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OK, it wasn't the 17-point win that the Utah Blaze needed to even the score with the Los Angeles Avengers, but it sure felt satisfying nonetheless for a team that opened the season with nine losses and a crowd that two months ago was booing these guys off the EnergySolutions Arena field.
Spurred on by perhaps the most boisterous and supportive crowd in franchise history, some 16,054 strong, the Blaze rallied late to down the Avengers 65-56 on Monday night to take a giant step toward clinching a playoff berth for the third consecutive season.
"It's a real big win," said defensive back Damon Mason. "Especially because this team has come a long way. . . . In my 10 years in the league, this was one of the most supportive crowds I have ever seen."
The game was supposed to be televised live by ESPN2, but because college baseball went long, the network opted to show the game in its entirety on a tape-delay basis more than an hour after it really started. That's a shame, because this one featured a little bit of everything: onside kicks, costly penalties, an interception returned for a touchdown and a couple of huge breaks that went Utah's way, for once.
"We got some lucky breaks," acknowledged Utah quarterback Joe Germaine.
The Blaze improved to 5-10 with the win, and are now in the driver's seat for the fourth seed and a first-round home playoff game in the Arena Football League's American Conference. Los Angeles fell to 4-10, but would still hold the tiebreaker over the Blaze if it ends up that way because it beat Utah by 17 two months ago.
Utah clinched the game with 24 seconds remaining when rookie Kelvin Morris returned a Sonny Cumbie fumble 14 yards for a touchdown, setting an AFL record for fumble recoveries by a rookie (six) in the process.
Los Angeles defensive back Terrell Maze, a former San Diego State star, stepped in front of a Germaine pass and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown to give the Avengers a 37-28 lead two plays into the second half, and things looked bleak for the home team.
But two huge breaks went the Blaze's way after that.
First, with Utah trailing 50-45 in the fourth quarter, Germaine appeared to have fumbled a snap on fourth-and-10. However, the officials said it was an "illegal snap" by center Rob Gatrell and ruled the play dead. Given another chance, the Blaze converted the fourth-and-12 from their 2-yard line.
Finally, with Utah clinging to a 51-50 lead, Los Angeles' LaShaun Ward caught a long pass on fourth-and-7, but as he stretched for the end zone, the ball popped out. It appeared the ground caused the fumble, but officials ruled it a live ball and Mason scooped it up and returned it to midfield.
"This is Arena Football, and it is not so much how you start as how you finish," Mason said. "We don't feel like a 5-10 team."
Having won five of their last six games, why would they?
Chicago (10-4), San Jose (9-5) and Arizona (8-6) have clinched playoff berths in the AFL's American Conference, but the battle for the final three spots is razor close.
Team Record Remaining Games
Utah 5-10 at Arizona
Los Angeles 4-10 Kansas City, at Tampa Bay
Grand Rapids 4-10 at Columbus, at New Orleans
Colorado 4-10 at Arizona, Kansas City
Kansas City 3-11 at Los Angeles, at Colorado
Playoff Picture
Chicago (10-4), San Jose (9-5) and Arizona (8-6) have clinched playoff berths in the AFL's American Conference, but the battle for the final three spots is razor close.
Team Record Remaining Games
Utah 4-10 Los Angeles, at Arizona
Los Angeles 4-9 at Utah, Kansas City, at Tampa Bay
Grand Rapids 4-10 at Columbus, at New Orleans
Colorado 4-10 at Arizona, Kansas City
Kansas City 3-11 at Los Angeles, at Colorado
Storylines
* IN SHORT: The Blaze continue their late-season surge with a comeback win to keep their hopes alive of hosting a first-round playoff game.
* KEY MOMENT: Los Angeles' LaShaun Ward catches a long pass on fourth-and-7, but officials rule that he loses the ball stretching for the end zone, and Utah's Damon Mason returns it to midfield.
* KEY STAT: The Blaze have five wins, while all the other contenders for the fourth seed in the American Conference have four.