By: Cory Lozier
Week 5 Recap
On April 27th, 2025, the Houston Roughnecks delivered a dominant performance against the San Antonio Brahmas. They cruised to a 27-3 victory at the Alamodome in what was the Brahmas’ home opener. Houston took control with a balanced attack, and sealed the win with a late defensive touchdown on an interception return. San Antonio’s offense never found its rhythm, managing 118 total yards and converting just one third down all game. The Roughnecks’ defense constantly pressured the Brahmas, stifling any momentum and setting the tone for a lopsided contest.
Scoring Plays
1st QTR
4th-and-5 on the SA 20-yard line:
C. Blewitt’s 38 yard field goal attempt is good, Center – M. Ortiz, Holder – M. Rivers. [8:46]
Houston 3 – San Antonio 0
2nd QTR
2nd-and-6 on the SA 6-yard line:
Z. White rushed over right tackle for 6 yards. TOUCHDOWN. [15:00]
3rd-and-11 on the SA 11-yard line:
C. Blewitt 29 yard field goal attempt is good, Center – M. Ortiz, Holder – M. Rivers. [00:05]
Houston 12 – San Antonio 0
3rd QTR
3rd-and-1 on the SA 21-yard line:
K. Merritt rushed up the middle for 21 yards. TOUCHDOWN. [9:38]
Houston 18 – San Antonio 0
4th QTR
2nd-and-5 on the HOU 40-yard line:
J. Guarantano pass short left; INTERCEPTED by R. Williams at the HOU 33-yard line. Returned for a TOUCHDOWN. [6:49]
Three Point Conversion Attempt:
J. McClendon steps back to pass; Catch made by E.Butler. THREE POINT ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. [6:36]
Final Score:
Houston 27 – San Antonio 3
What Has Been Improved?
The biggest improvement for the Roughnecks has been the mobility of the offense. Two weeks ago this offense really struggled to move down field. The other Quarterbacks (A. Brown and N. Henderson) were always scrambling to keep plays alive. Now with McClendon they’re completing passes, extending drives, and putting points on the board. McClendon has 44 completions on 63 attempts, averages 203 yards per game, and a 69.8 completion percentage.
Another vital aspect that has really been turned around was the self inflicted penalties, specifically from the O-Line. The typical play for the Houstons offense in the first few weeks of the season would go one of two ways. Snap, scramble, pass for 3-4 yards, and hope the receiver would hang on to the ball. Or, all that but bring it back due to offensive holding. And those penalties have been minimized over the last few weeks.
What Needs Improvement?
Improvements are a must if the Roughnecks want to be seen as a competitive team in this league. First, getting the run game going must be at the top of the list. Granted, last week the team tallied 106 rush yards (their second most this season). However, most weeks the ground game is almost pitiful. It looks like they struggle to get positive yards. A big issue with these Houston Running backs is the ability to run in the north and south directions. There is way too much shimmying, side stepping, and changing direction (laterally) going on in the backfield. It’s costing the team precious yards and stopping drives. It’s the number one issue for this team keeping them from having a balanced offense.
First 5 Weeks
The first five weeks for Houston was a roller coaster of emotions for everybody. They started off the year 0-2 and looked like they would be repeating their previous year (1-9 in 2024). Things changed in week 3 when QB Anthony Brown was benched for second string QB Nolan Henderson. Unfortunately, Henderson (in his first start) would go out of the game early off of a big hit. In comes the third string quarterback, Jalan McClendon, who has taken control of this offense. He has rallied the team to a record of 2-3. More importantly he’s made this offense mobile and actually competitive. This year’s Roughnecks team is reminiscent of the recent Pittsburgh Steelers. Meaning, their defense has been a major bright spot keeping them in games while the offense struggles most days.
Next 5 Weeks
The addition of Jalan McClendon has invigorated this offense and has taken the weight off of the defense.
The second half of the year seems to favor the Roughnecks. The next opponents are as follows: Showboats (at home), @ Stallions, Panthers (at home), Defenders (at home), and @ Panthers. Houston has beaten the Showboats once this season already but their recent improvements may prove to be a bit of a hurdle to overcome. The Defenders have been on the decline for multiple weeks now, but their ability to rally late in the game is a threat to any team. Being consistent is the Stallions biggest flaw. Matt Coral has trouble remaining calm when the pressure is on. This works out in the favor of Houston because of how aggressive their defense is. The big question is can the offense capitalize on the mistakes once they’re made?
Odds To Win It All
As of May 1st (according to foxsports.com), The Houston Roughnecks have +1400 odds to win the 2025 UFL Championship. A 10 dollar bet would win you 150 dollars. The Memphis Showboats and the San Antonio Brahmas are the only teams that are below them. The Roughnecks are up one spot from last week after beating the Brahmas in dominant fashion.
Next Week’s Opponent
The Houston Roughnecks and the Memphis Showboats are set to face off in a pivotal week 6 matchup. Houston is only one win away from being tied with the conference leaders and looking to keep their momentum building with another win. This game will take place in Houston, Texas at TDECU Stadium. Kickoff will be Saturday, May 3rd at 12:00 PM EST.