ARLINGTON – It’s a bit shocking because of how well quarterback Luis Perez has played this season, and because their coach is probably the most famous, and winningest, coach in the United Football League.
But the Arlington Renegades remained winless after a tight game with San Antonio Saturday evening here at Choctaw Stadium. John Lovett scored on a 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter to break a 15-all tie, and Ryan Santoso kicked a 31-yard field goal with 6:17 left to seal a 25-14 win.
Coach Wade Phillips’ San Antonio Brahmas improved to 4-1 with the win; the Renegades dropped to 0-5. Next week, both teams will be on the road: the Renegades play at Michigan on Sunday, a 1 p.m. ET / noon Central kickoff at Ford Field in Detroit. San Antonio plays at the D.C. Defenders Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 3 Central at Audi Field.
Both games are on FOX; for tickets, go here: The UFL | Schedule.
Arlington running back Leddie Brown (4, top) is upended by San Antonio defensive back Darius Phillips (2). (Photo by DENNIS JACOBS – THEFOOTBALLBEAT.COM)
The Brahmas got a good showing from their quarterback, Quinten Dormady, who went 19-of-30 for 164 yards and a touchdown, and overcame three interceptions to get the win.
He found Jontre Kirklin six times for 43 yards, and also hit Alize Mack three times for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Marquez Stevenson had three catches for 32 yards in the win, as well.
The ground game was a big part of the win.
Lovett finished with 95 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 carries. Morgan Ellison had a good day as well: he ran the ball seven times for 84 yards.
The Renegades had another good statistical showing in the loss; it’s just not showing up on the scoreboard.
Perez went 26-of-36 for 270 and a touchdown. He found his man J.P. Payton seven times for 119 and a score. Sal Cannella had six catches for 40 yards and Tyler Vaughns had five catches for 45.
The running game, or the lack thereof, was a problem again for the Renegades. Dae Dae Hunter (below, left) had nine rushes for 33 yards and Leddie Brown had five rushes for 16.
Lovett had a 36-yard run on the Brahmas’ opening possession, setting them up with good field position at the Arlington 19-yard-line. But a big sack by Arlington’s Willie Taylor III forced a 43-yard field goal by Santoso, giving the Brahmas a 3-0 lead.
The Renegades got a connection from Perez to Vaughns but couldn’t do anything more, and were forced to punt. The Brahmas would get a huge 33-yard run from Morgan Ellison, and they would score a touchdown on the drive, a 24-yard pitch-and-catch from Dormady to his tight end, Mack. The conversion would fail, though, leaving San Antonio with a 9-0 lead with 5:34 left in the first quarter..
Arlington, trying to jump-start its offense, got an 11-yard catch from Vaughns and a 12-yard rush from Hunter, but the drive would stall and the Renegades would have to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Jonathan Garibay. He hit it, though, and cut the Brahmas’ lead to six (9-3) early in the second quarter.
San Antonio would answer back with a 10-play, 69-yard drive, capped off with a rush from Lovett, his first touchdown of the day. The conversion would fail, but pushed the Brahmas’ lead up to 15-3, with 9:54 left in the half.
Arlington went on a nine-play, 54-yard drive, but would ultimately come up short on fourth down, and turn the ball back over to San Antonio.
The Renegades would get the stop they needed, though, forcing the Brahmas to punt. That, and a big 15-yard facemask penalty on the punt return, set them up nicely to get some points before the half. Arlington would score and score fast with a huge bomb from Perez to Payton, a 52-yard score. No conversion, though, but the Renegades had pulled within six, 15-9, with 2:10 left until the break.
Arlington got even more momentum when it got a pick by Steven Jones Jr., setting the Renegades up for a chance to put even more points on the board before the half and draw closer to finding the first win of the season. But Garibay’s 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Brahmas.
San Antonio took over with 51 seconds left in the half and drove close enough to try a 45-yard field goal of their own, but Santoso’s kick was wide right, leaving it 15-9 Brahmas at the break.
The Renegades got a 46-yard field goal from Garibay get within three of San Antonio (15-12) on the first drive of the second half, and then a big defensive play by Ajene Harris: an interception of Dormady.
That set Arlington up with great field position that it converted into another field goal, this time tying the game on a 33-yarder by Garibay (15-15), with 5:59 left in the third quarter.
That’s where the Brahmas broke the game open, though. Their offense would get into scoring position and Lovett scored on the 5-yard run early in the fourth, then the game-clinching field goal from Santoso with just over six minutes left.
