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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas Locomotives running back Marcel Shipp cuts while being covered by California Redwoods defensive back Robert Herbert during the inaugural game of the UFL on Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium. Las Vegas won the game 30-17.
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 | 11:30 p.m.
UFL: Redwoods vs Locomotives
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In the team and league's debut game, the Las Vegas Locomotives rallied in the second half to beat the California Redwoods 30-17.
Related story
Sun archives
- Case Grande football league invades Las Vegas (10/07/09)
- What to watch for in UFL season opener (10/07/09)
- Former Arizona Cardinals leading rusher anxious for UFL season (9/28/09)
- UFL announces broadcast team (9/22/09)
- Three-time NFL Pro Bowler signs with UFL (8/27/09)
- Local UFL team will be the Locomotives (8/10/09)
- Q&A: Las Vegas Locomotives coach Jim Fassel (8/10/09)
- Monday List: An ode to the UFL’s Las Vegas ‘Locos’ (8/10/09)
- UFL unveils season schedule (8/6/09)
- UFL Las Vegas signs 19 players (8/6/09)
- UFL hopefuls show off skills at Sam Boyd Stadium (6/14/09)
As far as first tests go, the United Football League certainly didn’t fail in Thursday’s inaugural game.
As promised, the quality of football was high in the Las Vegas Locomotives’ 30-17 victory over the California Redwoods at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Las Vegas quarterback J.P. Losman, the UFL’s marquee player, picked apart the California defense for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 21-for-31 passing, and the game was close throughout.
“That was a (darn) good football game,” Las Vegas coach Jim Fassel said. “Anyone who snuck into that one probably went back and paid. They got their money’s worth.”
But the UFL didn’t pass with flying colors, either. The announced attendance was 14,209, but there appeared to be far more empty seats than that.
Still, everyone focused on the positives after the game.
“We’re going to put a good product on the field and let people see it,” Fassel said. “I don’t know how many were here, but I bet at least all the people who were sitting near or behind us are going to tell their friends, ‘That was a hell of a football game.’”
Fassel noted that the fans were exceptionally loud for big plays.
“It’s phenomenal. I’m having such a great time,” said Richard Kleitman, a fan decked out in a Locomotives jersey and hat. “For something like this, it should be packed.”
Kleitman said the game exceeded his expectations — and that was at halftime, when the Locomotives trailed 14-10.
The Redwoods scored the UFL’s first touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter when quarterback Shane Boyd took off for a four-yard scramble on a third-down play to go ahead 7-3.
Not that the Locomotives didn’t have a chance to make history by being the first team in the end zone. On its initial drive, Las Vegas drove 63 yards to California’s one-yard line.
But running back Marcel Shipp, who ran for 69 yards on 17 carries, fumbled a Losman toss and California recovered.
“I think we were kind of feeling our way through in the first half,” Losman said. “Once we came out in the second half, I think guys realized things were on the line and went for it. You could see the difference.”
With the Locomotives ahead 20-17 near the end of the third quarter, its drive stalled at the Redwoods’ 35-yard-line.
Instead of punting, Fassel called on kicker Graham Gano for a field goal attempt. Gano, an All-American and Lou Groza Award winner last year at Florida State, easily knocked the 53-yarder through the uprights.
“We had his range prior to the game, but we were outside of that range,” Fassel said. “So he came over and I said, ‘Can you make it?’ He said, ‘Absolutely.’”
The Locomotives defense stepped up on the next possession to force the Redwoods to punt. With nearly 10 minutes remaining, the Locomotives received the ball on their own 14-yard line.
Then, the DeDe Dorsey show started. Dorsey, Shipp’s complement at running back, guided Las Vegas down the field before finally scoring on an eight-yard touchdown.
Dorsey finished with 63 yards on nine carries. The drive took seven minutes off of the clock and ensured a Las Vegas win.
“We knew we had to put points on the board and put it away with a drive that eats up the clock,” Dorsey said. “We did that.”
The Locomotives celebrated the victory but were already looking forward to next Wednesday’s home game against the Florida Tuskers.
“I think the same people who came out are going to come out again,” Losman said. “And they’re going to tell their friends and the word will get out that Vegas should check it out.”
tell y'all what...this was a great night. Sure they spread the seats out, but no one left unhappy. This was really good football.so those of y'all that wanna bag on it, well get lost. You people are the reason football is not here. With no advertising, that of which I am not sure it was the town or the league, the game still had a draw of around 15,000.....and it rocked. From tailgating all the way to 5th quarter celebration. Get with it folks
i have to say..... i went to the game and had a blast. not only was it a good game all the way up until the end but WE WON. how many times can we say that as a las vegas football team.... not very often with the sanford infected rebels.
serisouly though it was a good time
Congrats to the Locos! At least one of our local teams is winning. Unlike my alma-mater who has not held the Fremont Cannon in how long?
