Houston Roughnecks Week 7 Highlights, Recap, Notes, Photos and Postgame Press Conference

HOUSTON, TEXAS – In a second Texas-wide showdown at Rice Stadium, former Roughnecks head coach Wade Phillips returned to the Bayou City alongside the San Antonio Brahmas and came away victorious after a hard-fought victory against his former team, 15-12.

The Brahmas charged onto the field as the soccer competition began, looking to score the first set of six. Despite struggling defensively early, the Roughnecks defense was able to take over and stop San Antonio’s scoring efforts with a forced fumble by LB Reuben Foster and a recovery by DL Glen Logan at the line. from the 4 yards of the HOU. Houston’s defense would stand out again with a forced fumble from CB Corn Elder and a recovery from SS Donald Rutledge in the red zone. Both teams would go on consecutive 3-and-outs, ending the first quarter without a successful score.

With possession of the ball early in the second quarter, San Antonio would have successfully moved down the field to the Houston end zone. Following a series of incomplete passes, the Brahmas will settle for a basket, bringing the score to 3-0. The Roughnecks would continue to struggle offensively in the second set of fifteen; unable to find a beneficial tempo. But with 17 seconds left before halftime, an electrifying deep pass from QB Jarrett Guarantano to WR Justin Hall for 41 yards would create an opening for Houston to post its first total of the game after a 48-yard field goal; bringing the score to 3-3 at halftime.

Coming out of the tunnel, the Roughnecks defense would continue to play a central role in the team’s spark – recording a sack and forced fumble by DE Chris Odom and a recovery by DL Ethan Westbrooks to put the boys in blue in dominant position on the field during SA 25. -court line. With the defense leading the way, the players on the offensive side of the ball would continue the pace with a series of big passes and runs to reach the red zone once again. Determined to muzzle Houston’s burning fire, the Brahmas would make defensive stops, forcing the Roughnecks to settle for 3.

While they seemed to control the narrative in the first half, San Antonio’s misfortunes on both sides of the ball were highlighted in the final 6 minutes of the third quarter. The pendulum would begin to swing heavily in Houston’s favor as K JJ Molson would ignite his teammates and the stadium with a 62-yard field goal (9-3) – followed by CB Colby Richardson’s interception of quarterback Quinten Dormady. On their first drive of the fourth, the Roughnecks would continue to make the effort to dampen the Brahmas’ comeback chances with another successful field goal, increasing the score to 12-3 – as San Antonio would leave 9 points unanswered. .

But even with a slow start, the Brahmas are not going to ease into the final set. With their drive starting at 12:32, San Antonio would continue to push down the field thanks to a series of defensive penalties from the Roughnecks, resulting in a highly contested 1-yard touchdown run up the middle by the RB John Lovett.

Closing in on Houston’s 12-9 lead, San Antonio would tie the game at 12-12 before the two-minute warning thanks to a successful three-point conversion. The final two minutes of the game would come down to a kickoff return fumble by HOU WR Reggie Roberson and a lucrative recovery by SA CB Teez Tabor.

The Brahmas would seal the victory with a 51-yard field goal as the clock reached zero.

Houston will face their USFL conference rivals, the Birmingham Stallions, on the road at Protective Stadium on Saturday, May 18. Game 8 will air on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET.

PLAY NOTES:

K JJ Molson scored the second longest field goal of the season in the league (62 yards).
WR Justin Hall led the team with 69 receiving yards, bringing his total to 352.
CB Colby Richardson recorded his first interception of the season.
The Roughnecks defense had a team-high 3 forced fumbles and recoveries.
DE Chris Odom leads the team with 2 forced fumbles.
Both teams logged 30 minutes of possession.

PHOTO GALLERY

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 12: Jarrett Guarantano #6 of the Houston Roughnecks throws a pass during the first quarter of a game against the San Antonio Brahmas at Rice Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Maria Lysaker/UFL/Getty Images)