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		Mountain Lions cook the Tusker’s bacon By Greg Lee and Tony Renteria September 25, 2010

	Sacramento, CA – Hornet Stadium welcomed professional football back to Sacramento after a 16 year absence as the Mountain Lions defeated the Florida Tuskers 24-20. Sacramento handed the Florida their first regular season defeat in franchise history. The Mountain Lions drew a very respectable estimated crowd of 20,000. It was reported that the Mountain Lions had reportedly sold over 10,000 tickets prior to the opening kick-off. Pro football last graced the Sacramento stage in 1994 when the CFL Gold Miners called Hornet Stadium home. The Miners were the figurative descendants of the World League of American Football Sacramento Surge, which closed up shop in 1992. The Mountain Lions have some big shoes to fill if they want to live up to the success of the Surge, who won the final championship for the WFAL. Daunte Culpepper led the Mountain Lions to a come-from-behind victory, on a last minute 70 yard touchdown drive, capped off by a 36 yard pass to Joe West. Culpepper made his living all night throwing to wide outs at the line of scrimmage and stretching the field. On the night Culpepper finished with 374 yards on 26 of 42 passing, with two touchdowns and one interception. The Sacramento touchdown came with 30 seconds remaining in a hard fought ball game. Culpepper kept the drive alive with a one yard Quarterback sneak on fourth and one. The Mountain Lions held the Tuskers to only a field goal in the first quarter. Both teams moved the ball and the former NFL QBs traded interceptions. Florida scored on their opening drive, when they drove down to the Sacramento 30, where Nick Novak put in a 48 yard field goal. The Tuskers dominated the league last season posting an undefeated record into the post-season, where they the Las Vegas Locos handed them their first loss in the UFL Championship game. The Tuskers opened the 2010 season with a 27-20 bittersweet win over the Locos. Quarterback Brooks Bollinger, finished the game 23 of 41 for 328 yards, one touchdown and one sack. Sacramento put the first touchdown on the board when Culpepper hit Cortez Hankton on third and four from the 14, putting the Mountain Lions up 7-3 six minutes into the second quarter. Bollinger responded a 14 yard TD strike to Hankton with 1:15 left in the half, to put the Tuskers up 7-10. The Mountain Lions didn’t go quietly into the half, with Culpepper leading the team from their own end zone to the Tusker 38. The M’Lions found themselves pinned deep after a crushing sack, but Culpepper delivered a strike to Taye Biddle streaking down the sideline. Unfortunately for Sacramento, the drive stalled on the next play, but Coach Green definitely sent a powerful message to his team and the Sacramento fans. Confident in their defense’s ability to stop the M’Lions, Florida turned to Aveion Cason to pick up one yard on fourth down, but was turned away and Sacramento took over on their on 16. Culpepper led the M’Lions to the Florida 36, to end the half. Two plays into the Fourth Quarter, Fabrizio Scaccia kicked a 54 yard field goal. Scaccia, who kicked a 68 yard field goal in April 2009 for the semi-pro St. Lucie Bobcats, is no stranger to kicking long distance. Scaccia’s field goal ties the UFL record which was set last week by the Tusker’s Novak. Novak surpassed Graham Gano’s 53 yarder last season. The Mountain Lions tied the game at 17 with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Culpepper completed a 35 yard pass play to Joe West to the one yard line and then delivered an over-the-shoulder touchdown to Tight End Darrell Strong on second and goal. Six minutes into the third quarter, the Tuskers shocked the crowd when Bollinger delivered a 34 yard strike to Hankton on fourth and eight from the Mountain Lions’ 35. The play was originally ruled at touchdown, but was overturned upon review after Coach Green challenged the play. Former NFL RB, Dominic Rhodes walked into the end zone on the next play and Florida extended their lead to 17-7. Culpepper and the M’Lions looked to strike right back with a long 31yard pass-play play to Otis Amey to move the team down the field. However, like most of their drives the Mountain Lions ran out of steam before being able to convert the play into points. Culpeppers’ quick-strike and downfield passing might be the foundation of Sacramento’s offensive future, wasn’t able to click long enough to sustain a drive. The addition of Culpepper as a weapon is a sharp departure from the Redwoods offense of last season, which relied heavily on Cory Ross out of the backfield. Ross, who led the UFL in rushing last season has been a non-factor in both of the Mountain Lions games this season. Novak put the Tuskers back ahead, with a 30 yard field goal with just under three minutes remaining in regulation. The drive was highlighted by a Bollinger completion to Chas Gessner on third and nine for a 36 yard gain to the Mountain Lions 36. The Tuskers dodged a bullet when the next play seemingly resulted in a fumble, but was overturned on the field.