Locomotives focused on improving with championship appearance clinched

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The Las Vegas Locomotives are excited but not yet satisfied.

With two games left in the regular season, the Locos (5-1) already have clinched their spot in the UFL Championship Game for the second straight year.

"It feels good and I'm proud of this team because we've won five in a row," Las Vegas coach Jim Fassel said. "They've been getting better every week, but we need to keep it up."

The offensive stats from last week's 24-10 victory over the Omaha Nighthawks prove as much.

Omaha out-gained Las Vegas by more than 100 yards. Quarterback Drew Willy, who took over for the injured Tim Rattay, went 14-for-28 for just 98 yards with one interception.

"I think our entire offense could have executed better," Willy said. "It's not always going to be pretty."

The Locos offense hopes to take the next step in its maturation process with Willy on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium when they host the Sacramento Mountain Lions.

The defense hopes to keep the status quo. When Las Vegas faced Sacramento for the first time this season, it forced six turnovers. The Locos had a similar performance against the Nighthawks with five turnovers, including picking off four passes from quarterback Jeff Garcia.

"The defense played great," Willy said. "That's why we got the win."

None of the other five teams in the UFL are eliminated from the championship picture. The Nighthawks have the best chance to reach the game at 3-2, but the Florida Tuskers are close behind at 2-3. Both the Mountain Lions and the Colonials are 2-4.

Whoever emerges from that pack likely will be on a hot streak headed into the championship game in Omaha against Las Vegas. The Locomotives don't want to get left behind.

"We need to enjoy being out here and getting better," Willy said. "We want to win these next two games and keep the momentum going before the championship game."

Fassel also said the running game needed repair. After dominating on the ground all season, Las Vegas averaged barely two yards per carry against Omaha and gained only 79 yards.

That kind of performance won't work in the Championship Game.

"You can't deny the fact that we're happy with where we're at, but our goal still has to be to get better each week if we want to win it," Fassel said. "We've still got a ways to go."

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.