Las Vegas Tops California in UFL's Worthwhile Debut

While it took J.P. Losman a half to get it right, the UFL looked competent from the start.

Losman, a starter last season with the Buffalo Bills, led the Las Vegas Locomotives on a slew of clock-chewing marches after halftime en route to a 30-17 victory over the California Redwoods in Thursday's debut for the UFL.

Dede Dorsey ran for two touchdowns and Graham Gano added three field goals for the Locos, who started the game in an 11-point hole and ended it by dousing coach Jim Fassel with a celebratory Gatorade bath.

"I definitely learned a lot in Baltimore," said Gano, who was in camp with the Ravens before taking a spot in the UFL. "Thanks to them."

And that presumably is the collective attitude of the players in the UFL, which will be a league of opportunity for those looking for a promotion to the NFL when the new league concludes its first season on Thanksgiving weekend.

Thursday night's game details mattered little, with the most important part of the night coming at the game's outset, when it became obvious that the play on the field was, for the most part, solid.

However, the league's debut comes at a crowded point on the sports calendar, making it unclear if anyone was around to watch that competitive play. The attendance at UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium was announced at 14,209, though VERSUS broadcast the game live, providing a national-TV audience with an opportunity to witness the festivities.

A recognizable name with an NFL pedigree, Losman represents what is watchable about the UFL -- a four-team league with nearly half its players boasting NFL experience.

Losman, however, looked headed for the practice squad in the first half, when he repeatedly sailed passes over open receivers and held the ball too long in the pocket. He fumbled twice (one lost) within three plays in the second quarter.

But Losman turned it around with two TD passes -- one to end the first half, another to start the second -- to give the Locos the lead for good at 17-14 early in the third quarter.

Las Vegas, which had four drives of 10 plays or more, sealed the win late in the fourth, when Dorsey - a last-second cut this offseason by the Cincinnati Bengals -- capped an 11-play, 86-yard drive with a 9-yard score with 2:18 remaining to provide the final margin.

The Redwoods, coached by Dennis Green, did not resemble their leader's explosive squads with the Minnesota Vikings, punting three times and scoring just three points in the second half.

In the first half, Gano scored the first points in UFL history on a 33-yard field goal. California quarterback Shane Boyd then scampered in for the league's first touchdown just four minutes into the second quarter. Cory Ross added a four-yard score to give the Redwoods an early 14-3 advantage.

Gano, after his team took a second-half lead, added two more field goals, including a 53-yard boot to set the stage for Dorsey's final run.

Aiming to separate itself from recent alternative football leagues that have flamed out, the UFL did little to change the appearance of the game -- aside from fire-engine red uniforms for the officials -- but did provide more access.

Sideline reporters interviewed players right after important plays and live microphones broadcast some play-calls from the sideline before they took place.

Boyd, though on the losing end, was asked what it meant to be the owner of the UFL's first touchdown.

"I hope it's a Jeopardy question," he said.

Another one for the quiz show: After the first game, what is the UFL?

Answer? Adequate football.