Locomotives run out of steam against Tuskers

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 | 8:25 p.m.

Jim Fassel

Las Vegas Locomotives coach Jim Fassel and his players described their loss to the Florida Tuskers two weeks ago as “embarrassing” and “disappointing.”

In the two weeks since the defeat, the Locomotives re-focused and practiced with a renewed vigor. They were determined to travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., tonight and avenge their only loss of the season.

“We came here on a mission,” Fassel said on the game’s HDNet telecast. “We wanted to prove something.”

The Locomotives proved they had gotten better during their bye week, but it wasn’t enough.

Florida (4-0) used a late field goal to beat Las Vegas (1-2) again, this time by a 27-24 score.

“It was a good win,” Florida coach Jim Haslett said. “They had a great game plan. That was a good football team we beat tonight.”

Despite forcing three turnovers, the Las Vegas defense never appeared to be in the same class as the Florida offense.

Brooks Bollinger, the UFL’s leading passer, went 22-for-35 for 323 yards and two touchdowns.

Bollinger scored the first points for the Tuskers when he connected with Marcus Maxwell on a fade route in the end zone.

Las Vegas answered quickly, however, with a little trickery. The Locomotives ran what appeared to be a sweep to running back DeDe Dorsey.

But Dorsey stopped and tossed the ball back to quarterback J.P. Losman, who found Tab Perry for a 60-yard touchdown.

“We knew their defense was going to be really aggressive,” Perry said. “Their safeties were coming down into the box so we decided to run a double pass.”

Dorsey, who had more than 150 combined rushing and receiving yards, scored again on Las Vegas’ next offensive play.

He eluded a couple Florida defenders for a 22-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-7.

“The lineman got out in front of me and I got a seam to take it to the end zone,” Dorsey said.

The second half turned into a scoring fest.

Bollinger threw for his second touchdown of the night on Florida’s first possession out of the locker room.

Losman, who had 251 yards and two touchdowns on 19-for-31 passing, rallied the Locomotives back with seven minutes remaining by finding tight end John Madsen in the back of the end zone. The score stood tied at 24.

But Florida went right down the field and Matt Bryant converted a field goal to put the Tuskers ahead.

The last play of the game came on a fourth down from the Florida 42-yard line. Losman overthrew David Kircus in the end zone to end Las Vegas’ comeback attempt.