By: Trey Colbeck
Every time I think I have this team figured out, they surprise me again. I can’t seem to get a lock on this team in the Shakedowns. They had a couple of opportunities to win this game but fell short. Luckily, they are still the team to catch in the USFL Conference at 3-2. Meanwhile, Memphis came up with the big win, and they got themselves to 1-4. They are ever so slightly inching closer to a potential playoff berth.
Recap
Dresser Winn had a rough start to the game, but he certainly bounced back. After not completing his first three passing attempts, he connected with Dee Anderson for a 78-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Jalen Jackson would run it in to add the two-point conversion. Case Cookus also couldn’t get cooking early and went 4-10 in the first half. Both teams would trade field goals and make it 11-3. As the clock was about to hit zero before the half, Harrison Mevis was lining up for a 63-yard field goal. Not only was the kick not good, but Isiah Hennie could bring out the ball and run it back for a major. The official numbers say it was 108 returns to make the game 17-3.
Momentum should be completely in favor of the Showboats after the half, but the Stallions would be able to march the field to start the third. After eight plays and 58 yards, Cookus would find Jordan Thomas for a 33-yard score. After the failed two-point conversion, it is now an eight-point game. Memphis would completely stall in the third quarter and would punt it away with back-to-back drives.
Early in the fourth quarter, each team would add a field goal, and the game would remain an eight-point game. The Stallions would get the ball back with 1:55 remaining on the clock. Birmingham was given a great field position and would start on Memphis’ side of the field. It would take eight plays, but the Stallions would pick up 46 yards and score. Marlon Williams was on the receiving end of a 6-yard pass from Cookus. Cookus would then find Jace Sternberger for the two-point conversion and make it a tied game with 25 seconds remaining.
The Showboats would have enough time to line up for a game-winning field goal, but it was wide right.
Memphis’ first attempt at overtime wasn’t successful, but there was a roughing the passer call, which gave them the points. Cookus would take off on the Stallion’s first attempt, but stopped right at the goal line. Both teams’ second overtime shootout attempts were incomplete passes. Winn would find Anderson in traffic to add two more, and win the game by a score 24-20.
Stud of the Game
Dresser Winn did everything he needed to do to put his team in the best position to win the game. He connected with Anderson for the big touchdown early in the game and helped move the offense down the field to key moments of the game. His final stat line read 17-29 for 235 yards. He also had one touchdown through the air and didn’t turn the ball over.
On top of that, he did everything right in the overtime shootout to put his team on top. You can’t ask much more than that from him in his first start of the season. Looks like for now the Showboats have their guy, but are they too far out of the hunt to make the playoffs? Maybe not with Winn under center. He also earned the UFL Player of the Week.
Donkey of the Game
I hail from Canada, the land of maple syrup and hockey pucks. We see missed field goal returns for touchdowns a few times a season because of our unique rules. We even have the ability for onside field goals, but that’s for another time. The Stallions’ field goal unit are ALL donkeys for letting that 108-yard return go for six.
It is something you can’t allow right before half, or really at any point. It’s easy to argue that six points were a crucial part of Memphis winning this game, and without them, I could easily be writing about a Stallions victory. Instead, I’m writing about eleven absolute donkeys that couldn’t stop a guy from running 108 yards. I hope they had to do push-ups or laps for that blunder Monday morning.
Injury Update
As I write this, the Injury Report for this week has not been not posted, but the big question will be about who is under center? I think Cookus, with a full week of practice, should be a lot better. That said, I’m missing Corral an awful lot.
Power Rankings After Week 5
- D.C. Defenders (+3)
- Arlington Renegades (-)
- Michigan Panthers (-)
- Birmingham Stallions (-3)
- St. Louis Battlehawks (and the Blues suck!) (-)
- Houston Roughnecks (-)
- Memphis Showboats (+1)
- San Antonio Brahmas (-1)
Up Next
The Stallions have another game on paper they should handily win, but who knows what pressure the San Antonio Brahmas will bring? The Brahmas earned a big win against D.C. in Week 4, only to turn around and fall to Houston this past week. They are two games down in the playoff hunt, and a big win on Sunday would surely get them back into the conversation. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on FOX.