• Recap
• Bleachers

Blaze spoil Voodoo return after year off

Mar 4, 2007 - 7:13 AM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Steve Videtich kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to lead the Utah Blaze to a 63-61 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo in the season opener for both teams.

Videtich's game-winner spoiled the return to the league of the VooDoo, the 2004 Southern Division champions, who were forced to suspend operations last year because of Hurricane Katrina.

Joe Germaine, who completed 24-of-36 passes, threw three of his five touchdown strikes in the opening quarter. He tossed two to Siaha Burley to give Utah a 21-14 lead.

After Germaine connected with Osrhawa Bryant on a 16-yard TD pass with 2:37 to play to give the Blaze a 60-55 lead, Andy Kelly found Darne McDonald for a 25-yard score to put New Orleans a 61-60 edge with 37 seconds left.

Burley had 11 receptions for 160 yards and a pair of TDs for the Blaze, who defeated the VooDoo in their first-ever meeting.

Kelly was 25-of-36 for 285 yards and eight touchdowns, and became the first quarterback in league history to top 40,000 yards.