Locos land in first UFL title game

Editor's note: Former UNLV wide receiver Casey Flair writes a weekly journal for the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a member of the Locomotives of the United Football League.

The Las Vegas Locomotives are in the first UFL Championship Game.

On Saturday, we played the California Redwoods, the team we defeated in Las Vegas in the first game of the UFL, and the only team that stood between us and the bid to the championship game.

California, coached by Dennis Green, was a much improved football team since we last played.

The Redwoods came out firing on all cylinders offensively and calling all the right defenses. We struggled through the first half.

However, the second half was a different story. Our defense stepped up in clutch situations, and playmakers on offense made huge plays to lead us to victory.

JP Losman showed his toughness and his ability as a leader by bouncing back from some vicious hits in the first half to throw great passes when our team needed it most.

David Kircus had a tremendous second half and ended the game with 104 yards on four catches.

There were two plays in the game that were what win championships and turn good teams into great teams.

On third down and goal, down 10-6, JP scrambled, eluded two defenders, reversed field and found Andrea Thurman by the right front pylon. JP put the ball where only Thurman could catch it, and Thurman made an amazing catch, keeping one knee in bounds while falling out of bounds for a touchdown and give the Locos a 13-10 lead.

The Redwoods had no ambition of rolling over, as they took the ball and drove the field all the way down to our 2-yard line.

The second play I was referring to happened here.

California’s running back and leading UFL rusher C. Ross had been running wild all day.

While fighting to reach the end zone, he was hit by two Locos, the ball was jarred loose and fell into the hands of our safety Nick Turnbull.

We proceeded to drive down the field and kicked a field goal to extend the lead to 16-10.

The Redwoods still knew what was on the line and moved down the field on our defense.

Now on our 20-yard line with less than 20 seconds left, California QB Shane Boyd threw a pass, which was tipped and intercepted by Turnbull.

The story of our defense in this game was a bend but don’t break mentality.

We played a tremendous second half as a team and came out victorious, to clinch the second spot in the championship game.

However, we have one more regular season game this Friday against the New York Sentinels.

This is a game for us to perfect what we do and to ultimately prepare for the inaugural UFL championship game at Sam Boyd the day after Thanksgiving.

The Sentinels will be coming to Las Vegas without any wins, yet they are professionals and will come ready to play.

Practice this week has not been laid back or relaxed, actually the complete opposite, with Coach Jim Fassel making sure that the team knows the importance of momentum.

Once again we are back at Sam Boyd, Friday at 6 p.m.