Having seen how Omaha performed in a must-win game, it's difficult to imagine what kind of effort the Nighthawks might put forth in Friday's meaningless regular-season finale against Florida.
They needed a victory Saturday at Sacramento to keep hopes alive of reaching the Nov. 27 United Football League championship game. Instead, it was the Mountain Lions who emerged with slim hopes intact after administering a 41-3 beating.
Sacramento outgained Omaha 485-175 and owned a 10-0 lead before the Nighthawks ran their first offensive play. They gave up a touchdown just before halftime to fall behind 20-3, then absorbed a back-breaking blow when former Nebraska running back Cory Ross ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run on the second play of the third quarter.
Omaha coach Jeff Jagodzinski was understandably upset, not to mention a little shell-shocked, after watching Sacramento record the largest margin of victory in the two-year old UFL.
“We have to find a way to block better, tackle better, we just have to play better," Jagodzinski said at his postgame press conference. “Believe me, it was something that I wasn't thrilled with out there.
“We're not playing disciplined ball right now. We're turning the ball over, and you can't do that. Here's the positive. We have one more game left, and we get to go back and play in front of the best crowd in this league. I'm sure our guys will do the very best they can for our fans."
Jagodzinski deserves credit for trying to pull any positives out of the collapse that has seen Omaha lose its past three games to fall out of championship contention. The Nighthawks hit the season's midpoint tied for first with a 3-1 record.
Since coming back from a bye week, Omaha dropped a 24-10 home decision to Las Vegas, was humbled in a 31-14 loss to Florida and then humiliated by Sacramento. In addition to lacking discipline in their play, the Nighthawks appear to be fighting some dissension in the ranks.
Television cameras caught several instances of teammates arguing among themselves during the game. A sideline reporter during the national broadcast said two defensive players had to be separated after coming off the field following a Sacramento score.
That doesn't bode well for Friday's final regular-season game at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Tuskers will show up knowing that they need a win to wrap up a spot opposite Las Vegas in the title game, which will be played Nov. 27 at Rosenblatt.
The Nighthawks will show up knowing that they'll be packing up the next day and heading for home.
“We go into every game preparing to win," Jagodzinski said. “Next week will be no different. We need to play better as a team. We just have to do our job. Guys don't have to do anybody else's job, just their job.
“When you do that, you can be successful. When you don't, you won't."
The Nighthawks will pick up some extra support as the Mountain Lions will be rooting for them to win. Saturday's game was Sacramento's final contest of the regular season, and the Mountains Lions ended 4-4.
In order to play in the championship game, Sacramento needs Omaha to defeat Florida to leave all three teams with 4-4 records. The Mountain Lions would get the championship berth because it owns tiebreakers with the other two teams.
This is Sacramento's bye week, and the players packed up after beating Omaha and returned home.
“We'll watch the game on Friday and we'll root for Omaha, hoping that they can step up and play well at home," Sacramento coach Dennis Green said. “If that happens, we'd reconvene in Omaha.
“We're optimistic and hopeful that we'll get another chance to play. Right now, we're a pretty dangerous team."
After a 1-3 start, Sacramento won three of its final four games. A big reason for their success has been Ross, who led the UFL in rushing in 2009 and set a league record for pass receptions this season.
Against Omaha, Ross rushed 11 times for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught six passes for 39 yards, leaving him with 56 receptions for the season.
“Cory is a complete player," Green said. “He blocks very well, he runs the ball well, he catches it well and he runs well after making the catch. We're so proud of the way the guy plays.
“He gets better as the season goes on. He did for us last year. I think it's part of being from Nebraska, where things are hard-nosed and tough when November comes around. It's cold, the ground's hard. Cory always played well at the end of the year there, and he still does."
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