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Florida Tuskers Win Big 41-7 In Home Finale

November 11, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Florida Tuskers News Release


ORLANDO, FL - Thursday, November 11, 2010 - Dominic Rhodes literally carried a Hartford Colonials defender on his back for the final 15 yards of his second touchdown Thursday. Figuratively, Rhodes, quarterback Chris Griesen and the home defense carried the Florida Tuskers to within one victory of a berth in the UFL championship game at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Rhodes scored two touchdowns, Greisen threw for two, and the always shorthanded defense forced five turnovers as the Tuskers smashed the Colonials 41-7 before 9,637 fans. The victory was the second straight for the 4-3 Tuskers, who can clinch a second straight UFL Championship Game appearance next Friday with a victory against the Omaha Nighthawks.

Hartford (2-5) was officially eliminated for the Championship game race.

After struggling in their first five games, the Tuskers have now scored 72 points in their last two behind Rhodes and Griesen pacing the offense.

Florida smashed the UFL record for most points in a half (24) by storming out to a 38-0 halftime lead. The Tuskers settled for tying the single-game record of 41 points set twice by Las Vegas on a third quarter Nick Novak field goal.

"When you're up 38-0 at halftime, it's not because of one guy," said Florida coach Jay Gruden. "It's all 22 guys on the field and all 48 who dressed out. Everyone's playing with a lot of passion right now."

Rhodes posted his third 100-yard game of the season, finishing with 102 on 20 carries as the former Indianapolis Colts back took control of the UFL rushing lead in a head-to-head match with Hartford's Lorenzo Booker.

Rhodes increased his league-leading rushing touchdown total to ten and took over the yardage lead with Booker held to 15 yards on seven carries. Booker had a two-yard lead over Rhodes entering the game.

"I always want to be the best running back that night," Rhodes said. "I definitely wanted to do better than [Booker] and my defense helped me out. Offense, defense, special teams ... everything is coming together.'"

Aided by tremendous catches from Galen Stone and Maurice Price for gains of 37 and 30, respectively, Greisen hit ten different receivers as he completed 14 of his first 18 passes in the first half, including two second-quarter touchdowns to Chas Gessner. He finished 17 of 23 for 217 yards.

"Once again, Chris led the team," Gruden said. "He created plays by moving his feet in the pocket and made some great accurate throws."

Despite missing stalwarts in defensive end Patrick Chukwurah and linebacker Odell Thurman, Florida's defense turned in another dominating performance.

The Tuskers forced five turnovers - including Tony Taylor and Simeon Castille interceptions and a 70-yard Terrence Melton fumble return for a touchdown that marked Florida's third defensive score in as many games.

"Defense set the tone," Gruden said. "Coaches do a great job with the game plan and then the defensive line takes over and stops the run. We've done a great job of stopping the run the past two weeks."

Hartford finally got on the scoreboard on Ryan Perrilloux's 12-yard keeper with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. It was one of the few bright spots for the Colonials, who managed just 242 total yards and made mental mistakes. Hartford helped Florida with two third-down penalties on defense that kept the Tuskers' scoring marches alive in the second quarter.

Trailing 7-0, the Colonials did have one impressive possession after Emanuel Cook recovered a Rhodes fumble at the Hartford 9-yard mark to end a Florida scoring threat. Perriloux, who threw for 16 of 35 for 184 yards, used long passes to Patrick Carter and Ronnie Ghent to move Hartford to the Florida 12.

However, Tory Harrison fumbled the ball as he was being tackled by McKinley Boykin, and Melton scooped it up and lumbered for the score to make it 14-0 with 5:54 left. Colonials coach Chris Palmer challenged the call, but to no avail.

"You can't expect to win with five turnovers," Palmer said. "We played poorly and I'm embarrassed by the way we played. We knew Florida was red-hot from last week and it looks like they're primed for the rest of the way."

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