2011 UFL Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The 2011 UFL Championship Game was the third championship game of the United Football League and took place on October 21, 2011, the concluding weekend of the league's truncated third season
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
's ongoing player lockout
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
and 2010
. Coached by Jim Fassel
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
, the 2010 title game
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
The 2011 UFL Championship Game was the third championship game of the United Football League and took place on October 21, 2011, the concluding weekend of the league's truncated third season
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
's ongoing player lockout
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
and 2010
. Coached by Jim Fassel
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
, the 2010 title game
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
The 2011 UFL Championship Game was the third championship game of the United Football League and took place on October 21, 2011, the concluding weekend of the league's truncated third season
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
's ongoing player lockout
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
and 2010
. Coached by Jim Fassel
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
, the 2010 title game
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
Background
The date of the 2011 championship game was the subject of ongoing upheaval in the UFL both before and during its 2011 season2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's ongoing player lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
2009 UFL season
The 2009 United Football League season -- referred to by the professional American football league as the UFL Premiere Season -- was the inaugural season of the United Football League...
and 2010
2010 UFL season
The 2010 United Football League season was the second season of the United Football League. The regular season ran from September 18 to November 20 and featured five teams playing eight games each over a 10-week span. The 2010 season was a relatively competitive one as no team won more than five...
. Coached by Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
, the 2010 title game
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
Game Summary
The Championship Game was dominated by defense, specifically that of the Destroyers. On the 3rd offensive drive of the game (Las Vegas' 2nd), Virginia strong safety Aaron RouseAaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
Danny Baugher
Erle Daniel Baugher, IV [] is an American football punter for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
Scoring Summary
{| class="wikitable"|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
|
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
The 2011 UFL Championship Game was the third championship game of the United Football League and took place on October 21, 2011, the concluding weekend of the league's truncated third season
2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
Background
The date of the 2011 championship game was the subject of ongoing upheaval in the UFL both before and during its 2011 season2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's ongoing player lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
2009 UFL season
The 2009 United Football League season -- referred to by the professional American football league as the UFL Premiere Season -- was the inaugural season of the United Football League...
and 2010
2010 UFL season
The 2010 United Football League season was the second season of the United Football League. The regular season ran from September 18 to November 20 and featured five teams playing eight games each over a 10-week span. The 2010 season was a relatively competitive one as no team won more than five...
. Coached by Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
, the 2010 title game
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
Game Summary
The Championship Game was dominated by defense, specifically that of the Destroyers. On the 3rd offensive drive of the game (Las Vegas' 2nd), Virginia strong safety Aaron RouseAaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
Danny Baugher
Erle Daniel Baugher, IV [] is an American football punter for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
Scoring Summary
{| class="wikitable"|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
0
|7
|-|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
0
|14
|-|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
3
|14
|-|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
The 2011 UFL Championship Game was the third championship game of the United Football League and took place on October 21, 2011, the concluding weekend of the league's truncated third season
2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. The game was won by the Virginia Destroyers, who, in front of a standing-room-only home crowd at Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
, defeated the 2-time defending champion Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
17–3, spurred by the performance of strong safety and game MVP Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. The win gave Destroyers coach Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, notorious for his failure to reach the Super Bowl in his NFL coaching career despite strong regular season statistics, his first championship as a professional head coach and his first professional championship since the 1965 American Football League Championship Game, Schottenheimer's rookie season as a player.
Background
The date of the 2011 championship game was the subject of ongoing upheaval in the UFL both before and during its 2011 season2011 UFL season
The 2011 UFL season was the third season of the United Football League. The season, which was affected by franchise shifts and schedule delays due in part to the UFL's lingering financial issues , began on September 15, 2011 and would have run through October 28, with a championship game set for the...
. At the start of the offseason, the UFL had six teams: the Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
, Florida Tuskers, Hartford Colonials, and expansion Virginia Destroyers. The leagued had hoped for a ten-game season involving those six teams that would begin in August with the title game in late October or early November, on the premise that the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's ongoing player lockout
2011 NFL lockout
The 2011 National Football League lockout was a lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25. It occurred primarily during the offseason for 18 weeks and 4 days...
would extend into its preseason and early regular season, which takes place in August and September. Plans would start to shift in January 2011, when the Tuskers folded and its players and staff shifted to Virginia to form the Destroyers. The UFL's new plans for a five-team season, starting in August and ending with the title game the weekend of October 21-23, would be delayed in July and changed in August, when the Colonials were folded, the NFL's lockout was resolved, and the UFL couldn't reach a national TV partnership.
