ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A scoreless first quarter gave way to an offensive slugfest that nearly resulted in the first overtime game in United Football League history, but the Florida Tuskers held on to win 27-24 over the Las Vegas Locomotives at Tropicana Field in front of an announced crowd of 11,354 Friday night, moving to 4-0 on the season and clinching a spot in the UFL championship game.
“When you lose the turnover battle and they outrush you by a massive yardage and you play probably your worst game out of the four games and you still win the game, it says you have a little bit of character in your room," said Tuskers head coach Jim Haslett.Locomotives quarterback J.P. Losman had a chance at leading a final scoring drive late in the fourth, but after an 8-yard run on first down, the Florida defense forced a sack of six yards and two incomplete passes to turn the ball over on downs. Tuskers quarterback Brooks Bollinger came out and took a knee with 13 seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
“As far as being the first of the two teams to go to the UFL championship, it's great. It’s exciting," said Tuskers receiver Marcus Maxwell, who had two touchdown catches in the game.
Florida had two turnovers in the first quarter, a Jermaine Wiggins fumble forced by Las Vegas linebacker Brandon Moore and a Brooks Bollinger interception in the end zone by defensive back Trey Young.
"I heisted, threw late to [Pittman]. If I’d thrown it early it would have been a touchdown. As a quarterback you can’t have turnovers in the red zone," Bollinger said.
The Tuskers defense held Las Vegas scoreless in the first as well, forcing two punts. Defensive back Jerome Carter intercepted Losman as well, returning the ball 83 yards before being tackled by Locomotives wide receiver Samie Parker.
Florida had possession at the start of the second quarter and continued an eventual 10 play, 80 yard scoring drive capped off with a Bollinger pass to Maxwell from 9 yards out.
Las Vegas kicker Graham Gano missed a 41 yard field goal attempt on the next possession, and the Locos defense forced a Tuskers three-and-out.
The Locos' next play was a flea-flicker trick play. Losman tossed the ball to his running back, who tossed the ball back to Losman. Losman then fired a 60-yard bomb to a wide open Tab Perry for six, and Gano's extra point tied the game at 7 all.
Florida's next possession ended in a turnover as tight end Keith Heinrich coughed the ball up after a hit by Las Vegas defensive back Joe Porter. Nick Turnbull scooped up the loose ball and scampered 43 yards to the Florida 22.
The fumble was especially frustrating because the Tuskers had successfully converted a 4th-and-6 with a fake punt run by running back Shaud Williams, who gained 29 yards on the play.
“We run that once in a while," Haslett said of his own trick play. "We’ve been working on it for about a month, so I told ‘em ‘We’re gonna run this thing come hell or high water.' The opportunity arose today and we ran it."
The next Locomotives play was a hand-off to running back DeDe Dorsey, who ran the 22 yards into the end zone, giving Las Vegas the lead and marking the first time the Tuskers trailed in a game in two games.
Florida's next score came on their second possession of the third quarter as Bollinger and Maxwell hooked up again, this time for 46 yards. Matt Bryant's extra point tied the game at 14 with 11:56 left in the third.
Florida and Las Vegas traded field goals.
Gano scored first for Las Vegas from 40 yards out with 9:01 left in the third, followed soon after by a Bryant kick from 31 with 4:51 left in the third.
Florida running back Tatum Bell scored the go-ahead touchdown with a 1-yard run to make it 24-17, capping a 7 play, 86 yard drive with 8:08 left in the game.
Las Vegas needed just three plays to tie the game again, including a 71-yard run from Dorsey, setting up the scoring 2-yard pass from Losman to tight end John Madsen.
Florida's next drive was capped off with a 40 yard Bryant field goal to give the Tuskers their slimmest margin of victory in four games.
Bollinger finished the night with 22 completions in 35 attempts (62.8%) for 321 yards and two touchdowns and one interception.
The Tuskers are on the road for their next three games, two regular season contests against the New York Sentinels on Nov. 12 and against the California Redwoods Nov. 19 and the championship game in Las Vegas.
“I told ‘em I’d be disappointed if we don’t go undefeated. If we go 5-1 going to the championship, you know what? You’re good enough that you should win ‘em all,” Haslett said.
The Tuskers have previously beaten both of their upcoming opponents, 35-13 over New York Oct. 10 and 34-7 over California Oct. 22.
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