 7 PM CST 7/31 Utah Blaze Alabama Vipers 7 PM CST