The UFL's 2011 season would finally begin on September 15, with the Championship Game set for the weekend of November 4-5. By mid-October, when five of the season's seven weeks were played, the UFL announced the cancellation of the last two weeks of the season and moved up the title game to the night of October 21 -- ironically the weekend originally slated for the title game in the previous five-team plan. Virginia and Las Vegas, who shared first place at the time of cancellation (with identical 3-1 records) were awarded berths in the Championship Game. Using similar criteria employed to determine the 2010 Championship Game's
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
host venue (an inexact formula based on team success and fan support), Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Virginia Beach Sportsplex
-External links:[]Category:Sports venues in Hampton RoadsCategory:United Football League venuesCategory:Soccer venues in VirginiaCategory:Sports in Virginia Beach, VirginiaCategory:Visitor attractions in Virginia Beach, Virginia...
was announced as the 2011 title game's venue; the Destroyers attracted crowds in the 12,000 for their two home games, while only 6,500 came to Las Vegas' lone home game on October 8 (the Locos' final two home games were among the games cancelled by the league).
On the field, the play of the Locomotives and Destroyers (the former Florida Tuskers) were on par with their performances in 2009
2009 UFL season
The 2009 United Football League season -- referred to by the professional American football league as the UFL Premiere Season -- was the inaugural season of the United Football League...
and 2010
2010 UFL season
The 2010 United Football League season was the second season of the United Football League. The regular season ran from September 18 to November 20 and featured five teams playing eight games each over a 10-week span. The 2010 season was a relatively competitive one as no team won more than five...
. Coached by Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
, the Locos were led by quarterback Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
, the 2010 title game
2010 UFL Championship Game
The 2010 UFL Championship Game was the concluding game of the United Football League's 2010 season. The game was staged at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and saw the Las Vegas Locomotives repeat as league champions, defeating the Florida Tuskers by a...
MVP, and the top-ranked passing defense in the UFL. The Destroyers, under the guidance of 2011 Coach of the Year Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, were led by running back Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, the league's leading rusher, top scorer, and Offensive Player of the Year.
Game Summary
The Championship Game was dominated by defense, specifically that of the Destroyers. On the 3rd offensive drive of the game (Las Vegas' 2nd), Virginia strong safety Aaron RouseAaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
put the first points on the board with a return of a Chase Clement
Chase Clement
Chase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 8:32 remaining in the 1st quarter; it was Rouse's 2nd of 3 interceptions in the game. Indeed, Virginia's defense would hound Clement all night; the Locos' quarterback "just couldn't make it happen" (his post-game comment) was held to 93 yards passing, sacked 6 times, threw the 3 INT's to Rouse, and failed to get a 1st down until 7:45 remained in the 3rd quarter.
The Destroyers’ offense fared a little better than the Locos'. On the 3rd play of the 2nd quarter, Virginia's Clifton Smith returned a Danny Baugher
Danny Baugher
Erle Daniel Baugher, IV [] is an American football punter for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
punt 60 yards to the Las Vegas 7; 3 plays later, Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
would score on a 2-yard run for a 14-0 Destroyers lead. After a 32-yard Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
field goal (the Locos' only points of the night) made it 14-3, Virginia would respond on the next drive with a Delbert Alvarado field goal (from 21 yards out) to cement the final score. The Destroyers defense would stand down in the 2nd half and secure the team the UFL title and deny the Locos a championship three-peat.
Scoring Summary
{| class="wikitable"|-
!Team
!Qtr
!Scoring Info
!style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
!style="background:#890034;"|VA
|-
|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|1st
|Aaron Rouse
Aaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
46-yd interception return for TD (Delbert Alvarado kick)
|
0
|7
|-|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Rhodes
Dominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
2-yd TD run (Delbert Alvarado kick) (2 plays, 7 yards, 0:42)
|
0
|14
|-|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|LV
|2nd
|Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser
Clint Stitser is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as a street free agent in 2010...
32-yd Field Goal (4 plays, 6 yards, 1:24)
|
3
|14
|-|style="background:#890034;"|VA
|2nd
|Delbert Alvarado 21-yd Field Goal (12 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
|style="background:#A8A9AD;"|
3
|style="background:#890034;"|
|style="background:#890034;"|
17
|}
Passing Leaders
Receiving Leaders
Defensive Leaders
was awarded the UFL Championship Game's most valuable player award after the game. Rouse, a Virginia Beach native and former Virginia Tech star, spearheaded the Destroyers' defensive performance in the game, with 3 interceptions (the 2nd of which he returned for the first touchdown of the game), 4 tackles, and 2 pass break-ups. Rouse's performance came during a difficult personal week, when he suffered the loss of his 19-year-old cousin in a shooting incident.
