Sacramento Mountain Lions lose in final seconds 27-26 against Hartford
Mountain Lions vs. Colonials 1:Mountain Lions’ defensive back Kelly Malveaux attempts to tackle Colonials’ running back Tory Harrison. Hartford defeated Sacramento 27-26 Saturday at Hornet Stadium.:Brittany Bradley – State Hornet
October 31, 2010
The Sacramento Mountain Lions lost in the final seconds of the game 27-26 to the Hartford Colonials Saturday night at Hornet Stadium.
Not only did the Mountain Lions lose their late lead, this loss ties Sacramento (2-4) with the Colonials (2-4) for last place in the UFL.
In the heart of a crowded playoff race a win Saturday night would have been a bright ray of hope for the Mountain Lions, but even after two missed field goals by Colonials kicker Taylor Mehlhaff the Mountain Lions still couldn’t get the win.
With seven and a half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Mountain Lions running back Cory Ross took the hand off from the Hartford one yard line into the end-zone to put the Mountain Lions up 26-21.
The Mountain Lions attempted the two-point conversion but were unable to covert. Had the Mountain Lions kicked the extra point the outcome of the one point game may have been different.
“I think what happens, no matter what you do you’re going to be wrong,” said Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green. “Go for one you’re going to be wrong. Go for two you don’t make it you’re going to be wrong.”
The problems late in the fourth quarter for the Mountain Lions stand in strong contrast to their opening drive. The Mountain Lions took the ball to start the game and after a 40-yard return by Aaron Woods the Mountain Lions drove 59-yards down the field where Daunte Culpepper connected with John David Washington for the touchdown.
“We were talking about it all week we haven’t scored a touchdown in the first drive all year, which is absurd,” Culpepper said. “We went down and got seven. And we still moved the ball we just slowed down in the red zone for whatever reason.”
The Mountain Lions did continue to keep the ball moving through the air (240 yards passing), but on the ground league leader in total rushing yards Cory Ross didn’t put up his usual numbers (53 yards rushing).
“It’s all because of (Culpepper) that I’m leading the league” Ross said.
The Mountain Lions could have used a stronger performance from Ross late in the game.
Next up the Mountain Lions take on the 5-1 Las Vegas Locomotives at Las Vegas. Two weeks ago when the two met in Sacramento the Locomotives took the game 26-3 as Culpepper tossed three interceptions and the Mountain Lions combined for six turnovers.
AJ Taylor can be reached at [email protected]
