UFL Championship: 2-minute drill

World-Herald staff writer Steven Pivovar breaks down the matchups as the Las Vegas Locomotives take on the Florida Tuskers.

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LOCOS RUSH OFFENSE VS. TUSKERS RUSH DEFENSE

It's the Locomotives league-leading rushing offense against the Tuskers' league-best rush defense. Las Vegas' 1-2 punch of DeDe Dorsey and Marcel Shipp is tough to stop, with Dorsey providing the flash and Shipp the power. Florida has allowed only two rushing TDs all season and limited opponents to a league-low 82.1 rushing yards per game. The Tuskers depend on their active linebacking corps. Florida

LOCOS PASS OFFENSE VS. TUSKERS PASS DEFENSE

Chase Clement will get his second start because of injuries. Clement provides the Locos with more big-play potential than Drew Willy. Clement will be operating against a Florida secondary that surrendered the most passing yards in the league but also came up with 13 interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The Tusker pass rush has a league-high 25 sacks. Florida

TUSKERS RUSH OFFENSE VS. LOCOS RUSH DEFENSE

The Locos have to minimize the damage that Dominic Rhodes can inflict. The veteran running back led the UFL in rushing with 547 yards on 126 carries, and he scored nine of his league-high 10 TDs on the ground. Rhodes rushed for 113 yards and scored a TD to help the Colts win the 2007 Super Bowl. The Locomotives are the second-toughest team in the UFL to run the ball against. Vegas

TUSKERS PASS OFFENSE VS. LOCOS PASS DEFENSE

Chris Greisen has been efficient in directing the Tuskers since taking the job three games ago. Greisen has completed 71 percent of his passes and thrown for five TDs in the three wins that carried Florida to the title game. Calvin Russell is a big-play receiver averaging almost 17 yards a catch. UFL defensive player of the year Isaiah Trufant set a league record with four of the Locos' league-high 15 interceptions. Florida

SPECIAL TEAMS

Florida kicker Nick Novak has been almost perfect, missing just three of 18 field-goal attempts. Las Vegas' Steve Hauschka has been equally effective, scoring 44 points after being added to the roster after the second game of the season. Locos punter Danny Baugher led the league in average (44.6) and net average (36.7). Rhodes finished second in the UFL in kickoff returns with a 21.7 average. Vegas

INTANGIBLES

Las Vegas has to be concerned. The Locos didn't play well in season-ending losses to Sacramento and Hartford. Florida rides a wave of momentum into the title game, having played well in each of its three wins to close the season. The Tuskers also are out to avenge last season's title game loss to Vegas, a defeat that came on a field goal that Florida players still contend didn't go between the uprights. Florida

TUSKERS WILL WIN IF

The defense neutralizes Dorsey and Shipp. If Las Vegas can't move the ball on the ground, its quarterbacks don't appear capable of making enough plays.

LOCOS WILL WIN IF

The defense rises to the occasion. Offensive balance has carried Florida, and Las Vegas has to find ways to disrupt Greisen and Rhodes.

OUR TAKE

The Tuskers were in danger of going from being the class of the UFL a year ago to being a second-season also-ran. Then they switched quarterbacks and caught fire offensively while the defense continued to play through injuries that might have crippled other teams. That resulted in a three-game winning streak that Florida should stretch to four with a win in the title game. Defending champion Las Vegas won't go down easily but the Locomotives' struggles down the stretch should continue.

• PREDICTION: Tuskers 24, Locomotives 10