Your guide to the Virginia Destroyers

Las Vegas Locomotives vs. Virginia Destroyers

Where: The Virginia Beach Sportsplex

Time: 7 p.m.

Tickets: $35 reserved ($90 season ticket); $25 reserved bleachers ($60 season), $20 GA ($60 season) Military receive $5 discount. Two children 12-under may enter free with purchase of one GA ticket.

Parking: Pre-purchased season tailgating pass ($50) for Sportsplex lot; $5 at Virginia Beach Amphitheatre lot. Lots open at 4 p.m., Sportsplex gates at 5:30. A free shuttle will take fans from the Amphitheatre lot to the Sportsplex.

Radio: 94.1 FM (John Castleberry, William Fuller)

Fan Fest: Live music, games – begins at 5 p.m.

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 Five Destroyers to watch

No. 33, RB Dominic Rhodes: Reigning UFL rushing champion who ran for 113 yards and a touchdown for the Indianapolis Colts in 2007 Super Bowl. Played eight seasons in the NFL, gained 3,286 yards and scored 32 total touchdowns.

No. 29, RB Adrian Peterson: The former Chicago Bear gained 1,283 yards in eight NFL seasons. In 2007 contributed 947 all-purpose yards to Bears’ Super Bowl run. At Georgia Southern, won the Walter Payton Award as the top RB in Division I-AA.

No. 14, QB Chris Greisen: A 35-year-old who has played in the NFL, NFL Europe, Arena League and UFL. Passed for 346 yards and ran for two touchdowns for the Florida Tuskers (who became the Destroyers) in a title-game loss last year to Las Vegas.

No. 26, S Aaron Rouse: Played at Virginia Beach’s First Colonial High and at Virginia Tech before playing 41 games for the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants from 2007-09. Played for the UFL’s Omaha Nighthawks last season.

No. 28, CB Ahmad Carroll: The first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2004 out of Arkansas; played in 57 NFL games with the Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, who released him in 2009. Returned a fumble 40 yards for a TD as a rookie.

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Looking at Las Vegas

No. 2, QB Chase Clement: Former Rice star who threw for 99 touchdowns in college, second-most ever in Conference USA. MVP of last year’s UFL title game, 23-20 victory over Florida Tuskers (who became the Destroyers).

No. 35, FB Bobby Rome: A quarterback at Norfolk’s Granby High, Rome played fullback at North Carolina and is in his second season with Las Vegas. Caught 11 passes and scored one TD last year, and had four receptions for 44 yards in the championship game.

No. 1, RB DeDe Dorsey: Teammate of Destroyers’ RB Dominic Rhodes on the Indianapolis Colts who won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 and second to Rhodes in UFL rushing last year. MVP of Locos first UFL championship in 2009.

No. 26, RB Marcel Shipp: Third-year Loco who played 88 NFL games – 28 starts – over six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, who he led in rushing in 2002 and ’03. Ran for 165 yards in an ’03 game before a knee injury in ’04 began his slide out of the NFL in ’07.

No. 91, DE Ryan Boschetti: Spent most of 2004-08 with the Washington Redskins. Saw action in 22 games and made 19 tackles. A third-year UFL player out of UCLA had 1 ½ sacks and broke up three passes last year for Las Vegas.

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What is the United Football League?

A three-year old professional league founded by investment banker William Hambrecht. The UFL has four franchises, down from five last year, in Las Vegas, Sacramento, Omaha and Virginia Beach. Only Omaha is not coached by a former NFL head coach. Las Vegas is the two-time champion. Players are paid $5,000 per game, though teams can pay more to quarterbacks. UFL players are free to sign with the NFL only after the UFL season.

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Major UFL rules differences from NFL?

Tuck Rule: Does not exist in the UFL. A fumble while attempting to pass is a fumble.

Overtime: Both teams get one possession each before sudden-death applies in one 15-minute maximum period.

Replay: Video replay is not used in the regular season.

Kickoffs: Ball is teed at the 30-yard line

Intentional grounding: Quarterback may ground the ball to avoid a sack as long as the ball lands at or beyond the line of scrimmage.

TD Celebrations: “Tasteful” individuals/group celebrations are allowed within end zone and bench areas.

Defensive alignment: Only 4-3 base defenses are permitted, and only six players may rush the passer. Violations are penalized as unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fumble possession: A team that fumbles through the end zone retains possession at the spot of the fumble.