UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Fassel takes Locos back 'home' to N.Y.

[clevfan]

Nov. 04, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Fassel takes Locos back 'home' to N.Y.

Las Vegas squad needs win to close in on playoff spot

By STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

When the United Football League schedule was released in early August, Jim Fassel circled Nov. 4.

The Las Vegas Locomotives were scheduled to play at New York that night, and Fassel, the former New York Giants coach, was returning home.

That day has arrived, and for Fassel, the Locos' coach, it's not just important from an emotional standpoint. His team needs a win tonight if it hopes to move closer to gaining a spot in the Nov. 27 championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The top two teams will play for the title, and the Florida Tuskers have clinched a spot with a 4-0 record. The Locos are 1-2, a half-game behind second-place California.

"New York is definitely dear to my heart," Fassel said from Long Island, where the Locos will face the Sentinels at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium. "I have great memories from my time coaching the Giants. I was treated well by the media and the fans. I was here at 9/11, and it's indelible in my mind.

"But we have a football game to win. In this league, there's no division. No conference. It's just the two best records, and if we don't take care of business, we won't have to worry about the championship game."

Las Vegas is coming off a 27-24 loss to first-place Florida on Friday in St. Petersburg, a game that went back and forth, was tied 24-all midway through the fourth quarter and ultimately came down to a couple of missed opportunities on offense for the Locos.

"I never like to lose, but I liked the way we competed," Fassel said. "We made it a physical game, and it was a good effort. But we still have some things we have to clean up."

Fassel is dealing with a short work week and a long injury list. His 50-man roster has 16 players with injuries, the most serious being to cornerback Brandon Sumerall, who is unlikely to play with a sprained knee.

Running back DeDe Dorsey (foot) and safety Tony Parrish (knee) also are hobbling. But Dorsey, the team's leading rusher, and Parrish, one of the Locos' top tacklers, are expected to play.

"It's tough," Fassel said. "We were in a very physical game, and when you have only a couple of days to bounce back, it makes it hard. But we stayed on the East Coast, and we've been able to get our guys their daily treatment."

The Sentinels are 0-3 and have surrendered 79 points, the most in the UFL, while scoring 33 points, the fewest in the league. But Fassel said don't be fooled by the statistics.

"When you look at them from a coaching aspect, you look at whether they're making progress," Fassel said. "They got better from the first game to the second game and from the second game to the third game. That's what concerns me the most."

GAME DAY

LAS VEGAS VS. NEW YORK

WHEN: 4 p.m. today

WHERE: Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, N.Y.

TV/RADIO: Versus (38)

LINE: Locos -6, total 42

[bbqguy]

don't know what Jim expects from media attention, unless of course he plans to visit Yankee stadium

[clevfan]

Locomotives beat New York, have shot at championship game

Las Vegas to face California Redwoods on Nov. 14 for chance to clinch spot in championship game against Florida Tuskers

By Case Keefer
LAS VEGAS SUN
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

Despite their best player sitting out with an injury, the Las Vegas Locomotives chugged right over the New York Sentinels Wednesday in a 41-10 blowout victory.

Las Vegas scored on its first five possessions in New York. Quarterback J.P. Losman led the offense with 277 yards and two touchdowns on 27-for-37 passing.

“We just wanted to let them know we are going to come out here and not hold anything back,” Losman said on the Versus telecast of the game.

Las Vegas did it all without DeDe Dorsey, the team’s leading rusher and receiver.

Dorsey turned his ankle in Saturday’s game at Florida and sat out Wednesday as a precaution.

“I figured tonight I should rest it a little bit, so then I can come back at 100 percent and play in the rest of these games,” Dorsey said.

The Locomotives (2-2) will certainly need Dorsey for their next game. They play the California Redwoods (2-2) on Nov. 14 in San Jose, Calif., for the chance to clinch a spot in the UFL Championship Game against the Florida Tuskers.

“That championship game is where we want to be,” Las Vegas coach Jim Fassel told his team as they ran out on the field before the game. “Tonight starts it.”

Las Vegas wasted no time against New York. Nine minutes into the game, running back Marcel Shipp bruised his way into the end zone from one-yard to cap off an 80-yard drive.

“That was one of our best drives of the year,” Losman said. “Guys have got to get used to that. We’ve got to keep it going.”

Shipp added a second touchdown run in the second quarter.

Las Vegas running back Josh Scobey also stood out. Rushing and receiving combined, Scobey had a total of 87 yards and one touchdown.

The Locomotives’ depth in the backfield seemed to help them get by without Dorsey.

“Any time the backs have success, I’m happy,” Dorsey said. “I hope we keep it up.”

At the beginning of the season, it appeared Shipp and Scobey would split carries. But the team signed Dorsey after the Cincinnati Bengals cut him.

That sent Scobey down to third string on the depth chart. Scobey only carried the ball twice all season before Wednesday’s game.

After Scobey scored his touchdown in the fourth quarter, Fassel pulled him aside and praised him for his attitude.

“I told you you’d get your chance,” Fassel said to Scobey.