Houston Roughnecks Week 6 Recap, Notes, Photos and Postgame Press Conference

St. Louis Missouri, May 4, 2024 – The Houston Roughnecks traveled to the Midwest this week, hoping to bounce back from last week’s lopsided loss versus the undefeated Stallions, to face the St. Louis Battlehawks and their red hot offense.

The Roughnecks are now 1-5 on the season and in fourth place in the USFL conference.

Both team’s defenses showed up to play at the start of the game. While the Roughnecks and the Battlehawks were trading three-and-outs, the home team provided the first turnover of the game as Battlehawks’ QB A.J. McCarron’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Roughnecks S Markel Roby. Roby, intercepting his first pass of the season today, added four tackles and a pass breakup to go along with the interception.

It wasn’t until the second quarter until the deadlock was broken between the two teams. A.J. McCarron managed to find his favorite target, WR and former Iowa State Cyclone Hakeem Butler for the 17 yard touchdown to put the Battlehawks in front 6-0. The Battlehawks were able to find the end zone once more before the end of the half when McCarron found Steven Mitchell Jr. on the last play of the half, sending both teams to the locker room with the score at 14-0 after the successful two-point conversion.

The second half opened with the Roughnecks offense showing positive signs. Rushing attack led by Mark Thompson and T.J. Pledger IV started to get into a rhythm, while QB Reid Sinnett was able to find WRs Justin Hall and Emmanuel Butler on a couple of occasions. Despite a few big plays from the offense, the Roughnecks were still looking for their first touchdown as both teams ended the third quarter with the same score.

The Roughnecks began the fourth quarter with the scoring play that they’d been searching for all afternoon. RB Mark Thompson scampered into the endzone from 16 yards out to make it 14-6 and a one possession game. Things looked even more promising for the away team as Roughnecks DE Chris Odom stopped Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors on fourth down. However, the Roughnecks weren’t able to find the endzone again and with McCarron finding Butler again for a touchdown, ending the game 22-8 in favor of the Battlehawks.

GAME NOTES

For the second week in a row, WR Justin Hall led the team in receiving yards (59) and currently leads the team for the season (283).
RB Mark Thompson found the endzone for the second time this season, he is now the team’s leader in touchdowns and second on the team in rushing yards (93).
SAF Donald Rutledge Jr. led the Roughnecks once again with seven total tackles, he currently leads the team in that category for the season (32).