Defense gives Locos league-best 5-1 record

OMAHA, Neb. -- Jim Fassel had no urge to get wild and crazy on offense Thursday night when his Las Vegas defense was playing the way it was against Omaha.

The Locomotives intercepted four passes and recovered a Nighthawks fumble to set up a 24-10 victory at Rosenblatt Stadium that strengthened their hold on first place in the United Football League.

Omaha held Las Vegas to 145 yards of offense, but it wasn't enough to keep the Locos from improving to 5-1.

"I wasn't going to do anything stupid with our offense when our defense was playing so well," Fassel said. "No matter what's going on, and no matter how frustrated I might get as a play caller on offense, this is a team game. I'm going to play to their (defense's) hand."

Las Vegas scored 17 points off turnovers, including two touchdowns in the final 7½ minutes.

Linebacker Brandon Moore recovered a bad pitch at the Omaha 3-yard line, and running back Marcel Shipp scored on the next play to break a 10-10 tie.

On the Nighthawks' next possession, defensive end Eric Henderson stepped in front of a fourth-down pass from Jeff Garcia and returned the interception 36 yards for the score with 1:20 left.

The Locos also got interceptions from safeties C.J. Wallace and Jamal Lewis and cornerback Kevin Hobbs. Wallace's pick came in the Las Vegas end zone and stopped Omaha (3-2) on its first possession.

"They made plays, and I made poor decisions," Garcia said.

Lewis' interception came midway through the third quarter and set up a 36-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka that tied the score at 10.

"We play the game as a team, and we have guys that really want to win," Henderson said when asked about the confidence with which the defense is playing. "Coach takes care of us, and we work hard at practice. We do the things we need to do to be successful.

"Coach comes up with great game plans, and we buy into it. We don't turn the ball over, and we get turnovers. We just play hard."

Las Vegas' only turnover came on quarterback Drew Willy's pass from midfield at the end of the first half.

Willy, starting his second game, completed 8 of 18 passes for 98 yards and was sacked four times. Las Vegas, which had been averaging 132 yards rushing per game, managed 79 on 35 attempts.

Las Vegas' only sustained drive of the game came after Omaha had taken a 7-0 lead. Willy led a 13-play, 63-yard drive that ended with his 1-yard sneak with
5:34 left in the first half.

The win gave the Locomotives the inside track to a return trip to Rosenblatt Stadium in a month for the UFL championship game.

"This one enhanced our position in regards to the championship game, which is where we want to get to," Fassel said. "But that's second to our goal of getting better every game."

As Fassel spoke, Henderson nodded his head and said "Yes, sir!"

"If it ends up we're back here in a month," Fassel added, "that's great."