Showboats Drop Heartbreaker in Home Opener

Brahmas storm back to win 20-19.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 6, 2024) – The Memphis Showboats lost in excruciating fashion Saturday afternoon at Simmons Liberty Bank Stadium. The San Antonio Brahmas scored all 20 of their points in the fourth quarter to score a come-from-behind victory over Memphis, 20-19.

The Showboats (1-1) led 16-0 after three quarters. But settled for field goals on four possessions that ended in the red zone, including three that ended inside the 5-yard line.

San Antonio (2-0) sandwiched a pair of touchdowns around a Matt Coghlin field goal to pull within five points, 19-14. The second of those scores came with less than a minute left and no timeouts remaining. The Brahmas then took advantage of the UFL’s alternate to an onside kick, allowing them to retain possession with 4th-and-12 at their own 28.

Quarterback Chase Garbers threw a strike right at the line to gain to convert the first down and allow San Antonio to retain possession. Eight plays later, Garbers found tight end Cody Latimer alone in the end zone with three seconds remaining to put the Brahmas on top 20-19.

Memphis opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Case Cookus to wide receiver Daewood Davis. That toss capped a 13-play, 42-yard drive that ran 7:44 off the clock. A one-point conversion run by Cookus put the Showboats on top 7-0. .

Memphis extended its lead to 13-0 at halftime on a pair of Matt Coghlin field goals, including one as time expired before halftime. Coghlin put the Showboats on top 16-0 with 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a 22-yard field goal.

Postgame Notes

• Memphis is now 1-1 on the season
• Memphis head coach John DeFilippo is now 8-4 as a head coac.
• This is the second game DeFlippo has coached with the Showboats and his first at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. 

Offense 

• Daewood Davis scored the first points of the game, a 2-yard touchdown on a pass from Case Cookus
• The Showboats have opened the scoring in each of their first two games with time-consuming drives. The Showboats drove 42 yards in 13 plays taking 7:44 off the first-quarter clock in Saturday’s game. Last Sunday, Memphis opened the game with a 16-play, 56-yard drive that utilized the first 10:56 off the first quarter clock. 
• Cookus scored the first points after touchdown for the Showboats this season following the team’s first-quarter touchdown.
• Cookus’ 48-yard pass to Jonathan Adams in the third quarter was the longest play of the game.

Defense

• The Showboats shut out the Brahmas for the first three quarters. Memphis has now held its opponent scoreless in five of eight quarters this season.
• T.J. Green tied for the team lead with 7 tackles and 2 tackles-for-loss. He led the way with 6 solo stops
• Delrick Abrahams also tied for the team lead with 7 tackles. His fourth-quarter interception looked as though it might seal the game for Memphis, but the Brahmas mounted a furious comeback
• Maximillian Roberts recorded 2 sacks and one forced fumble, which led to a field goal and a 10-0 lead for the Showboats.

Special Teams

• Matt Coghlin was 4 for 4 on his field goal attempts and is now 6-of-7 on the season.

Postgame Press Conference

— With files provided by the Memphis Showboats.