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Tuskers Look To Avenge Early Season Loss To Mountain Lions

October 18, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Florida Tuskers News Release


Game: 5

SACRAMENTO AT ORLANDO

Florida Citrus Bowl - Orlando, FL

Thursday, October 21

Toe-To-Leather: 7 p.m. (EDT)

TV: HD NET

Radio: WYGM (740 AM)

2010 Tuskers Schedule

Date Opponent Time/Score

9/18 at Las Vegas W, 27-20

9/25 at Sacramento L, 20-24

9/30 LAS VEGAS L, 17-20

10/9 at Hartford W, 33-20

10/21 SACRAMENTO 7 p.m.

11/5 OMAHA 8 p.m.

11/11 HARTFORD 7 p.m.

11/19 at Omaha 8:30 p.m.

2010 UFL Standings

Team W-L Pct.

Las Vegas 3-1 .750

Omaha 3-1 .750

Florida 2-2 .500

Hartford 1-3 .250

Sacramento 1-3 .250

This Week's Games

Sacramento at Orlando (10/21-7pm)

Hartford at Las Vegas (10/23-3:30 pm)

Last Week's Results

Las Vegas 26, Sacramento 3

Omaha 19, Hartford 14

Florida Tuskers Public Relations

Dan Pearson, Director

407-791-4663

dan.pearson@ufl-football.com

Jason Lucas, Assistant Director

407-925-8610

jason.lucas@ufl-football.com

Neil Tredray, Student Assistant

407-432-0679

neil.tredray@ufl-football.com

THE GAME

The Florida Tuskers (2-2) look to avenge a Week 2 loss when they host the Sacramento Mountain Lions 3-1 on Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Tuskers are coming off a much needed "bye week," following a brutal opening that saw the team play three games in 12 days, including two trips out West (Las Vegas and Sacramento) on consecutive weekends, following a short week to host defending champion Las Vegas back on Sept. 30. After beating Florida on Sept. 25, the Mountain Lions lost to Omaha (20-17) on Oct. 2, before dropping a 26-3 decision to the Las Vegas Locomotives last Saturday. Kickoff is at 7:07 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on HDNET (pbp-Kenny Rice, color-Paul Maguire, sideline-Ron Kruck, Paul Crane). The game can be heard on WYGM 740 AM (Marc Daniels and Gary Parrish on the call) and live on the internet at www.740thegame.com.

THE SERIES

After sweeping the 2009 regular season (against the then California Redwoods), the Mountain Lions closed the gap in the series to 2-1 with a 24-20 come-from-behind win over Tuskers on Sept. 25. The all-time series results:

10/22/09 Florida 34, California 7 Taye Biddle 133 yards and a TD for Tuskers

11/19/09 Florida 34, California 27 Two 4th quarter TDs for Florida

10/21/10 Sacramento 24, Florida 20 Culpepper leads 4th quarter comback

LAST TIME THEY MET

Daunte Culpepper hit Rod Windsor on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining to lead the Sacramento Mountains to a 24-20 win over the Florida Tuskers. It was the first regular season loss for the Tuskers in franchise history. "We had our chances and didn't take advantage of it," Tuskers head coach Jay Gruden said. "We all had a hand in this one." With the score tied at 17-17, the Tuskers took over on their own 24 and drove the ball 75-yards down to the Mountain Lions' 1-yard line. But three plays netted a -11 yards and the Tuskers were forced to settle for a Nick Novak 30-yard field goal to take a 20-17 lead. Culpepper was outstanding on the game's final drive. After converting a fourth and two with a quarterback sneak, he completed passes of 13 and 8 yards to set up the game winning touchdown pass. For the game, Culpepper was 26 of 42 for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Former Tusker wide receiver Taye Biddle caught three of those passes for 109 yards, Otis Amey added seven catches for 94 yards. Brooks Bollinger was 23 of 41 for 328 yards and one touchdown; Cortez Hankton had six of those catches for 110 yards.

LAST TIME OUT: TUSKERS USE STRONG SECOND HALF TO KNOCK OFF HARTFORD

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, Oct. 9. 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 20-carry, 103-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."

NOVAK/RHODES GARNER POW HONORS

Kicker Nick Novak and RB Dominic Rhodes earned United Football League Player of the Week honors for their efforts during the Tuskers 33-20 win over Hartford in Week 4. Novak scored 15 points, including hitting a UFL record four field goals in the win. Rhodes established a new team record and became the first Tuskers player in franchise history to rush for 100 yards when he tallied 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

CHUKURWAH GETS A GAME BALL

Heading into the Hartford game, the Florida coaching staff was hoping that defensive end Patrick Chukurwah might be able to contribute a little on situational downs. Chukurwah was injured in the first Sacramento game (hip flexor) and missed the home opener against Las Vegas. He practiced sparingly before the Hartford game but improved greatly during the week. Against Hartford, Chukurwah was a disruptive force, recording 2.5 tackles, recovering a fumble and picking up a pair of quarterback sacks. In addition, Chukurwah paced a defensive line that played a major role in limiting the Colonials to less than 100 yards of total offense and seven second-half points. The effort earned Chukurwah a game-ball from head coach Jay Gruden following the game.

FAHKIR BROWN TO IR/TUSKERS BRING BACK COREY SMALL

Just prior to the Hartford game, the Tuskers placed CB Fahkir Brown on injured reserve with what most-likely will be a season-ending neck injury. With the open roster spot, the Tuskers re-signed defensive back Corey Small from Florida Atlantic University. Small was one of the final cuts of the 2010 pre-season and had impressed coaches with his physical play.

