Brahmas lose second game of the season against the Roughnecks

FEBRUARY 19, 2023: The St, Louis Battlehawks against the San Antonio Brahmas at The Alamo Dome on February 19th, 2023 in San Antonio, TX. 

(© Alonso RamirezIII/XFL)

Alonso RamirezIII/XFL

FEBRUARY 19, 2023: The St, Louis Battlehawks against the San Antonio Brahmas at The Alamo Dome on February 19th, 2023 in San Antonio, TX. (© Alonso RamirezIII/XFL)

Rylan Renteria, Contributor

HOUSTONThe San Antonio Brahmas lost their week three away matchup to the Houston Roughnecks 22-13.

The Brahmas started hot with a 59-yard kickoff return to the Houston 36-yard line. A couple of nice rushes from RB Kallen Ballage would set the Brahmas up to score, and they would with a 9-yard touchdown pass from QB Jack Coan to WR T.J Vasher. 

The Roughnecks would respond the following drive with a 7-yard touchdown throw from quarterback Brandon Silvers to wide receiver Jontre Kirkland. A two-point conversion would put the Roughnecks up 8-7.

After three consecutive drives with no scores between the teams, the Roughnecks started moving the ball with a pair of 25-yard catches to get into the red zone. The Brahmas defense struggled to contain Kirkland. The LSU alum caught a 3-yard reception touchdown, his second of the half.

The Roughnecks would get the ball back after another Brahmas three and out and cap off a seven-play three minute drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Silvers to WR Deontay Burnett. 

Houston went into the half up 22-7, thanks largely to the San Antonio offense’s inability to move the ball through the air. The Brahmas had 35 passing yards at the break and were 1 for 6 on third down. 

In the second half, the Brahmas defense settled in and made it tough on Silvers. San Antonio defensive back Kameron Kelly picked off Silvers to give the Brahmas a chance with 8:12 left in the third. 

San Antonio would take advantage, marching down the field to score off a Jacques Patrick rushing touchdown. After a missed two-point attempt, the gap was reduced to just nine points.

From then on, it was a chess match between the two defenses. 

The Brahmas were able to get all the way down to the Houston goal line, thanks to a pass interference call on Houston defensive back Ajene Harris. San Antonio’s offense was unable to gain a single yard on four attempts and turned the ball over on downs with just under four minutes remaining. 

That would be the Brahmas’ last shot at winning the game as they were unable to cross midifeld on their final possession and Houston walked away with the victory 22-13. 

Next week the Brahmas will travel to Seattle to take on the Sea Dragons. The week four matchup will kickoff at 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at Lumen Field.