The Las Vegas Locomotives kept themselves in contention tonight for a berth in the United Football League’s championship game.  At Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium, the Locos defeated the New York Sentinels 41-10 in front of 4,392 fans.  A complete box score can be obtained here.

Locos running back Marcel Shipp rushed for two first-half touchdowns as the Locos built a 24-7 halftime lead in a game they dominated from start to finish. Quarterback J.P. Losman added two touchdowns through the air to help the Locos even their record at 2-2 and pull into a second-place tie with the California Redwoods in the UFL standings.

Las Vegas and California will meet next Saturday in San Jose, Calif., in a pivotal matchup that will go a long way in determining which team will face the first-place Florida Tuskers in the inaugural UFL Championship Game Nov. 27.

The Locos scored on seven consecutive possessions after punting on their opening series, and went on to amass 321 yards of total offense, including 262 passing yards. Shipp started Las Vegas’ first scoring drive with an 8-yard gain and Losman found his rhythm in the passing game, completing three tosses on the drive to wide receiver David Kircus. Shipp scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

After forcing a three-and-out on New York’s next possession, Las Vegas started in excellent field position courtesy of Samie Parker’s 16-yard punt return. Losman drove his team from the New York 47 yard line into field goal range, and kicker Graham Gano converted a 44-yard field goal to increase the Las Vegas lead to 10-0.

Shipp’s second touchdown run of the half came on a 6-yard dash with 10:17 remaining in the second quarter. The 54-yard march was keyed by three Losman completions for 43 yards, before Shipp took over with runs of 4 and 6 yards to cap the drive and push the lead to 17-0.

New York finally found its offensive rhythm on the ensuing possession, putting together an impressive 14-play, 83-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ingle Martin to Steve Sanders on a fade route to the left side of the end zone. The drive was aided by two 15-yard penalties on Las Vegas, the first of which nullified a third-down stop back at New York’s own 26-yard line. Newly acquired running back Shannon Woods carried the load for much of the drive with six rushes for 19 yards, while Martin completed all five of his pass attempts to four different receivers.

The Locos, however, came back with a quick-strike scoring drive before the half to push their lead to 24-7. Moving the ball entirely through the air, Las Vegas was able to drive 68 yards in just 1:30, and scored on a 14-yard pass from Losman to tight end Adam Bergen with 53 second remaining in the half.

The two teams traded field goals in the third quarter, as each team’s only possession consumed nearly the entire quarter. The Sentinels’ field goal, a 38-yarder from Piotr Czech, narrowed the gap to 24-10.  The Locos’ Gano converted from 49 yards with 13 seconds remaining in the period.

Any hopes of a New York comeback were dashed when Las Vegas added two touchdowns in a 2:33 span in the fourth quarter, the first via a 17-yard Losman touchdown pass to running back Josh Scobey. The Locos’ Trey Young then closed out the scoring by returning an interception 75 yards for a touchdown with 6:45 to play.

Losman completed 27 of 37 pass attempts for 277 yards and two touchdowns, while Kircus led all pass catchers with six receptions for 63 yards. Scobey added five receptions for 73 yards as 10 different Locos players caught passes.

The Sentinels conclude their home schedule next Thursday in Hartford as they host the undefeated Florida Tuskers.