Sports Radio Service


		Redwoods Fall to the Tuskers By Greg Lee & Tony Renteria November 19, 2009

	San Francisco – The Florida Tuskers defeated the Redwoods 34-27 in front of a raucous crowd of 6,831 at AT&T Park to wrap up the season undefeated in the inaugural UFL season. The Redwoods came into Thursday night’s inaugural season finale playing for pride. Hoping to end their season at .500 (3-3), California played host to the crème of the crop, the undefeated Florida Tuskers. The Tuskers were the first team to clinch an invitation to the Championship game next in Las Vegas. The Tuskers lost the toss but a recovered onside kick and excellent first series to grab a 3-0 lead. The Redwoods forced a turnover, when Bollinger’s pass was tipped at the line and big tackle Jason Stewart grabbed the wounded-duck and rambled 49-yards to the end zone. Florida re-captured the lead on Andrew Pinnock’s one yard rush. Michael Pittman opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 1-yard rush to give the Tuskers a 17-10 lead. The Redwoods answered with a 7-yard pass from Boyd to Doug Gabriel. The Tuskers drove down the field again, but the Redwoods’ goal line stand forced another Matt Bryant field goal to give them the lead. With time running out in the second half, Boyd rolled to his right and found Tight End Branden Ledbetter in the endzone from 8 yards out, to give California a 24-20 lead going into the half. The Redwoods extended their lead to 20-27, on Douglass field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Tuskers tied the game 27-27 on a ##-yard laser from Bollinger to Foster, between two defenders. California was marching decisively down the field, poised on the Florida 33 with eight minutes left in the game, when Darius Vinnett stepped in front of Boyd’s pass and broke downfield. Only a quick pursuit by Boyd tripped Vinnett at the Redwood’s 8. Pittman capped off the drive with a one-yard lunge to give the Tuskers a 34-27 lead with 6:00 minutes left in the fourth. The Redwoods’ season effectively ended on a sack of Boyd on third and eight, which forced California to punt from mid-field. California was given a second-life, when with the game seemingly in hand, Pittman fumbled on a third and short, with California’s Jason Stewart recovering on the Florida 47, but the Redwood’s returned the favor when Boyd was sacked and fumbled the ball.