Juwan Manigo of the Arlington Renegades is hit by Ja’von Hicks and Gabriel Sewell Jr. of the Houston Roughnecks (UFL Photo)
The former XFL champions, and now UFL Arlington Renegades, demonstrated a mediocre effort in their week four game against the Houston Roughnecks.
Both teams came into the game winless, however, Arlington boasted a high-powered offense that had demonstrated effectiveness in their first three games. Arlington was just waiting for an opponent like Houston, a team that had haphazardly shot itself in the foot in its first three games, to put a notch in the win column. Unfortunately for Arlington, a win would not be in the cards for them as they did not seem to have anything in their tank.
The Renegades started off with great hope when they forced and recovered a fumble on the first punt of the afternoon. However, the offense could only manage to go three and out, resulting in a 31-yard field goal made by K Jonathan Garibay, who was just signed to the team on Friday.
Early in the second quarter, Houston would get on the board with a field goal of their own, knocked in from 25 yards out by J.J. Molson, tying things up at 3-3. Later in the quarter, after a turnover on downs for the Renegades offense, Houston found paydirt on a 3-yard pass from QB Reid Sinnett to WR Emmanuel Butler, followed by a successful two-point attempt. At halftime, Arlington trailed 11-3.
The points kept coming for Houston in the third quarter, as they went on an 11-play scoring drive that ended in a 10-yard touchdown rush by RB Mark Thompson, who made his season debut. Following an unsuccessful one-point attempt by the Roughnecks, the Renegades found themselves in a 17-3 hole. Arlington’s offense would respond on their following possession with a touchdown of their own, however, as QB Luis Perez found WR Deontay Burnett for a seven-yard score. An unsuccessful one-point attempt cut the Renegades’ deficit to 17-9 at the end of the third quarter.
A missed 53-yard field goal by Houston’s Molson kept it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. The Renegades comeback attempt would be thwarted in the waning seconds of the contest, however, as QB Luis Perez was strip-sacked by Houston DE Chris Odom. Houston won 17-9, giving Arlington their fourth straight loss to start the season.
On Sunday, the former high-powered Renegades offense posted only 193 yards of total offense, their lowest so far this season. Luis Perez went a mediocre 5-for-28 (54%) for 144 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Leddie Brown had 8 carries for 17 yards on the ground, and wide receiver Deontay Burnett led the team with 58 yards on four receptions, while also scoring his first touchdown of the year.
The Renegades defense only allowed 17 points versus Houston, which was their lowest of the season. DT Jalen Redmond had two sacks and two tackles for loss, in addition to three total tackles. He now has 4.5 sacks for the year, leading the team. Safety Tenny Adewusi had a game-high nine total tackles, in addition to a sack and tackle for loss.
Kicker Jonathan Garibay made his Renegades and UFL debut, converting his lone attempt from 31 yards out in the first quarter.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Bob Stoops blamed the “wind,” among other reasons, for the loss.
The attendance for the game at Rice Stadium in Houston was also mediocre, at 7,179.
For their next game, the Renegades will head back home for week five of the regular season. They’ll face the San Antonio Brahmas (3-1) on Saturday, April 27 at 6 p.m. CT on FOX at Choctaw Stadium.
