If the UFL continues to stage exciting games on Thursday and Saturday nights, people may actually begin, you know, watching the league on television.
On Saturday night, the Omaha Nighthawks moved to 2-0 in their first UFL season (it’s only the league’s second year) with another come-from-behind, fourth-quarter win.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia connected with tight end Jeb Putzier on a 13-yard touchdown with 4:59 to play, delivering a 20-17 win over Daunte Culpepper and the Sacramento Mountain Lions.
The touchdown didn’t end the game. Culpepper drove the 1-2 Lions into position for a potential game-tying field goal, but Fabrizio Scaccia narrowly missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with 1:55 to play.
For the game, Culpepper completed 23 of 37 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Garcia was 19-for-36, gaining 283 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Omaha receiver Robert Ferguson caught seven passes for 94 yards, and Omaha running back Ahman Green gained only 25 yards on nine carries. Maurice Clarett got his first offensive touches of the year for the Nighthawks, carrying five times for 12 yards.
The game was largely overlooked, since it was played on a night full of compelling college football action, and a doubleheader between the Yankees and Red Sox. And that continues to be one of the primary challenges for the UFL -- finding days and times on which games can be staged in order to maximize interest.
