Brahmas’ upset of Defenders spotlight largest storylines from UFL Week 4

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Payton Pardee wished to do proper by his mentor, Wade Phillips.

Serving because the interim head coach for the San Antonio Brahmas (1-3) rather than Phillips, who took a go away of absence, Pardee wore a cowboy hat and boots to the stadium in honor of the longtime defensive guru.

[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League]

On the sector, Pardee helped the Brahmas orchestrate an inspiring efficiency, with their protection maintaining the DC Defenders out of the tip zone late within the sport to seal a shocking 24-18 victory on the street at Audi Area. 

The win was San Antonio’s first of the season and marked DC’s first loss after being the one remaining undefeated group within the UFL heading into Week 4.

Simply added to San Antonio’s roster this week, working again Aidan Robbins completed with two touchdowns. The Brahmas targeted closely on working the soccer, totaling 98 yards on 32 carries. Mathew Sexton additionally had an 83-yard punt return for a landing that gave San Antonio an early lead and large momentum.

“With the route Coach Wade (Phillips) set, this has and all the time might be a player-led program,” Pardee mentioned. “I’m so happy with the best way our group fought, however not at all was this an ideal sport. We nonetheless have lots we are able to clear up.”

San Antonio’s hard-fought win was a part of an general improved offensive output this week, with this newest slate of video games averaging a mixed 40.5 factors per sport. By way of the primary three weeks, groups averaged simply 34 per sport. 

Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (3-1) beat the Michigan Panthers (0-4) on Friday by double digits, 27-9. On Saturday, the Arlington Renegades (3-1) took down the St. Louis Battlehawks (2-2) at house, 30-15, adopted by the Birmingham Stallions (3-1) outlasting the Houston Roughnecks (1-3) on the street, 23-16.

Right here’s a take a look at different storylines from Week 4:

QB Jalen McClendon stands out in loss for Roughnecks

The 30-year-old McClendon began the common season as Houston’s third-string quarterback however discovered himself thrown into motion in Week 4. When second-string-turned-starter Nolan Henderson suffered a shoulder damage within the first half — and with former starter Anthony Brown relegated to the No. 3 position — McClendon was pressed into service.

Regardless of getting few reps in the course of the week and dealing with the defending champion Stallions, McClendon appeared unfazed and confirmed off a dwell arm, finishing 71% of his passes for 236 yards and working for an 11-yard rating within the win. 

McClendon did throw a late interception to Birmingham security JoJo Tillery, because the Stallions held on for his or her third consecutive win.

“I believed he performed very, very nicely,” Houston head coach Curtis Johnson mentioned. “Once more, with no reps in the course of the week in opposition to a group like that. … It was a testomony to how he prepares.”

Returning to the sector after lacking final week’s sport as a result of delivery of his second baby, receiver Deon Cain led Birmingham with 143 all-purpose yards, together with a 50-yard landing reception from Matt Corral. Birmingham’s backup, Case Cookus, completed the sport as a result of Corral suffered an obvious hip damage within the fourth quarter. No updates had been offered on his damage after the sport. 

Battlehawks QB Manny Wilkins suffers critical leg damage 

On the opening drive of Saturday’s sport, Wilkins suffered a non-contact damage to his proper ankle. The medical group got here out onto the sector and put an air solid on the injured leg earlier than carting him off.

Sadly for the Battlehawks, Wilkins fumbled on the play whereas he went down in ache. Arlington defensive finish Chris Odom alertly picked up the unfastened ball and returned it 39 yards for a rating. Odom additionally completed with two sacks on the day, and the Renegades completed with six sacks. With the two-point conversion, the Renegades grabbed an 8-0 lead on their technique to a double-digit victory.

“You simply hate that for these guys which are right here on this state of affairs, making an attempt to point out movie,” Arlington head coach Bob Stoops mentioned. “We’ll be praying for him.” 

Former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Max Duggan took over for Wilkins. After turning the ball over 4 occasions in Week 3, St. Louis coughed it up one other thrice in Week 4, which the Renegades became 16 factors. 

Duggan completed 7-of-18 passing for 78 yards, with no landing passes and two interceptions. He ran for 42 yards and was sacked six occasions. “I didn’t play nicely sufficient for us to have an opportunity immediately,” Duggan mentioned postgame. “I’ve received to be higher.”

The Battlehawks received some momentum within the second half when Arlington went for it on fourth-and-1 from their very own 29-yard line and RB Kalen Ballage was stuffed for no acquire. That led to a 53-yard area aim by Rodrigo Blankenship. 

Battlehawks linebacker Willie Harvey reduce Arlington’s benefit to 16-15 when he baited QB Luis Perez right into a throw, selecting it off and going 44 yards the opposite manner for a landing. Down 22-15 and driving for the game-tying rating, the Renegades had an opportunity late. Nevertheless, Duggan’s go to Gary Jennings Jr. was tipped on the aim line and caught by Ajene Harris, who returned it 101 yards for a landing to seal the victory for the Renegades. 

“We’ll determine this factor out, I promise you,” St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht mentioned. “Adversity is one thing I embrace, and I would like my gamers do the identical.”

Frank Ginda leads Michigan protection in win over Showboats 

Led by their protection, the Panthers took care of Memphis at house, with Ginda main his group with 13 mixed tackles. Michigan held Memphis to 150 complete yards on offense.

The momentum-changing play for the Panthers was made by defensive again Arnold Tarpley III. Down 14-9 early within the third quarter, the Showboats had been driving and poised to take the lead. Nevertheless, on second-and-3 from Michigan’s 36-yard line, receiver Eli Range dropped a go from QB E.J. Perry that was behind him. Tarpley made a head-up play to safe the bobbled go for an interception, thwarting the promising drive by the Showboats. 

QB Troy Williams began for Memphis, however interim head coach Jim Turner alternated quarterbacks every sequence between him and Perry, with the latter ending the sport. Perry completed 8-of-16 for 74 yards. 

Stallions’ depth at quarterback pays off

Earlier than the common season began, Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz was happy along with his depth at quarterback, having three gamers who had been starters in spring soccer in Alex McGough, Corral and Cookus. 

Seems, Holtz understood the task — add as a lot skilled depth to the quarterback room as potential to offer his group an opportunity to defend their title. Now, Holtz and the Stallions might be enjoying the group’s third beginning quarterback when the Stallions host the Showboats on Friday on a brief week. 

McGough suffered a shoulder damage in Week 2 and was positioned on IR, which implies he should miss no less than 5 weeks, and Corral suffered an obvious hip damage late within the sport over the weekend. The Stallions signed former Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley, who spent coaching camp final 12 months with the NFL’s New York Jets, final week.

“Case is Case,” Holtz mentioned about Cookus. “He’s a pacesetter. He’s constructive. He’s greatest buddies with all people. He talks to all people. However I’ll inform you, he’s a really mental soccer participant. He’s very clever.”

Harrison Mevis, Rodrigo Blankenship nonetheless excellent on area objectives

Mevis is 8-for-8 on field-goal makes an attempt with a protracted of 53 yards, together with two from no less than 50 yards this season. Blankenship can also be excellent on the season, hitting all 10 makes an attempt with a protracted of 56 yards and three kicks from past 50 yards this season.

Others which have carried out nicely embrace Matt McCrane, who’s 12-of-14 with a protracted of 53 yards, and Matt Coghlin, who’s 6-of-7 with a protracted of 52 yards. Coghlin, who led the league final season with a 94% area aim proportion, solely has one miss on the 12 months up to now, which was a blocked area aim. 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him at @eric_d_williams.

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