SALT LAKE CITY -- There was the touchdown given up on the first play scrimmage and the early turnovers that put the Utah Blaze in the huge early deficit Saturday when the Arena Football League team suffered its first loss of the season against the Orlando Predators.
Didn't we go through this enough last year?
Yes, but Blaze coach Ron James insists things are different.
Orlando's 37-19 halftime lead was cut to 44-33 and Utah had a chance to make it a one score game when LeBrose Hedgemon recovered a fumble at midfield.
But two picks from Orlando's Rayshun Kizer spoiled any chance the Blaze had at knocking off a storied Florida team for the second straight week.
"Unlike last year's team, we have the ability to come back," James said. "It was disheartening we didn't get the job done, but we'll rectify that in practice this week."
It's a short week for the Blaze, who host the Dallas Vigilantes (2-0) tonight at EnergySolutions Arena.
Coached by former AFL Legend QB Clint Dolezel, Dallas has wins against Tulsa and Kansas City to start the season.
The Vigilantes' passing offense is only ranked 15th in the 20 team league, but Dallas has a strong running game in the form of Derrick, who's gained 89 yards and five touchdowns -- high by AFL standards -- in the first two games.
Overlooked in Utah's loss last week was a 12-catch effort by Ernest Pierce. Though he gained 138 yards, most of those were outside the fives as Aaron Boone caught six of Tommy Grady's eight touchdown passes.
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