The UFL | Houston Roughnecks Suffer Loss in Final Home Game of the Season

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Hosting the USFL conference’s second seed, the Michigan Panthers, the Houston Roughnecks battled to the conclusion of the contest, leaving the stadium with a loss in their final home game of the 2024 season, 26- 22.

With a game clock starting at 3:00 p.m., the visiting Panthers would take control of possession with a total of 11 minutes. After a three-and-out series, Michigan made two appearances in the red zone. At the HOU 22-yard line, RG Josh Dunlop would receive an offensive holding penalty, sending the team back 10 yards and negating the 13-yard touchdown on the play. As the Panthers attempted to recover from their errors, the Roughnecks wasted their second possession with a fumble loss on their first down. Putting the ball in the opponent’s hands, Michigan would correct its mistake before the second quarter with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by RB Nate McCrary, putting the first score on the board.

Looking to score, Houston slowly built up the field while battling penalties and incomplete passes. Making their first debut of the game in the red zone, the Roughnecks would settle for a 39-yard field goal, making their own points 6-3. Michigan would go quietly in the final minutes of the second quarter, but the boys in blue would begin to take over defensively with the first interception of the game by LB D’Juan Hines, sealing the score 6-3 before entering the tunnel. for halftime.

Receiving the ball to start, Houston would get back on the field with a 63-yard touchdown run by WR Justin Hall on the second play of the second half; taking their first lead of the match 9-6. While the offense produced the game, the defense lit the fire with another interception by FS Markel Roby to end Michigan’s first drive of the half. To keep the scoring momentum going, the Roughnecks offense would capitalize with another touchdown run from WR Justin Hall, increasing their lead to 16-6 after a successful one-point conversion.

Still battling, the Panthers left just 6 points unanswered as they drove into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run by WR Trey Quinn, closing in on the Roughnecks’ lead. But the home team would go on to dominate the third. After a facemask penalty against Michigan and putting them on the 2-yard line, fans were cheering RB Mark Thompson across the goal for another Roughnecks touchdown.

With the score at 22-12 on the board, both teams entered the final round of fifteen battling it out to see who would come out on top. In the first five minutes of the quarter, the Panthers cut the Roughnecks’ lead with an 11-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Bryce Perkins and a successful 1-point conversion; increasing the score 22-19. It was enough to fend off Michigan’s powerful offense, but the task would prove difficult as Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins continued to rush down the field, avoiding the Houston defense. The speedy QB would get into the Houston end zone for another touchdown, putting them back on top 26-22. Unable to regain their promising momentum, the Roughnecks would fall short again after failing to score in the fourth.

Houston will face their USFL conference rivals, the Memphis Showboats, in their final road game of the season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee on Sunday, June 2. Game 10 will air on FOX at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. AND.

POST-GAME NOTES:

• WR Justin Hall recorded a season-high 2 receiving touchdowns and led the team with 109 yards.
• Quarterback Nolan Henderson finished with a season-high 150 passing yards and 67 rushing yards.
• LB D’Juan Hines picked up his first interception of the season.
• FS Markel Roby recorded his second interception of the season, continuing to lead the team with 2.
• RB Mark Thompson continues to lead the team with 5 rushing touchdowns.