Game Analysis: Las Vegas 20 @ Florida 17

Yesterday marked the fifth meeting between rival teams the Florida Tuskers and the Las Vegas Locomotives. The Locos have played the Tuskers 5 times in only 9 total games in UFL history, so the teams definitely know each other.

The game came just two weeks after Florida beat Las Vegas at home in the season opener 27-20. The Locos had a bye week last week, and Florida lost a close game to the Sacramento Mountain Lions 20-24.



The game eerily started off similarly to the game two weeks ago with the Locos gaining an early 10-0 lead. Tim Rattay had a perfect first quarter which included a 68-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Parker. Kicker Parker Douglass kicked a field goal in the 2nd to bring the Locos up to 10. He also missed a kick earlier in the game.

The Tuskers started to come back, much like they did during the last time the two teams met when the Locos were up 10-0. The Tuskers had the game tied into the fourth quarter, and took the lead when Brooks Bollinger threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Cortez Hankton with 6:36 to go in regulation.

Tim Rattay answered the Tuskers touchdown with a fast drive which spanned about 70 yards and ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Andrae Thurman. That tied the Locos up with the Tuskers with about 4 minutes left in the game. It wouldn't have been possible without returning running back DeDe Dorsey's 47 yard run on a crucial 3rd down situation.

The Tuskers got the ball next, and the Locos defense forced the Tuskers to punt the ball. Tim Rattay hit a few nice passes, and the Locos running backs helped the team move 60 yards to set up Parker Douglass' 21 yard game-winning field goal as the game clock ran out bringing the Locos to a 1-1 record.

The Las Vegas Locos outplayed the Tuskers throughout the first half of the game, and should have had more points on the board leading into half time. A missed field goal, and a Tim Rattay interception were two important issues that ended up costing the team points. The Locos defense played very well, and recorded 5 sacks in the first half.

The team still had problems with penalties, and needs to try their best to eliminate stupid penalties like holding, false starts, offsides, and pass interference penalties.

Even though he threw an interception, Tim Rattay looked great on the field today. He seemed a lot more comfortable than he did two weeks ago, and the numbers speak for it. He completed 27 of 36 pass attempts for 324 yards and two touchdown passes.

It's safe to say that the Locos wouldn't have won the game without returning running back DeDe Dorsey. Dorsey rushed for 99 yards on just 14 runs. He was a big target for Rattay too, and caught 7 passes for 105 yards bringing his total offensive yardage to 204. Running back Marcel Shipp ran for 65 yards on 19 attempts.

Florida Tuskers QB Bollinger threw for 196 yards (the lowest amount ever against the Locos) connecting on 19 of 30 pass attempts.

Tomorrow will be a big match-up when Daunte Culpepper and the Sacramento Mountain Lions travel to play a SOLD OUT Omaha Nighthawks team. Coverage on that game will be brought to you by HDNet and will start at 5:30 PM PDT.

The Locos will play again at home next Friday October 8, at 7:00 PM PDT versus Jeff Garcia, Ahman Green, and the rest of the talented Omaha Nighthawks. If you can't make it out to Sam Boyd Stadium to watch the game, you can watch it on HDNet or streaming via http://www.ufl-football.com