HARTFORD, Conn. — Omaha got some big plays from its patchwork defense and its previously sputtering ground game Saturday to pull out its second comeback victory over Hartford.
Ahman Green rushed for a season-high 76 yards on 16 carries and linebacker Alex Lewis’ interception set up the winning touchdown in the Nighthawks’ 19-14 United Football League victory before 14,056 at Rentschler Field.
“I’m proud of our guys, and I’m proud of Ahman Green,’’ Omaha coach Jeff Jagodzinski said. “I remember seeing that a lot when we were up in Green Bay. He told me we had to feed the beast, and we will.’’
Green had rushed for 101 yards in Omaha’s first three games but spearheaded a Nighthawks running game that produced a season-high 101 yards. Green had 20 yards on Omaha’s final possession when the Nighthawks were trying to protect the lead and run out the clock.
Omaha never led until Jeff Garcia threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Jeb Putzier with 6:43 remaining. Lewis’ interception and 39-yard return to the Hartford 11 set up the winning points.
“We had good and bad happen with our secondary today,’’ Jagodzinski said. “We let some guys come free but we made enough plays at the end to win. The interception was big.’’
Lewis made his first start of the season as Omaha played without three defensive starters — linebacker Nick Greisen, safety Aaron Rouse and cornerback DeMarcus Faggins — and reserve linebacker Morlon Greenwood.
The Nighthawks shifted Cato June to take Greisen’s spot in the middle, and Clinton Hart and Eric Green started in place of Rouse and Faggins.
The makeshift group intercepted UFL passing leader Josh McCown three times, recovered a decisive fumble on a bad center snap and recorded a sack.
“We continue to hurt ourselves,’’ said Hartford coach Chris Palmer, whose team lost its third straight in falling to 1-3. “We had four turnovers today. I thought it was a hard-fought game.’’
McCown threw two first-half touchdowns, the second coming with 10 seconds left in the second period, to give the Colonials a 14-7 lead.
Omaha started its comeback in the third period when Jeff Wolfert kicked a 23-yard field goal to cap a short drive that started after a short punt into the wind gave the Nighthawks the ball at the Hartford 34.
Garcia started Omaha’s next possession with a 51-yard pass to Robert Ferguson on the final play of the third quarter, when the Nighthawks had the gusty 25 mph wind at their backs.
The play gave Omaha a first down at the Hartford 27 but the drive stalled at the 12. The Nighthawks settled for a 30-yard field goal from Wolfert to trim the lead to 14-13 with 11:14 remaining.
Lewis’ interception ended Hartford’s next possession and set up the winning score. The Colonials countered by moving from their own 32 to the Omaha 30, with Lorenzo Booker ripping off runs of 10, 8, 6, 4 and 10 yards.
But on first down, the center snap sailed over the head of McCown, who was in shotgun formation. June recovered at the Hartford 47, and Ahman Green came up with two first-down runs to help run out the clock.
Omaha’s running game ranked next-to-last in the five-team league but finally got untracked against the Colonials.
“We kind of wore them down,’’ Green said. “We started running the ball consistently and guys were getting their blocks. Eventually, a crease opens up, and we had a few out there.’’
The win improved Omaha to 3-1 and allowed the Nighthawks to hold their share of first place with Las Vegas. Omaha has a bye week before returning home for an Oct. 28 showdown against the Locomotives.
“We thought we had to be here (3-1) at this point,’’ Jagodzinski said. “One of the things I’ve told our guys is that the only team we need to beat is Omaha. We sometimes beat ourselves with turnovers and stupid mistakes.’’
Omaha was penalized four times for 35 yards and had just one turnover.
“If you can win the turnover battle and the big-play battle, you’re going to win the game 90 percent of the time,’’ Jagodzinski said. “We did that today.’’
Omaha Nighthawks (3-1).....................0 7 3 9—19
Hartford Colonials (1-3)............................7 7 0 0—14
First Quarter
H: Johnson 18 yard pass from McCown (Mehlhaff kick), 10:29.
Second Quarter
O: Darling 6 yard pass from Garcia (Wolfert kick), 9:51.
H: Steptoe 10 yard pass from McCown (Mehlhaff kick), 00:10.
Third Quarter
O: Wolfert 23 yard field goal, 3:55.
Fourth Quarter
O: Wolfert 30 yard field goal, 11:14.
O: Putzier 3 yard pass from Garcia (Garcia pass failed), 6:43.
RUSHING: H, Booker 16-89, Jones 13-38, Dixon 3-9, McCown 1-0. O, Green 16-76, Clarett 6-10, Garcia 4-7, Darling 1-4, Taylor 1-2, Williams 1-2.
PASSING: H, McCown 13-26-2 142, Perrilloux 1-3-0 15. O, Garcia 18-34-2 185
RECEIVING: H, Booker 4-30, White 3-31, Carter 2-46, Steptoe 2-25, Johnson 1-18, Ghent 1-4, Schwapp 1-3.O, Ferguson 6-88, Hopkins 5-51, Hall 3-22, Brewer 1-10, Darling 1-6, Green 1-5, Putzier 1-3.
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