Tuskers Upend Omaha, Return To Championship Game
Published on November 19, 2010 under United Football League (UFL 1)
Omaha Nighthawks News Release
OMAHA, NE - Florida's defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns and Nick Novak drilled two long field goals to lead the Tuskers to a 27-10 win over the Omaha Nighthawks.
With the victory, Florida won its third straight game and improved to 5-3. The win also sent the Tuskers back to the UFL Championship Game for a rematch with Las Vegas. The game will be played at 12 noon, Nov. 27 here in Omaha.
Omaha, who was blown out of their last two games by a 72-17 count - including a 31-14 loss to Florida two weeks ago, made it tough on the Tuskers. The game was 10-3 at the half and the Tuskers did not get any breathing room until Calvin Russell's 35-yard touchdown reception with six minutes left in the third finally gave Florida a two-score lead.
"It was exactly what I expected," Tuskers head coach Jay Gruden said. "Omaha had nothing to play for, but I know they have a lot of NFL vets on that side that would have liked nothing better than to spoil our day. It was a credit to their players and coaches that they fought so hard tonight."
Still, the Tuskers would finish the season on a roll. After Omaha cut the lead to 20-10 in the fourth, Keiwan Ratliff intercepted DJ Shockley and returned it 58-yards for a touchdown to ice the game.
"We were far from perfect tonight. We turned the ball over on the goal line, allowed too many sacks and took some bad penalties" Gruden said. "But we made some plays when we had to and we won the battle of field position. It would be hard for me to call a 17-point win a sloppy win. Our guys played hard and once again our defense was outstanding."
In finishing with three straight wins, the Tuskers have allowed just 31 points in the three games-an average of 10.3 per game.
Chris Greisen, who engineered all three wins, completed 17 of 26 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. For a third consecutive game he spread the ball around, hitting nine different receivers.
Florida will now spend the week in Omaha preparing for the Locomotives. "We were 6-0 last year and didn't finish," Gruden added. "We fought our way back to the championship and we're thankful to get the chance to avenge last season's loss."
It took the Tuskers less than two minutes to get on the board in the game and that was without the benefit of the offense. Cornerback Darrius Vinnett stepped in front of a Jeff Garcia pass on the third play of the game and returned it 45-yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Florida at the 13:20 mark of the first period.
The Tuskers had a chance to jump out to a two-score lead on its next possession, as a 44-yard pass from Greisen to Brian Clark set them up with a first and goal on the Omaha 3-yard line. A Rhodes' run put the ball on the one, but on Florida's next play, Greisen failed to handle the center-quarterback exchange cleanly and the Nighthawks recovered the fumble on the 4-yard line to stop the drive.
After that early excitement, both defenses tightened up and Florida held on to a 7-0 lead after one period of play.
The Tuskers offense finally got on the board at the 7:01 mark of the second as Nick Novak booted a 47-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 game. The key play on the drive was a 4-yard pass from Greisen to Maurice Price on a 4th and two play to keep the drive alive. It was Novak's ninth consecutive made field goal on the season.
Omaha finally started to show signs of life in the waning moments of the first half. After Maurice Clarett picked up the team's initial first down with six minutes remaining, Garcia picked up two more quick first downs on back-to-back passes. Devard Darling's 11-yard reception gave the Nighthawks a first and goal on the Florida 3. But the next three plays netted a negative three yards and the Nighthawks had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Jeff Wolfert that cut the Florida lead to 10-3 at the 1:41 mark.
Florida would up the lead to 17-3 on its third possession of the second half, driving 78 yards on nine plays. The drive was capped off by a 35-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Russell, but two big third down plays kept the drive alive. Those plays included an 8-yard completion to Rhodes, where Greisen avoided a sack and threw high to Rhodes who made a sensational catch with a defender hanging on his back. A few moments later, Greisen hit Clark for a 14-yard gain on a 3rd and nine play.
Novak would then extend the lead to 20-3, drilling a 51-yard field goal at the 1:22 mark of the third.
On Omaha's next possession, the Nighthawks would drive the length of the field and take more than six minutes off the clock, only to see Vinnett come up with his second interception of the game in the end zone and kill the drive.
After picking up an initial first down, the Tuskers gave the ball back to Omaha as Rhodes fumbled on the 20-yard line. This time, the Nighthawks finally broke into the end zone as Garcia hit WR Roy Hall on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Wolfert's point after made it a 20-10 game with 6:24 remaining.
Wolfert's ensuing on-sides kick was recovered by the Nighthawks before it traveled 10 yards, giving Orlando the ball at the Omaha 39. The Tuskers would go three and out, however, and Omaha got the ball back on its own 12-yard line after the punt.
Omaha was unable to move the ball and when a Darion Scott sack of Garcia forced a 4th and 20, the Nighthawks punted back to Florida. The teams traded punts before Ratliff locked the game up with his pick six.
United Football League Stories from November 19, 2010
- Tuskers Overpower Omaha - UFL 1
- Tuskers Upend Omaha, Return To Championship Game - Omaha Nighthawks
- Two-Time National Champion And Former Huskers Quarterback Tommie Frazier To Host Youth Clinic - UFL 1
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