When John-David Washington heard the news that Cory Ross couldn't go Saturday afternoon because of a hamstring injury, he was incredulous.
Sure, that meant that the third-year running back would get his first professional start, but the Sacramento Mountain Lions' and the United Football League's career leading rusher missing his game ever as a pro sent shockwaves through the Molos' lockeroom.
"I told him this afternoon right after I found out, 'We need you Boss!'" Washington said. "He toughest player I've ever played with so I knew he was really hurting (not to play)." Washington played well as Ross' replacement, rushing for a game-high 114 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. But Sacramento lost 33-30 to the Omaha Nighthawks Saturday at Hornet Stadium on a Jeff Wolfert 39-yard field goal with no time remaining.
Sacramento fell to 0-2 and likely must win their remaining four games to have any chance of playing for a championship. With three of those last four games on the road, it's no wonder the Mountain Lions locker room after the game was extremely quiet.
"I'd trade in every single one of my yards for the win," Washington said. "Ultimately we all want to make it to the NFL and they don't look at losing teams." With the game tied 30-30, Sacramento drove to the Omaha 44-yard line with less than three minutes remaining. Sacramento's kicker, Fabrezio Scaccia, owns the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest professional field goal without a tee of 68 yards was warming up on the sidelines. But a holding call against the Mountain Lions, a 13-yard loss on a Claude Harriott sack and an incompletion forced Sacramento to punt.
Seven plays later Wolfert was the hero and his field goals of 54-, 56-, 42-yards and the game winner overshadowed a productive day by Washington. The 56-yarder is a new United Football League record.
Washington averaged 8.1 yards a carry and ran for 35 yards up the middle on the game's first play from scrimmage. He also tipped a punt in the first half as part of his special teams duties.
"I wish we could have ran the ball more to give our defense more of a rest," Washington said.
The defense needed it. Omaha uses a no-huddle, spread offense that wears defenses down by sending as many as five receivers downfield. Omaha quarterback Jeremiah Masoli finished his first start of the season completing 27 of 42 attempts for 283 yards. He had two interceptions, but was effective when on the run and completed passes to 10 different receivers. Masoli was training camp for the San Francisco 49ers this season before being cut in August.
Mountain Lions quarterback Ryan Colburn threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns, but two interceptions including one in the fourth quarter had the rookie flustered after the game. He also lost a fumble after being flushed from the pocket, something that is becoming more and more common each game. Colburn was sacked four times.
"I had three turnovers and we just can't have that," Colburn said. "I'm pretty upset with myself." Sacramento has a short week to prepare for a road game against the Virginia Destroyers Friday night. It's the first game of a home and home. The Destroyers are the league's only undefeated team.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Mark Billingsley covers the Mountain Lions for The Bee. Reach him at editorwriter@att.net.
• Read more articles by Mark Billingsley
02 Oct, 2011
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