Chase Garbers threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, and punter Brad Wing passed for a score as the host San Antonio Brahmas downed the D.C. Defenders 27-12 in their United Football League debuts on Sunday.
Garbers completed 19 of 25 passes for 158 yards, including TDs of 28 yards to Anthony McFarland Jr. and 4 yards to Jontre Kirklin in the first half. Garbers also completed the scoring with his 5-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. That drive was set up by cornerback Darius Phillips’ 88-yard interception return.
Wing found center Alex Mollette on a trick play on fourth down for a 40-yard TD pass with 3 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Defenders (0-1) responded with Matthew McCrane’s four field goals of 50, 34, 48 and 28 yards.
D.C. had its lone touchdown — Jordan Ta’amu’s 8-yard pass to Keke Coutee — negated by a false-start penalty in the fourth quarter after the Brahmas challenged the play. Ta’amu finished 25 of 45 for 235 yards and the interception to Phillips on the series involving the erased TD.
Showboats 18, Roughnecks 12
Case Cookus completed 23 of 40 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown as visiting Memphis beat Houston.
Five different Showboats receivers racked up at least 33 receiving yards, including Vinny Papale — the son of former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Vince Papale — whose toe-drag touchdown highlighted his four-catch, 36-yard outing. That score put Memphis ahead 15-0, enough to hold off the Roughnecks’ late charge.
Christian McFarland had a 12-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter for the Showboats, whose defense held the Roughnecks to 174 total yards and 10 first downs.
Jarrett Guarantano went 16-for-21 for 157 yards for Houston. He also led the Roughnecks in rushing (22 yards) and scored their only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, which was followed by a failed three-point conversion attempt.
–Field Level Media
