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Show MONDAY Blaze fail to clinch playoff spot • •" "••" ' n « " " " ^ ^ " ^ " One game left to do it Matt Beaudin Sports writer What a difference a week can make. On Monday the Blaze dominated the Colorado Crush on national television, inching closer to solidifying a playoff birth for the second straight year. The following Saturday the Blaze welcomed the San Jose Sabercats to Energy Solutions Arena with hopes of clinching that playoff spot with a win. Unfortunately for the Blaze, after being humbled by the Sabercats 70-49, they were still on the outside looking in. The Blaze could do nothing to stop San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb as he threw for 249 yards and 10 touchdowns. "We just weren't ready to play mentally or physically. We got dominated in every phaseof the game," said Blaze Head Coach Danny White. The two teams traded punches early as they each found the end zone on their first possessions of the game. However, the Blaze struggled on their next possession and were playing catch up the rest of the night. A 29-yard strike from Utah quarterback Joe Germaine found the hands of receiver Tom Pace for a second-quarter touchdown that brought the Blaze to within six at 20-14. The six-point deficit was the closest the Blaze got, as they were outscored 30-7 in the second quarter. San Jose recovered its own onside kick, which led to an 18-yard touchdown pass for Grieb. On the ensuing drive for the Blaze, Germaine was sacked in his own end zone by defensive lineman Allen Harper for the safety. Utah trailed 43-14 at halftime. The second half was no different as Grieb continued to have his way with the Blaze defense, leading the Sabercats to their eighth straight win of the season. The highlight for Blaze fans came in the second half when wide receiver Siaha Burley broke the single-season receiving yards record, as he hauled in 10 catches for 103 yards putting him at 1,996 yards on the year. Burley also set the single season receptions record with 155. "It's a tribute to the guys around me," said Burley about his AFL milestones. Germaine also took his shot at AFLhistory as he threw five touchdowns to put him at 102 for the year, just four away from the single season record set by Dallas quarterback Clint Dolezel in 2006. Utah has a week off before finishing out the season in Los Angeles against the Avengers, where a win will send them to the playoffs. Upcoming Game Utah Blaze vs. Los Angeles Avengers Saturday, June 23 2008 season tickets now on sale at utahblaze.com Johnston/College Times San Jose's Omarr Smith defends Blaze Receiver J'Sharlon Jones during a recent blaze loss at Energy Solutions Arena Sports Briefs UVSC Baseball UVSC third baseman/pitcher Jace Brinkerhoff picked up another post-season honor this week when he was named the top utility freshman in America by Ping Baseball. Brinkerhoff was named the first team utility player on the inaugural All Ping! Freshmen Team. He batted .371 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 26 runs batted in offensively, fielded at a .962 percentage and also made 12 appearances on the mound picking up two complete game victories. It's the second award in a week for Brinkerhoff after Collegiate Baseball named him to the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team on Jun. 6. Brinkerhoff also earned Division-I All-Independent honorable mention. UVSC Wrestling UVSC wrestling's Head Coach Greg Williams has announced the signing of Mitch Sanderson to a national letter of intent to wrestle for the Wolverines next year. "We are excited to get Mitch here/'Williams said/'His talent andathleticabilitywillhelphimbeasuccessfulwrestlerhereatUV." Sanderson, who prepped at Pleasant Grove High School, was a two-time Utah State Champion for the Vikings. He also had a second-place finish in the state finals. UVSC Golf UVSC golf placed three athletes on the 2007 Division-I Independent All-Academic golf teams. Ashley Baldwin from the women's team, Jordan Rogers and Adam Tayler on the men's side all sport at least a 3.5 6PA. Baldwin-is the only two-time honoree on the women's team after she was named all-academic as a sophomore. She is majoring in art/visual communication and has a 3.54 GPA. Rogers is one of four repeat members on the men's side. He has a 3.67 GPA .with a major in Spanish education. Tayler holds a 3.53 GPA and is majoring in history. Brent Brown forwards renaming of stadium ity. Due to Parkway Cross- the fact that they wanted nity for local kids to go to a ing backing out of the origi- to contribute to education local college," Brown said. nal naming rights deal a few once they became business Business did play a facSports writer years ago, students have owners in the area. "We tor in the commitment. After a few years of be- been been hooked into using wanted something we could Brown said that the premier ing left in the lurch after the a portion of their student to do make an investment location of the stadiumaborted naming rights of the fees in order to pay down the in the present and for the being one of the first locaWolverine baseball stadium, bond issued to finance the future," Brent Brown said. tions one can see of cama new suitor has stepped up initial stadium construction. Having three .children pus from 1-15—was a major to put his name on one of the UVSC President William who have attended or have factor in the final decision. jewel's of UVSC athletics. A. Sederburg said that the definite plans to attend The first debut of the Brent Brown—namesake naming rights should help UVSC didn't hurt the cause renamed stadium comes of the Utah County car deal- ease the students' burden, but either. Also factoring in was Tuesday as the Orem Owlz erships—pledged one million not completely alleviate the the college's reputation for start their fourth season dollars over the course of 10 situation. "We are in the pro- educating local students as at Brent Brown Ballpark years to secure naming rights cess of looking at the bond BYU is becoming increas- against their heated in-state to the new Brent Brown situation," Sederburg said. ingly out of reach for most rival, the Ogden Raptors. Ballpark. Ira and Mary Lou County students. In addition to student Utah Fulton have also pledged fees paying down the bonds, "UVSC gives an opportuone million dollars to the the colstadium, part of their 10 mil- lege booklion dollar commitment to s t o r e ' s the college as it transitions profits also to a university next year. go to payUVSC Athletics Direc- ing down tor Mike Jacobsen said the the bond. baseball stadium is the envy These payof its peers and the new ments and name can't help but bolster d i p p i n g the Wolverines' image. "The into student name gives us additional fees money credibility," Jacobsen said. are due to Jacobsen added that c o n t i n u e . seven schools came here In the for the Division I Inde- end, the pendent baseball tour- B r o w n ' s nament and the haven't d e c i s i o n played in a finer facility. to make a Students should be in- deal came terested in the Brown's and down to Johnston/College Times Fulton's and their generosBrent Brown takes batting practice at the recent baseball stadium naming ceremony Jason Adkins SUMMERWOOD CONDOS OREM'S PREMIER SINGLE STUDENT HOUSING • 4 Private Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths Per Unit • Washer and Dryer in EVERY Unit • Hot Tub • Fitness Center and Sport Court • Free Cable • Internet Access • Great Social Environment • Just Across the StreetfromUVSC Alumni Golf Tournament i • The annual Alumni Classic Golf Tournament will be held '. Jun. 27 at Soldier Hollow. A $1,000 tournament fee covvt ers four golfers, two meals and a gift. Tournament pro:;/ceeds benefit UVSC students through scholarships and £:'alumni services. Tournament winners will receive a green .^jacket and have a scholarship named after them. To regisVfojer call (801) 863-8179 or visit www.uvscalumniclassic.com 720 South 1200 West Orem Call Now to Reserve Your Spot! (801)644-2552 www.suramerwoodcondos.coml •v »• i - v \ • I •i f a - »-tt >•,'.•• & ' • : v ;; •'••*•<<? |