Byline: Steve Irvine Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS - The Las Vegas Outlaws' defense was everything it was cracked up to be against the Xtreme at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday night.
But the Xtreme defense was even better.
It was what happened on that side of the ball that enabled Jose Cortez to boot four field goals, including a 48-yarder with no time on the clock, to send the Xtreme home a 12-9 winner in front of a raucous crowd of 26,135.
``Just call us the Baltimore Ravens of the XFL,'' linebacker Juan Long said.
The win by the Xtreme (2-1) - who played in a game decided on the final play for the third consecutive week - not only handed Las Vegas its first loss of the season, but it also forged a tie atop the Western Division standings with the previously unbeaten Outlaws.
And, in addition to the defense, you can call Cortez a hero only a week after he drew criticism for missing two 34-yard field goals in a double- overtime win over Chicago.
``There was a lot of pressure on me (Saturday),'' said Cortez, who accounted for all the Xtreme scoring with field goals of 48, 49, 36 and the final one, which was set up by an interception by safety Tinker Keck.
Las Vegas called two timeouts before Cortez could set up for the game-winner. During that time, Cortez said he recalled his success this past summer in a similar situation when he played for Amsterdam of NFL Europe.
``I just blocked everything out and went back to that day in my mind,'' Cortez said. ``I was confident I would make it.''
He wasn't alone.
``I had all the confidence in the world he was going to make it,'' receiver Damon Gibson said. ``Most of us had already left the field before he kicked it because we knew it was going to be good.''
When it went through the uprights, the players started celebrating - it was the second consecutive week they would collect the $2,500 bonus for a victory.
``It was the most money I've ever won in Vegas,'' defensive tackle Matt Keneley said.
This money was won by a defense that never allowed the Las Vegas running game to get untracked and flustered Outlaws quarterback Mike Cawley all evening. Las Vegas managed only 70 yards on 23 rushing attempts and Rod Smart - better known as ``He Hate Me'' - was tackled behind the line on six of his 15 carries.
``We made them have to throw to beat us,'' Xtreme head coach Al Luginbill said.
Cawley, the third-stringer playing because of shoulder injuries to Chuck Clements and Ryan Clement, couldn't come through. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 129 yards with two interceptions and was sacked seven times.
It was his second interception - a fluttering pass in the middle of the field that was gathered by a diving Keck - that set up the final score with 1:11 left and the Xtreme at the Outlaws 41.
``I had the same read on the play before,'' said Keck, who was waived after training camp but rejoined the team following the season-opening loss to San Francisco. ``I was reading the quarterback, he lofted it up the middle and I dove for it.''
Xtreme quarterback Tommy Maddox found Latario Rachal for a 9-yard gain on the next play and, after an incompletion, Ken Oxendine forged his way for a first down. After letting the clock run down, the Xtreme called a timeout and Cortez came on the field for the game-winner.
