Tuskers bring momentum to UFL title game

In an eight-game football season, time isn't on a struggling team's side.

But the Florida Tuskers knew if they could get on a normal schedule, they had the talent to make it back to the United Football League championship game.

The Tuskers overcame a 1-2 start, closed the regular season by winning three straight games despite losing starting quarterback Brooks Bollinger to injury and are looking to finish with their first title when they meet the Locomotives in the league title game Saturday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

"We had a tough first three weeks," Tuskers coach Jay Gruden said. "We opened with back-to-back road games in Vegas and Sacramento, then had to play Vegas at home on a short week. But we stayed the course. Nobody lost faith. We knew we had the talent, and once we got back on a normal schedule, we thought we'd be all right."

The Tuskers, who tied Las Vegas for the league's best record at 5-3, have done it with an effective running game led by Dominic Rhodes; reliable kicking from Nick Novak, the UFL's special teams player of the year; an opportunistic defense; and solid play from Chris Greisen, who replaced Bollinger and has guided the team to three straight wins.

Rhodes, who rushed for a UFL-best 557 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, has been a key to the team's resurgence. He's making positive yardage on first down and not putting Greisen in predictable situations on second-and-long.

Greisen is more mobile than Bollinger and is able to buy time and extend plays. It will be a challenge for the Locos' defense to pressure Greisen and force him to get rid of the ball sooner than he wants.

"I've got great weapons to work with," said Greisen, who took over after Bollinger suffered rib, thumb and neck injuries in a 21-17 loss to Sacramento on Oct. 21. "Our offensive line has jelled nicely, and I'm on the same page with Coach Gruden when it comes to the play-calling."

Florida leads the UFL in turnover margin at plus-6. In the past two games, the Tuskers were plus-3 in turnover margin.

Novak accounted for 69 points, making all 24 of his extra-point tries while going 15-for-18 on field-goal attempts with a long of 54 yards.

Add it up, and Gruden has everything a coach would want from his team heading into a championship game.

"Right now it would seem we have the momentum," Gruden said. "But come Saturday, you never know. It's a one-game situation."

■ NOTES -- The Locos have beefed up their defensive line with the return of tackle Ross Kolodziej, after putting him on injured reserve when he hurt his right knee against Hartford on Oct. 23. Defensive tackle Gabe Long was released to make roster room for Kolodziej. ... Saturday's forecast calls for sunny skies, temperatures in the low 40s at kickoff and winds at 16 mph. ... The Las Vegas Hilton has made Florida a 3½-point favorite with the total at 42.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.