Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three factors and needing solely a discipline purpose to ship the sport into additional time, quarterback Luis Perez took issues into his personal palms — with disastrous outcomes.
As an alternative of spiking the ball to arrange an extended discipline purpose, Perez faked the spike and tried to attach on a fast out path to get a pair yards nearer. Nonetheless, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering cross to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot within the postseason.
“I assumed we have been simply spiking the soccer and have been going to kick the sector purpose,” Arlington head coach Bob Stoops stated. “And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn’t work that method.”
Regardless of Perez’s season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades have been eradicated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the crucial turnover. Like final yr, the Renegades struggled to recover from the hump in shut video games. Now 3-5, all 5 losses for Arlington have been by a landing or much less. The Renegades have been 1-5 in one-score video games final season.
With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) have been one in all 4 groups to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, because the groups within the postseason have been determined with two weeks left within the common season.
On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney pressured Birmingham Stallions working again C.J. Marable to fumble along with his staff driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in entrance of 30,114 followers at The Dome at America’s Heart.
St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington’s loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) additionally clinched a postseason berth as a result of the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the highway, 30-18.
The UFL introduced that irrespective of how groups end, the USFL Convention title recreation will likely be held at Protecting Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Convention championship tilt will likely be held in St. Louis on June 8.
Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in additional time, 24-22.
Right here’s a have a look at different storylines from Week 8:
Jacob Saylors grabs UFL speeding lead with 118-yard efficiency
A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Participant of the Yr, Saylors completed with 118 speeding yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — together with a 1-yard landing to tie the sport late within the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the following 1-point conversion that served because the profitable rating.
Saylors now leads the league in speeding yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in speeding touchdowns (5) with two video games left. The Battlehawks have the highest speeding offense within the league, averaging 141 speeding yards a contest. St. Louis is now driving a four-game profitable streak.
“Birmingham’s protection knew we have been working the soccer,” St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht stated. “We knew we have been working the soccer, and we simply saved pounding it away. Finally, that was the distinction within the soccer recreation. However simply actually pleased with the best way he (Saylors) performed and what he brings to the desk.
“He’s a captain. He’s our greatest participant actually, and he lives as much as these expectations. Within the largest video games, within the largest moments, you’ve acquired to indicate up, and he did.”
Danny Etling leads Panthers with three-TD efficiency
A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins didn’t play in opposition to the Roughnecks as a result of an ankle harm. Perkins was restricted in apply through the week however totally participated Friday and was listed as possible for the sport.
Nonetheless, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier within the yr, and the latter carried out very properly (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions).
“As I settled in and simply acquired to see what the protection was doing, I form of acquired into the rhythm of seeing the performs,” Etling stated. “I acquired into the rhythm of taking part in dwell soccer once more. It’s form of similar to outdated hat. I’ve been taking part in soccer for a very long time, so it’s no biggie when you get right into a rhythm.”
Houston QB Jalan McClendon accomplished 30 of fifty passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns within the loss. Nonetheless, he did throw a pick-six within the second half with the sport nonetheless inside attain; Michigan CB Keni Beautiful returned it 55 yards for the rating.
Jordan Ta’amu solidifies frontrunner standing for UFL MVP award
The Ole Miss product is one in all solely two quarterbacks (Perez is the opposite) to start out each recreation this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders.
Ta’amu completed 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns within the win. He additionally ran for twenty-four yards and even caught a 9-yard landing cross from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta’amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He’s additionally No. 16 within the UFL in speeding yards (171).
“I’m simply excited for this chance to rewrite historical past,” Ta’amu stated about his staff reaching the postseason. “The final two years it harm, not profitable these championships. We felt like within the locker room that we have been the higher staff.”
Whereas his staff has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put collectively some spotlight performances over the past two weeks. The most recent highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed seize for a 5-yard landing in the back of the tip zone from Perez. Vaughns completed with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets.
[MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns’ one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8]
During the last two video games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He is sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in landing receptions (three) with two video games left.
Showboats escape San Antonio in additional time win
FOX’s Friday evening recreation had somewhat little bit of all the things, together with a blocked punt adopted by a missed discipline purpose. The 2 groups mixed for 5 turnovers and 128 penalty yards.
San Antonio tight finish Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard landing cross to Dee Anderson for a landing, whereas one other participant who often has his hand on the bottom — Memphis defensive sort out Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception.
Ultimately, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his staff to 2 straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats’ second win this season. Jashaun Corbin completed with 25 carries for 145 speeding yards and a rating for the Brahmas.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting 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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