Las Vegas Locos head coach Jim Fassell argues a controversial call during the game against the Florida Tuskers in the UFL season opener Saturday. The Locos fell 27-20.
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
Coach Jim Fassel hoped these were the tracks the Las Vegas Locomotives could avoid.
The Locomotives chugged right off course in their quest to defend last year’s UFL title, falling to the Florida Tuskers 27-20 Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium in their season opener.
“We just didn’t play at the top of our game,” Fassel said. “It’s proven that in this league, you can’t do that and win.”
The last time these two teams met on this field, it ended with Las Vegas rejoicing and hoisting the UFL Championship trophy. Eleven months later, those celebratory smiles turned to angry frowns.
The anger came mostly from a blown call in the second quarter that doomed Las Vegas. With the Locomotives leading 10-7, they forced a fumble and recovered it at their own three-yard line until a replay official called for a review.
The referee overturned the fumble and called illegal blitzing on Las Vegas. To protect its quarterbacks, the UFL has a rule that only six players can rush on any given play.
But it’s not supposed to apply to rushing attempts or goal-line situations. The penalty gave the Tuskers the ball on the one-yard line and running back Dominic Rhodes scored on the next play.
The Tuskers never trailed again.
“It was a totally erroneous call by the officials,” Fassel said. “I tried to argue vehemently to the point where I need to apologize to the people who were watching on TV and heard my language. But I was right.”
Fassel said he spoke with the league’s head of officials after the game and he admitted it was wrong. Even Florida coach Jay Gruden didn’t understand the ruling.
“I have no idea what the heck was called,” Gruden said. “They never came to our sideline.”
Although the mistake was a major turning point for Las Vegas, it had other chances. But nothing went the team’s way all night and it appeared Las Vegas missed some of the key players from the championship team more than expected.
Quarterback Tim Rattay, taking over for J.P. Losman, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks, threw two costly interceptions in the fourth quarter. The running backs without last year’s leading rusher, DeDe Dorsey, managed less than three yards per carry.
“A quarterback’s best friend is the run game and we didn’t have it,” Fassel said. “(Rattay) actually threw the ball quite well under the circumstances.”
Rattay was under constant pressure and rarely had the opportunity to take shots downfield. He finished 22-for-38 for 173 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Meanwhile, the Locomotives allowed the Tuskers' Brooks Bollinger, last year’s UFL MVP, to carve them up for 308 yards and two touchdowns on 22-for-37 passing. It was the fourth straight game Bollinger has thrown for at least 300 yards against Las Vegas.
“He’ll probably be the first to admit he should have had 400 yards,” Gruden said. “But we’ll take the victory.”
Bollinger made the biggest play of the game at the end of the third quarter when he hit receiver Calvin Russell perfectly in stride for a 68-yard touchdown pass down the sideline. It gave the Tuskers a 27-17 advantage.
The Locomotives mustered a couple drives in the fourth quarter but only scored on a 25-yard field goal from Parker Douglass. After the game, it was hard for everyone to forget about the botched penalty.
“As you can see, we ended up losing by seven points,” said safety C.J. Wallace. “That really could have helped us.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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