, TV coverage of the 2011 UFL Championship Game was limited to regional coverage by Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
, with Brent Harris and Jerry Glanville
calling the game. The broadcast was simulcast online through the UFL's partnership with Veetle. Radio coverage was provided by the Locos' and Destroyers' respective radio outlets, KBAD
and WVSP-FM.
and Sacramento Mountain Lions, was also set for October 21 and played concurrently with the championship game. The game, played at Omaha's TD Ameritrade Park, was one of the games cancelled by the UFL (it had been scheduled for October 28) and had a high demand (15,000 tickets were sold); rather than distributing a mass refund, the UFL moved the game to October 21 while honoring tickets for the October 28 game. In front of a crowd of 10,123, the Mountain Lions won in overtime, 25-19, thanks to a 23-yard touchdown run by running back Cory Ross
with 1:36 left in the extra period.
|}
Statistical Leaders
Rushing Leaders- LV: Hakim Hill, 43 yards on 9 carries
- VA: Dominic RhodesDominic RhodesDominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, 96 yards on 27 carries
Passing Leaders
- LV: Chase ClementChase ClementChase Austin Clement is a professional American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He played college football for Rice.-College career:...
, 7-26, 93 yards, 3 INT's - VA: Chris GreisenChris GreisenChristopher J. Greisen is an American football quarterback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State...
, 21-31, 154 yards, 1 INT
Receiving Leaders
- LV: Samie ParkerSamie ParkerSamie Jabar Parker is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, 2 catches for 27 yards - VA: Dominic RhodesDominic RhodesDominic Dondrell Rhodes is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He attended Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
, 4 catches for 9 yards
Defensive Leaders
- LV: Wale Dada, 8.5 tackles (8 solo, 1 assisted); Brandon Moore, 2 tackles (4 assisted), 1 INT
- VA: Tony TaylorTony Taylor (American football)Tony Taylor is an American football linebacker for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Georgia....
, 4.5 tackles (2 solo, 5 assisted); Aaron RouseAaron RouseAaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, 4 tackles (2 solo, 4 assisted), 3 INT's, 1 TD
Most Valuable Player
Virginia Destroyers strong safety Aaron RouseAaron Rouse
Aaron Roosevelt Rouse is an American football safety for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
was awarded the UFL Championship Game's most valuable player award after the game. Rouse, a Virginia Beach native and former Virginia Tech star, spearheaded the Destroyers' defensive performance in the game, with 3 interceptions (the 2nd of which he returned for the first touchdown of the game), 4 tackles, and 2 pass break-ups. Rouse's performance came during a difficult personal week, when he suffered the loss of his 19-year-old cousin in a shooting incident.
Broadcasting
Unlike the league's first two championship games, which were broadcast by former TV partner VersusVersus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
, TV coverage of the 2011 UFL Championship Game was limited to regional coverage by Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic is a regional sports network that delivers live-game coverage and sports news and entertainment television programming to more than 4.7 million households throughout the Washington, D.C...
, with Brent Harris and Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville is a former American football player and current head coach of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League, former NASCAR driver and owner, and sportscaster in the United States. He served the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986 to 1990 and the Atlanta Falcons from...
calling the game. The broadcast was simulcast online through the UFL's partnership with Veetle. Radio coverage was provided by the Locos' and Destroyers' respective radio outlets, KBAD
KBAD
KBAD AM 920 is a Fox Sports Radio affiliate and local sports station licensed to Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned by Lotus Broadcasting. KBAD was formerly known as KORK-AM prior to 1997.-KORK:...
and WVSP-FM.
Consolation Game
As part of the UFL's cancellation announcement of its 2011 regular season, a "consolation game" involving the league's third- and fourth-place teams, the Omaha NighthawksOmaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
and Sacramento Mountain Lions, was also set for October 21 and played concurrently with the championship game. The game, played at Omaha's TD Ameritrade Park, was one of the games cancelled by the UFL (it had been scheduled for October 28) and had a high demand (15,000 tickets were sold); rather than distributing a mass refund, the UFL moved the game to October 21 while honoring tickets for the October 28 game. In front of a crowd of 10,123, the Mountain Lions won in overtime, 25-19, thanks to a 23-yard touchdown run by running back Cory Ross
Cory Ross
Cory Ross is an American football running back for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Nebraska.-Early years:Ross attended Thomas Jefferson High School. While in high...
with 1:36 left in the extra period.
