ufl
When there are postseason games with evenly-matched teams, like the United Football League will have Friday night in its Championship Game and consolation game, there will be plenty of good matchups to take in all over the field.
Which ones have the potential to be the best?
– Virginia running back Dominic Rhodes vs. Las Vegas’ run defense. The league’s leading rusher for two years running against a defense which allowed 153 rushing yards to Omaha in Week 5. Rhodes will be looked upon to carry the load with fellow veteran Adrian Peterson on injured reserve. In four games against the Locos, Rhodes has gained 219 yards and scored three touchdowns on the ground.
– Virginia quarterback Chris Greisen vs. Las Vegas’ defense. Greisen finished the regular season completing 70.1 percent of his passes, and the Locos allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 58 percent of their passes. The veteran QB completed 78.3 of his passes in Week 2 against Las Vegas. Greisen will look to complete a high percentage again vs. Locos cornerbacks Wale Dada and Marquis Floyd, each of whom have defensed three passes in 2011.
– Las Vegas quarterback Chase Clement vs. Virginia’s defense. Clement was steady for the Locos this season, passing for 773 yards and a touchdown and running for 87 yards and two scores. He also threw just one interception in 119 attempts during the regular season. Virginia’s pass defense has been stellar all season, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 46.6 of their passes while recording six interceptions and 11 sacks.
– Virginia’s defensive line vs. Las Vegas’ offensive line. Of the 11 sacks the Destroyers have this season, 7½ have come from seven different players along the defensive line. Las Vegas gave up 10 sacks in four regular-season games, including four against Virginia in Week 2.
– The ex-49er rookie QBs in Omaha. Both Omaha’s Jeremiah Masoli and Sacramento’s McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who were in 2011 training camp with the San Francisco 49ers, will get one more shot to get reps in a professional game before perhaps getting picked up by a National Football League team. Masoli threw for 809 yards and ran for 94 yards while starting three games, and Bethel-Thompson threw for 420 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in a relief appearance and a start.