Second-half rally goes for naught as Locos fall to Sacramento

An announced season-high crowd of 13,622 showed up at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday night for the first-place Locomotives' final home game of the year.

But last-place Sacramento crashed the party, stunning Las Vegas 27-24 on Fabrizio Scaccia's 44-yard field goal with
1:32 remaining.

Sacramento quarterback Daunte Culpepper converted a key third down on the game-winning drive, firing a 40-yard pass across the middle to receiver Rod Windsor from his 29-yard line.

Locos quarterback Chase Clement, who rallied Las Vegas from an 18-point halftime deficit after replacing starter Drew Willy to start the third quarter, fumbled on the Locos' final possession.

The loss ended a five-game win streak by defending United Football League champion Las Vegas (5-2), which already has clinched a spot in this year's title game.

Trailing 21-3 at halftime, the Locos stormed back to tie the score at 24 as Clement threw for a touchdown and ran for two others.

The Locos intercepted Culpepper for the third time on Sacramento's first possession of the second half. Six plays later, Clement found wideout Tab Perry in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Las Vegas made it 21-17 on its next possession, when Clement sprinted into the end zone for a 7-yard score on third-and-goal.

Scaccia kicked a 45-yard field goal with 8:38 left to put Sacramento up 24-17.

But Clement drove the Locos 54 yards in eight plays and capped the march with a 10-yard touchdown run.

Running back Cory Ross scored two first-half touchdowns for Sacramento, and Culpepper added another for the Mountain Lions (3-4).

The Locos lost three of four first-half fumbles.

Ross scored on a 3-yard run on Sacramento's first possession of the game to give the Mountain Lions a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Culpepper fired a 54-yard strike to Windsor during the 10-play, 93-yard drive.