The Houston Roughnecks (1-2) visited Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon against the Memphis Showboats (0-3) in a battle of two winless teams. Both of these teams have not done well to start the season.
When it was all set and done, the game itself was quite competitive that came down to the wire. In the first half, the game was tied 3-3 until Memphis quarterback E.J. Perry completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kwamie Lassiter II plus getting an extra two points put the Showboats up 11-3 at halftime.
In the second half, Nolan Henderson replaced Anthony Brown at quarterback. Henderson got things moving when he threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Butler cutting Memphis’s lead down to 11-9 with 5:45 left of the third quarter.
Houston’s defense stepped up in the second half when E.J. Perry’s pass was intercepted by Leon O’Neal Jr. for a pick-six 30-yard touchdown giving the Roughnecks a 15-11 lead. Kicker Chris Blewitt made a 28-yard field goal extending Houston’s lead to 18-11 with 10:14 left of the fourth quarter.
Memphis replaced E.J. Perry with Troy Williams late in the fourth quarter. Williams scrambled to score a four-yard touchdown and get two points to make it a one-point game 18-17 with 13 seconds left. The Showboats were unable to get the 4th and 12 play resulting in the Houston Roughnecks defeating the Memphis Showboats 18-17.
Houston had 238 yards in total offense led by backup quarterback Nolan Henderson completing 10 of 11 passes (90.9%) for 80 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 15 yards, while starter Anthony Brown completed 8 of 15 passes (53.3%) for 40 yards, and three carries for 21 yards.
Running back Zaquandre White led the rushers with 15 carries for 50 yards, and led the receivers making three catches for 28 yards, while Lorenzo Lingard had four carries for 32 yards. Wide receiver Justin Hall made five catches for 22 yards, and Emmanuel Butler made one catch for six yards and one touchdown.
Kicker Chris Blewitt made 2 of 2 field goals with a long of 36 yards. The defense made 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, one touchdown, and six pass breakups.
Memphis had 232 yards in total offense led by quarterback E.J. Perry completing 13 of 20 passes (65%) for 131 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and one carry for six yards. Backup quarterback Troy Williams completed 3 of 7 passes (42.9%) for 34 yards, four carries for 35 yards, and one rushing touchdown.
Running back Deneric Prince had 12 carries for 16 yards, and Jalen Jackson had nine carries for 15 yards. Wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II led the receivers making five catches for 50 yards, and one touchdown, while Jonathan Adams made five catches for 42 yards.
Kicker Matt Coghlin made one field goal for 32 yards. The defense made 58 tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
Next week, the Memphis Showboats visit the Michigan Panthers on Friday at 8 pm on Fox, and the Houston Roughnecks host the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday at 7 pm on Fox. Purchase UFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
