The Houston Roughnecks blew a nine-point lead in the final 1:07 of the fourth quarter, then scored in overtime to beat the host San Antonio Brahmas 17-15 on Sunday to clinch a berth in the XFL playoffs.
The Roughnecks (5-3) scored the only conversion in overtime — in which teams alternate attempts to reach the end zone from their opponent’s 5-yard line — when Cole McDonald connected with Deontay Burnett on a quick slant for two points.
Houston led 15-6 in the third quarter on quarterback Brandon Silvers’ second touchdown pass, a 5-yarder to Garrett Owens.
San Antonio (2-6) rallied with nine fourth-quarter points on Jacques Patrick’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left, and John Parker Romo’s 49-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in regulation. Romo also made kicks of 26 and 42 yards. Patrick finished with 96 yards on 16 carries.
Silvers completed 17 of 36 passes for 146 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. San Antonio’s Jack Coan was 23 of 41 for 190 yards, no TDs and two interceptions.
Defenders 34, Sea Dragons 33
Jordan Ta’amu connected with Chris Blair on a short sideline pass that went 70 yards for a touchdown with 2:10 left in regulation to provide the difference for D.C. over host Seattle.
Blair finished with five receptions for 148 yards for the Defenders (7-1), including the score when he broke a tackle along the right sideline and raced to the end zone. The two-point conversion pass failed.
The Sea Dragons (5-3) responded with Ben DiNucci’s 14-yard TD pass to Jahcour Pearson with 32 seconds remaining. However, DiNucci was tackled by Santos Ramirez on the two-point conversion attempt.
Ta’amu finished 17 of 26 for 247 yards, no interceptions and four touchdown passes to Alex Ellis, Brandon Smith, Ryquell Armstead and Blair.
DiNucci was 28 of 42 for 301 yards, one pick, two touchdown passes of 46 and 56 yards to Juwan Green (seven receptions, 142 yards) and one scoring toss to Pearson.
–Field Level Media