I really hope this leauge stays around.It's another chance for college players to play pro ball and maybe make it to the nfl if they can prove thereselfs in the ufl..
I had a blast at the game. I hope the team sticks around for a while. We better appreciate Losman's skills cause he'll be in the NFL next year. Same for Dorsey.
saw it on TV out of town, 60% empty stands, put this league out of it's misery
mred, Your comment exposes you as the fraud and small minded person you really are.
I was as at the game and had a great time. The players were enthusiastic and the hitting was as hard as promised.
I can clearly see why you want this to fail; your pathetic miserable life just couldn't handle something being fun or somebody enjoying success.
Go Locos!! See you next week.
you know what mred, I saw the game on tv too, and even though the seats looked empty, I was more inclined to watching this on TV than my own alma mater.
I think that with the AFL out, you are going to see some interest here. Just like farm teams for baseball and the D-League for basketball, I honestly think this may stick around for a number of reasons. Namely, its affordability and how easily it adapts from the NFL playbook.
If there was one gripe, it would be the ref colors. Just be a zebra ref, no need to stick out like a sore thumb with red and black. haha.
Do you think it was a problem that the two sides had what looked to be the same colors? Odd. With only four teams in this league, you'd think the designers would be able to mix up the color schemes a little more.
I saw it on TV too, and now I can say shame on me for not taking my only chance to see it live. For all of the possible small gripes that I can think of I instead want to point out the really good game play! Not bad for three weeks of camp.
Thinking about other article/threads it was nice to see a Vegas coach that (IMHO) commanded respect and really seem to lead the team.
all the teams are wearing the colors of the UFL logo this season only. it was kind of difficult to tell the difference, but it wasnt that bad.
displaced....
dont be ashamed.... you can see it like next wednesday. they have a game then and if we make it to the championship game you can see them again because that will be played here as well.
Sam Boyd rocked! Lotsa folks showed up early for tailgating. The game ended up being high quality football. If the NFL were to add 4 expansion teams, these would be the players for sure.
We're in for next week and am glad we got tickets already, because at $10 bucks apiece theres gonna be a lot more people next Wednesday. We enjoyed the W and the chane to do a little post tailgate too. Thanks to the UFL for bringin some top shelf football our way!
Not bad for 8000 people last night, too bad there is only 1 more "home" game. Came across Tv kinda bad though, no crowd response and the officials microphone was horrible. Good to see these guys get a chance and prove themselves.
It's a comedy bonanza! The Loco's and the Nobel Peace Prize in the same 24 hour period!
There is no way that 15,000 people much less 8,000 attended last night. I live in front of the stadium and there is no way that many people showed up. That being said, The product on the field was more than expected. I hope this team does well and sticks around for awhile.
Lot of recognizable names in the recap.
Seems like this league is doing things the right way to ensure long term success.
Don't know if it's played, but I'd adopt the following Grand Funk Railroad version for home games.
LOCOMOTION
by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now
Come on baby do the locomotion
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
Come on baby do the locomotion
My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learning your ABC's
So come on, come on do the locomotion with me
You gotta swing your hips now
Come on baby jump up jump back
Oh well, I think you've got the knack
Now that you can do it let's make a chain now
Come on baby do the locomotion
Chug-a-chug a motion like a railroad train now
Come on baby do the locomotion
Do it nice and easy now and don't lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul
Come on, come on do the locomotion with me
Move around the floor in a locomotion
Come on baby do the locomotion
Do it holdin' hands if you get the notion
Come on baby do the locomotion
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue
Come on, come on do the locomotion with me
: )
It seamed like there was less than 14,000 because everyone was stuck waiting for snacks. Those lines were huge! They should of opened up all of the snack bars.
Why not "get" Grand Funk!
UPDL united Paint dry League, watch that apint dry guys wow, uniforms looked like smashed grasshoppers
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Agree with the color scheme thing...
Not giving each team a unique identity is a huge mistake. Why do they have to wait until the second season to do this? Watching on TV, everyone looked like they were on the same team.
I went to the game, and I absolutely loved it. I was also a big XFL fan and was sad to see the league fade away. I really hope the UFL has a better outome. I only have one complaint. I hate the fact that Vegas uses the nick name Loco instead of it's given nickname Locomotives. I can't stand it. It is just my opinion, but this is the kind of thing that caused the XFL to not get the respect it deserved. The fans that are already fans, we will remain fans no matter what, but we can't really expect others who aren't fans to rally around a professional football league that has team names like "The Crazies." It's kinda like trying to get someone to believe the great stats of a player called He-Hate-Me. Please, let's drop the Locos name and stick with Locomotives. Beyond that, no complaints. See ya at the game.