Brahmas fans cheer their team to victory behind enemy lines. photos by Don Mooney
by Don Mooney
Memphis, TENN—Despite trailing all game, the Brahmas kicked, snorted and bucked back from a fourth quarter 16-0 deficit completing their comeback with a game-winning touchdown with less than 10 seconds to go in the fourth for a 20-19 win Saturday at Tennessee’s Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Brahmas QB Garbers attempts pass to his favorite target WR Jontre Kirklin.
The Brahmas erased the shutout in the fourth quarter, as QB Chase Garbers found WR Marquez Stevenson in the end zone for San Antonio’s first score of the contest. The Brahmas then chipped in two more points to keep things close.
San Antonio QB Chase Garbers threw for three touchdowns in the second half, which ultimately led to the Brahmas’ comeback victory after trailing all game. The Brahmas erased the shutout in the fourth quarter, as QB Chase Garbers found WR Marquez Stevenson in the end zone for San Antonio’s first score of the contest. The Brahmas then chipped in two more points to keep things close.
San Antonio regained possession following their previous score due to a UFL rule that allows teams that are trailing (or tied) in the fourth quarter the alternate option of electing to retain possession on a fourth-and-12 play from their own 28-yard line as opposed to an onside kick. After completing the try, the Brahmas successfully drove down the field and came away with the touchdown.
Memphis came out looking well-rehearsed. Showboats opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Case Cookus to wide receiver Daewood Davis. That toss capped a 13-play, 42-yard drive that ran 7:44 off the clock. A one-point conversion run by Cookus put the Showboats on top 7-0.
Memphis extended its lead to 13-0 at halftime on a pair of Matt Coghlin field goals, including one as time expired before halftime. Coghlin put the Showboats on top 16-0 with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a 22-yard field goal.
Side Note:
There are no extra point conversions using the kicker in the UFL this season. Instead, teams must run an offensive play, receiving one point from two yards out, two points from five yards out and three points from 10 yards out. Teams went for one point 25.6% of the time, converting 43.6% of those attempts, according to XFL statistics from last season, while teams went for two points 63.2% of the time and converted 39.7% of those attempts. As expected, teams went for three points the least — just 11.2% of the time – converting 20.8% of those attempts.
Up Next for Showboats:
AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Saturday, April 13 | 6:00 PM CT | Birmingham, AL | Protective Stadium | FOX | FOX Sports on SiriusXM