UFL Week 2 roundup: Lightning rally lifts Brahmas
San Antonio quarterback Chase Garbers threw two touchdown passes in the final 48 seconds as the Brahmas pulled out a 20-19 victory over the Memphis Showboats on Saturday to kick off the second weekend of the United Football League season.
In the other Week 2 games:
· In a game that featured four lead changes and a tie in the final 15:28, the St. Louis Battlehawks beat the Arlington Renegades 27-24 on Andre Szmyt’s 22-yard field goal on the final snap on Saturday. The Battlehawks’ victory came before a league-record crowd of 40,317 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.
· The Birmingham Stallions recorded seven sacks, including one on fourth down with 15 seconds to play, to defeat the Michigan Panthers 20-13 on Sunday.
· Trailing by three points with 8:06 to play, DC coach Reggie Barlow chose to go for it on fourth-and-7 at the Houston 39-yard line. The former Alabama State wide receiver and coach’s gamble paid off when Alex Ellis gained 19 yards on a tight-end screen. Three snaps later, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu connected with wide receiver Ty Scott on a 17-yard touchdown pass and Ellis caught a 2-point conversion throw for the Defenders’ 23-15 victory over the Roughnecks on Sunday. D.C. still had to stop a fourth-down snap at its 24-yard line with one second left to secure the win.
San Antonio trailed 19-8 when it gained possession at its 16-yard line with 2:35 to play. That series ended with Garbers’ 5-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Jontre Kirklin with 48 seconds remaining. The Brahmas failed on their 3-point conversion attempt, leaving the Showboats in ahead 19-14.
Instead of an onside kick, San Antonio chose to take a fourth-and-12 snap at its 28-yard line to attempt to retain possession, and Garbers found Kirklin again for the necessary yardage.
Three completions got the Brahmas to the Memphis 10-yard line, and Garbers’ touchdown pass to Cody Latimer from there with three seconds to play won the game for San Antonio.
Garbers completed 29-of-40 passes for 287 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Two weeks into the UFL season, San Antonio and Birmingham are the only unbeaten teams.
Twenty-one players from Alabama high schools and colleges are on United Football League rosters. In Week 2 games:
San Antonio Brahmas 20, Memphis Showboats 19
· Showboats wide receiver Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M) did not play.
· Showboats defensive tackle Connor Christian (Jacksonville State) did not play.
· Showboats cornerback T.J. Green (Sylacauga) tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including two tackles for loss.
· Showboats outside linebacker TJ Neal (Auburn) did not record any stats.
· Showboats tight end Wes Saxton Jr. (Hueytown, South Alabama) did not record any stats.
· Showboats tight end Jay Jay Wilson (Auburn) did not record any stats.
· Brahmas offensive tackle John Yarbrough (Homewood) did not play.
St. Louis Battlehawks 27, Arlington Renegades 24
· Renegades tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn) had two receptions for 10 yards and one touchdown. Cannella caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luis Perez as Arlington took a 17-14 lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter.
· Renegades defensive lineman Davonte Lambert (Auburn) did not play because of a calf injury.
· Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) completed 19-of-29 passes for 248 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. McCarron threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Marcell Ateman of 24 yards with 10:29 left in the first half and 53 yards with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. McCarron also completed a 2-point conversion pass.
· Renegades guard Chris Owens (Alabama) did not play because of a knee injury.
· Battlehawks quarterback Brandon Silvers (Gulf Shores, Troy) did not play.
Birmingham Stallions 20, Michigan Panthers 13
· Stallions guard Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Panthers outside linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd (Alabama A&M) did not play.
· Panthers defensive tackle Garrett Marino (UAB) made three tackles.
· Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) had three receptions for 32 yards.
D.C. Defenders 23, Houston Roughnecks 15
· Defenders defensive tackle T.J. Barnes (Enterprise) made three tackles, including one tackle for loss.
· Defenders long snapper Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
· Roughnecks tight end Braedon Bowman (South Alabama) did not record any stats. On Houston’s final snap at the D.C. 24-yard, Bowman got behind the Defenders defense, but quarterback Reid Sinnett couldn’t connect with him at the goal line.
· Roughnecks offensive tackle Cam Carter (Minor) did not record any stats.
· Roughnecks linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn High, Alabama) led Houston with six tackles, which included two tackles for loss. Foster also broke up two passes.
In Week 3 games, the Defenders visit the Renegades at noon CDT Saturday on ESPN, the Showboats visit the Stallions at 6 p.m. in Birmingham on FOX, the Roughnecks visit the Panthers at 11 a.m. Sunday on ABC and the Battlehawks visit the Brahmas at 2 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.