The Florida Tuskers completed their undefeated run through the United Football League’s regular season last night by defeating the California Redwoods 34-27 before 6,837 fans at AT&T Park in San Francisco.  A complete game book can be obtained here.

The Tuskers will take their 6-0 record into the UFL Championship Game Friday, November 27th against the 4-2 Las Vegas Locomotives at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (PST).

Michael Pittman’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with six minutes remaining in the game proved to be the game-winner, though the outcome remained uncertain with less than two minutes to play. The Redwoods gave themselves one more chance to tie or win the game when defensive end Earl Cochran forced a fumble by Pittman, and nose tackle Jason Stewart recovered at the Florida 47-yard line.

After Redwoods quarterback Shane Boyd threw incomplete and then connected for 3 yards to wide receiver Glenn Holt, California was faced with 3rd-and-7 from the Florida 44 with 2 minutes remaining. Tuskers defensive end Josh Cooper then put the game away by sacking Boyd and forcing a fumble that he recovered at the Redwoods’ 48-yard line.

In one of the most entertaining games of the UFL’s “Premiere” season, fans were treated to a variety of big plays and four lead changes. The game’s first eight minutes featured two successful on-side kicks by Florida, a field goal and a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Stewart—a 320-pound nose tackle. His interception of Tuskers’ quarterback Brooks Bollinger came on the first play after Florida had caught California by surprise with its first on-side kick, and gave the Redwoods a 7-3 lead.

After punting on their next possession, the Tuskers forced the Redwoods into a punt of their own, and Florida’s Willie Andrews returned it 70 yards to the California 16-yard line. Bollinger hit wide receiver Taye Biddle for 15 yards on first down, and fullback Andrew Pinnock punched it in from there for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Tuskers a 10-7 lead.

Florida followed the touchdown with its second on-side kick of the first quarter and took possession at its own 48-yard line. The drive stalled, however, when Bollinger threw incomplete on a fourth-down attempt and California took over at its 45. The Redwoods moved into field goal range on Boyd’s 20-yard completion to wide receiver Sonny Shackelford. After three straight running plays, kicker Parker Douglass capped a 6-play, 29-yard drive with a 44-yard field goal to tie the game at 10.

Both offenses were explosive in the second quarter as Florida moved the ball 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown—a 1-yard run by Pittman—and 83 yards for a 20-yard Bryant field goal. California answered with touchdown drives of 70 and 71 yards.  The first score came on a 7-yard pass from Boyd to wide receiver Doug Gabriel and the second on an 8-yard connection from Boyd to tight end Nate Lawrie, giving California a 24-20 halftime lead.

California used its momentum on the opening possession of the second half, taking the kickoff and driving 68 yards in 13 plays for a 26-yard Douglass field goal. The Redwoods’ inability to turn a 1st-and-goal situation into a touchdown was costly. Florida’s defense responded by forcing three punts and two turnovers on California’s remaining five possessions.

The Tuskers tied the game at 27-27 on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bollinger found wide receiver Jayson Foster for a 5-yard touchdown to cap an 11-play, 67-yard drive.

California appeared to be moving into position for a go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter, as Boyd converted a clutch 3rd-and-9 play to Lawrie for 28 yards to the Florida 40-yard line. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-3, Boyd tried to find Lawrie again but Tuskers cornerback Darius Vinnett jumped the route to intercept the pass and returned it 58 yards to the Redwoods’ 8-yard line. From there, Pittman took over with runs of 5 yards, no gain and ultimately 1 yard for the score, and the 34-27 lead that would hold up over the final six minutes.

Bollinger finished the game completing 18 of 29 passes for 220 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Biddle again led the receiving corps with five receptions for 60 yards, while Foster caught three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Pittman was Florida’s leading rusher with 58 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

For California, Boyd had his most effective game of the season in the finale, completing 23 of 35 for 287 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Lawrie caught a game-high six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Sonny Shackelford caught five passes for a game-high 110 yards.

The Redwoods outgained the Tuskers 351 yards to 298, and converted an impressive 46 percent of their third-down opportunities (7-15), but were hurt by eight penalties for 74 yards and two costly second-half turnovers. They finish their season 2-4, despite nearly pulling off victories over championship-game combatants Las Vegas and Florida in the past five days.