The Texas Syndicate shutout the Arkansas Nighthawks on May 23, 2026, at The Pfield in Pflugerville, TX 53-0. This was a dominant shutout victory for the brand-new Texas franchise in the revived Continental Football League (CoFL), a developmental outdoor 11-man pro league focused on providing opportunities for post-collegiate athletes. The Nighthawks, a semi-pro established regional team from Arkansas, served as an opponent for this preseason tune-up.
Offensive Breakdown
The Syndicate offense exploded for 53 points, showcasing balance, big plays, and efficiency even with limited prep time. Quarterback Jeremy Hunt got the start and showed poise and experience. He completed passes effectively early, though there was one interception that was a tipped ball off a running back’s hands. Overall, he managed the game well and avoided major mistakes after the early turnover.
The Syndicate’s running game was strong. Highlighting the running game is Rayquan Smith for his tough, productive runs, including picking up first downs behind a solid offensive line. Zachary Russell also featured in the rushing attack. The line, including Jaylon Lewis, JaShaunte Lee, and Clayton Boatright controlled the trenches effectively.
The passing attack included quick flares and intermediate routes to DeJuan Bell, EJ Howard and Marcelus Johnson. They capitalized on mismatches and exploited the Nighthawks’ secondary. The Syndicate scored early and often. Their red-zone efficiency was extremely effective as they pulled away decisively. The offense looked cohesive for an early preseason look—aggressive, physical, and able to sustain drives.
Defensive Breakdown
This was a defensive masterclass and a complete shutdown. The front seven dominated the line of scrimmage. Defensive linemen like Cole Gustafson, Emanuel Johnson, and Nan Asante, plus linebackers Michael Robinson Jr., Jacob Barry, and Tedrick Lowery, stuffed runs and pressured QB Curtis Moore. The secondary had tight coverage with Rashad Morris and Trevonte Gilmore. They forced incompletions, tipped passes, and generated pick-sixes. Overall, they held the Nighthawks to 0 points, forced turnovers, blew up punts, and limited big plays. Not only did the Nighthawks not score, but they also never crossed the 50-yard line. The defense set the tone early and never let up, creating short fields for the offense.
Nighthawks QB Curtis Moore and RB Demetrius Nelson had limited success. Their O-line struggled against the Syndicate’s pass rush and run defense. Poor tackling and communication issues were evident.
Special Teams
Kickoffs and punts were functional. The Syndicate blocked and blew up a couple of Nighthawk punts, typical of preseason sloppiness. No major returns highlighted, but the Syndicate’s coverage units contributed to the shutout. Syndicate Kicker Jaron Imbriani went 7 for 7 in extra point attempts and 1 for 1 in field goal attempts, making a 38-yard field goal.
Coaching & Intangibles
The Syndicate staff handled in-game adjustments well. They focused on fundamentals, penalties, and player evaluation. In a post-game interview, Head Coach James Champange expressed satisfaction with his team’s unified effort in securing the first victory of the season.
“We played unified,” the coach said. “I enjoyed it when challenges happen… We get it done for the most part. Still need to clean it up. Nobody’s perfect.”
He highlighted the contributions from players across all positions and praised the coaching staff and organization. Noted for an area for continued improvement is the special team execution heading into next week’s matchup against the Toros.
Analysis & Takeaways
The Texas Syndicate clearly possess a superior roster. They had physicality up front on both sides of the ball. They had a good balance of run-pass-threat and defensive aggression. This could suggest a fun, high-scoring style for the regular season. This game was a perfect showcase for players like Rayquan Smith and others fighting for roster spots or exposure. A 53-0 blowout builds huge confidence heading into the season opener against the San Antonio Toros, a local rival.
Areas for Improvement
Heading into the regular season against better competition, the penalties need to be cleaned up.
Nighthawks
The Syndicate completely overmatched Arkansas. They showed some fight but lacked execution, depth, and physicality. This was more of a proving ground for them as well, but it didn’t go their way.
Big Picture for Syndicate
This was an excellent start for the league’s revival and the Austin-based team. This demonstrated that the Syndicate can compete and entertain. As a developmental league, expect more player movement and growth as the short regular season ramps up. Local Texas football fans (especially San Antonio and Austin) have another team to watch this summer.
Final Thoughts
The Texas Syndicate will look to build on this dominant start as they prepare for next week’s game, the regular season opener against the San Antonio Toros. The game is scheduled for May 30 at 7:00pm at Pfield in Pflugerville.
