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Tuskers Get Defensive, Beat Colonials

October 9, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Florida Tuskers News Release


HARTFORD, CT - Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010-- On a day of big plays and big mistakes, the Florida Tuskers made more of the former and fewer of the later in recording a 33-20 win over the Hartford Colonials on Saturday afternoon.

The win lifted Florida to 2-2 on the season and set up a second half that will see the Tuskers play three of their final four games at home. "I hated to use the word 'must-win' today but it was close to that feeling," Head Coach Jay Gruden said. "We made a lot of big plays in the second half and that was the difference."

The Tuskers, who took a lead into the fourth quarter of their last two games only to lose, closed the game out in style Saturday. After Hartford had closed a 10-point Tuskers lead to three in the 4th quarter, Florida scored on its final two possessions to put the game out of reach.

"Can't say enough about our defense in the second half and how we were able to run the ball in the 4th quarter," Gruden added. "We stepped up and played great on both sides of the ball in the second half."

The Tuskers defense, which was torched for more than 400 yards in a loss to Las Vegas last week, forced four turnovers this week and held the Colonials to just 98 second half yards. The defense also recorded five sacks, forced four fumbles, knocked down five passes and had three other tackles for loss.

After taking over on downs late in the game, Florida's Dominic Rhodes put the game out of reach with a 16-yard run. It was part of a 19-carry, 99-yard effort by Rhodes in the game. "Sometimes I think we get away from the run too quickly," Gruden added. "But we had pass plays open early in the game just didn't convert them."

Hartford wasted no time getting on the board first in the game, as McCown led the Colonials on a 94-yard drive that ended on a 18-yard Taylor Mehlhaff field goal. The drive had mixed emotions for both teams, as it was kept alive by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on Claude Wroten. Still, the Colonial had a first and goal at the Tuskers two and could only manage a field goal on the drive.

Florida got the first turnover of the game. After getting just one first down on its first possession, Jason Cherry mishandled Ken Parrish's punt and Huey Whitaker recovered on the Colonial 18-yard line. But the Tuskers managed just seven yards on three plays and had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Nick Novak that tied the game 3-3 at the 3:04 mark of the first period.

After neither team could move the ball on their next two possessions, the Tuskers finally came alive offensively. The team took a 10-3 lead at the 5:07 mark of the second quarter on Aveion Cason's 1-yard touchdown run. The Tuskers drive went seven plays for 79 yards and was aided by a big pass interference penalty on wide receiver Calvin Russell.

But Hartford would spring right back. After Novak's kick went out of bounds giving the Colonials a first down on the 40, McCown hit Shaheer McBride on a 44-yard pass and run to give Hartford a first down on the Orlando 16. But three plays netted a -1 yard and Mehlhaff's 35-yard field goal cut the deficit to 10-6 at the 3:34 mark.

After a Florida punt, DeJaun Tribble would then give the Tuskers right back on an interception, but Gerald Lawson stepped in front of a Brooks Bollinger pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown two plays later to give Hartford a 13-10 lead at the 2:13 mark of the second quarter.

In the second half, the Tuskers came out and moved the ball down to the 15-yard line. But on a first and 10 play, Maurice Fountain sacked and forced a fumble by Bollinger that the Colonials recovered on the 26-yard line.

Florida next possession stalled at the Colonial 24, but Novak hit a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 at the 9:39 mark.

The Hartford defense came up big again on Florida's next possession. After Florida got a sack and fumble recovery on the 24, the Tuskers could only gain 13 yards and had to settle for another Novak field goal that made it 16-13 at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, the Tuskers again got a sack and forced fumble that was recovered by Claude Wroten. This time, the Tuskers took full advantage. Following a pass interference penalty gave the Tuskers the ball on the Colonial 3, Bollinger went play action and found tight end Jermaine Wiggins in the back of the end zone for a touchdown and a 23-13 lead at the :56 mark of the third period.

Hartford would close the gap to three on its possession of the 4th quarter. After a pass interference gave the Colonials a first down on the Florida 2, the Tuskers defense dug in and forced a 4th and goal with 9:13 remaining. McCown then rolled out and completed a touchdown pass to tight end Ronnie Ghent despite having two Tuskers players pulling him down.



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