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Mountain Lions Ross named UFL Offensive MVP

November 23, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1) News Release


Sacramento, CA - Sacramento Mountain Lions running back CORY ROSS (offense), Las Vegas Locomotives cornerback ISAIAH TRUFANT (defense) and Florida Tuskers kicker NICK NOVAK (special teams) have been voted the 2010 United Football League Players of the Year.

The selections were made from a combination of votes cast by the five UFL head coaches and UFL fans in an online poll at www.UFL-Football.com.

Ross set a myriad of UFL records during the 2010 season. He had three games of 10 catches each to set a new league standard, carried the ball 25 times in Week 6 at Florida and ripped off a 75-yard run in Week 9 at home against the Omaha Nighthawks.

His 56 catches during the season obliterated the previous mark of 27 set by New York Sentinels wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe during the 2009 UFL season. The 2009 season featured six games while each team played eight regular season games in 2010.

Ross, who was a star at the University of Nebraska, played in all eight games for the Mountain Lions this fall, recording a UFL-high 443 yards and a touchdown on his 56 catches and 435 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 121 carries. His 878 yards from scrimmage is a new UFL single-season record.

The 5-foot-6, 200-pound Ross was the UFL leading rusher in 2009, gaining 462 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 117 carries. He also had 15 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. Ross completed his second UFL season after spending two seasons (2006-07) with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.

"This one is for our team, my O-line, my running back coach (Mike McDaniel) who has worked with me these last two years and the Sacramento fans," Ross said. "It was exciting playing for a crowd like that and I am excited to see the Mountain Lions in the future."

Trufant stepped into a starting role for Las Vegas this fall, and ended up as one of the top cornerbacks in the UFL. His four interceptions in 2010 are a league record, and all four came in a three-game span in the middle of the season. Trufant also had four pass breakups, a sack and 26 total tackles.

With Las Vegas during the 2009 season, Trufant had the key interception in the Championship Game, which set up the game-winning field goal in the Locos' 20-17 victory over Florida. Prior to his stint in the UFL, Trufant played in the Arena Football League with the Kansas City Brigade (2007) and Arizona Rattlers (2008), and he was with arenafootball2's Spokane Shock in 2006.

Novak thrived in his first season in the UFL, hitting 15 of 18 field goals and all 24 extra point attempts for a league-record 69 points. He connected on a league-record 54-yard field goal in Week 1 vs. Las Vegas, and had a league-record four field goals and 15 points in Week 4.

During the season, Novak announced that he was pledging $50 per made field goal to the American Cancer Society, so $750 total has been raised so far this fall. He also challenged fans to donate and so far more than 1200 have pledged.

A well-traveled professional veteran, Novak also has played with the Washington Redskins (2005-06), Arizona Cardinals (2005) and Kansas City Chiefs (2008) and the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe (2007).

For ticket information fans may visit www.sacmountainlions.com. Fans can also visit www.buyUFL.com for merchandise.

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United Football League Stories from November 23, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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