TUSKERS/UFL ANYTHING BUT MINOR LEAGUE

While UFL coaches, players and administrators often cringe when casual football fans use the phrase "minor league" or "semi-professional" to describe any brand of football that is not the NFL, it helps to sometimes look at the facts to show just how impressive the players are in the UFL. Here some eye-opening facts concerning the Florida Tuskers current 52-man roster:

50 of 52 Tuskers players have been through at least one NFL training camp

41 of 52 Tuskers players have been on an NFL active roster

37 of 52 Tuskers players have played in NFL games

27 of 52 Tuskers players have played in 10 or more NFL games

23 of 52 Tuskers players have played in 20 or more NFL games

21 of 52 Tuskers players have made NFL starts

17 of 52 Tuskers players have played in 30 or more NFL games

13 of 52 Tuskers players have played in 40 or more NFL games

8 of 52 Tuskers players have played in 50 or more NFL games

The Tuskers 52 current players have played in 1,267 NFL games and have made 402 Starts

The Tuskers offensive line (excluding tight ends) has played in 224 NFL Games and made 139 starts

EXPERIENCE PART II

Here are some more NFL facts in figures concerning the Florida Tuskers 2010 roster

TE Jermaine Wiggins has played in the most NFL games (105)

OL Shane Olivea has made the most NFL starts (57)

QB Brooks Bollinger has passed for 2,256 yards and 9 TDs in NFL games

RB Dominic Rhodes has 3,114 NFL Rushing Yards, 1021 receiving yards, 3,122 kickoff return

Yards, 7272 all-purpose yards and has scored 32 touchdowns

DB Keiwan Ratliff has 145 total tackles, 4 interceptions and 9 PD in 73 NFL games

LB Odell Thurman has 98 tackles and 5 Interceptions in 16 NFL games

DE Darrion Scott had 128 tackles and 10 quarterback sacks in 48 NFL games

RHODES LEADS LEAGUE IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES

Running back Dominic Rhodes, who ran for a season-high 103 yards in the Tuskers' last game (at Hartford 10/9), finds himself as the UFL leader in several categories. Through Week 4 of the regular season, Rhodes led the UFL in rushing yards (226), all-purpose yards (416), rushing touchdowns (4), total touchdowns (5) and scoring for non-kickers (30). His 103 rushing against Hartford was the most this season by a UFL running back; while his 16-yard touchdown run against Hartford was the longest run from scrimmage for a touchdown this season.

HOMECOMING FOR MOUNTAIN LIONS

Thursday's game will be a homecoming for more than a few Mountain Lions. Sacramento QB Daunte Culpepper grew up in the Ocala area and went on to become the University of Central Florida's first national star. Culpepper holds the distinction of playing his last college game (vs. University of New Mexico, 1998) and his first professional game (Damp Rid Florida vs. USA All-Star Game, January 1999) at the Florida Citrus Bowl; but is making his first appearance here since. Mountain Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Kruczek also has strong ties to UCF and the Orlando area. Kruczek coached Culpepper in college while serving as the team's quarterback coach/offensive coordinator from 1985-97 and as its head coach from 1998-2003. A 7th round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003, Mike Mabry was a standout center at UCF from 1999-2002. Here are some other Mountain Lions with Florida ties:

*Assistant coach Art Kehoe spent nearly 27 years at the University of Miami as a player and coach

*Mountain Lions head trainer Darrell Hunter is a native of Clermont, Fla.

*DB Kelly Malveaux played for the Orlando Rage of the XFL in 2001

*DB David Irons played the first three games of the 2010 season for the Tuskers

*WR Taye Biddle led the Tuskers in receiving last year (26-453)

*LB Maurice Crum is a Tampa native and the son of former University of Miami star Maurice Crum Sr.

PARITY REINS SUPREME

How closely matched are UFL teams this year? Consider the following:

*Four of the five teams are allowing between 19.6 and 17 points per game

*Four of the five teams are averaging between 21.0 and 23.3 points per game

*Six of 10 games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less

*With four regular season games to go, no team has been eliminated from championship game contention

TUSKERS DEFENSE COMES UP WITH BIG PLAYS

Although the Tuskers are next to last in yards allowed per game (358.7), Florida has more than made up for it in big play capacity. The Tuskers finished Week 4 of the regular season ranked first in turnover margin (+4), first in interceptions (5), first in quarterback sacks (12), and first in kickoff return coverage.

BYE WEEK CAME AT A GOOD TIME

Florida's bye week could not have come at a better time, as Florida has played four consecutive weeks - including three games in 12 days to start the season. Florida has been banged up with defensive starters Patrick Chukurwah (hip), Eric Powell (ankle), Chris Harrington (knee), DB JR REED (ankle), DB Fahkir Brown (neck), and Tim McGarigle (concussion) missing a total of 12 starts. Harrington and Reed are lost for the season; while Powell and Brown remain on the injured reserve list.

QUICK HITTERS

*Final corrected stats copy shows the Tuskers with a season-high 5 quarterback sacks against Hartford

*Brooks Bollinger's 155 passing yards last week was a UFL career low, but he led team to points in five of eight second half possessions

*DB Fahkir Brown's neck injury is most-likely season ending. JR Reed is also believed loss for the season as is DL Chris Harrington.



United Football League Stories from October 18, 2010


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