The UFL | The Roughnecks fail in the season finale

MEMPHIS, TN – The Houston Roughnecks traveled to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium this week to take on the Memphis Showboats with the intention of avenging their Week 1 loss and capturing the top pick in the 2025 UFL Draft.

The Roughnecks finished the 2024 UFL season with a 1-9 record on the season and a fourth place finish in the USFL conference.

The match started slowly for both teams. After nine weeks of facing each other since the last time, both teams were feeling really good and trying to find a rhythm on the offensive side of the ball. Memphis took the lead on its first drive, making the score 3-0 after

Showboats K Matt Coghlin split the uprights at 29 yards. The Roughnecks thought they took the lead on the next drive, after Roughnecks QB Nolan Henderson found his favorite target, WR Justin Hall, in the end zone. However, the play was called due to a costly offensive pass interference penalty, and the ball was turned over on downs a few plays later to keep the score at 3-0.

The second quarter showed promise from the young Roughnecks offense, Henderson was able to get Houston down the field by finding open receivers, including a 43 yard completion to returning RB Kirk Merritt the field for the first time since injuring his wrist. Week 2 vs. DC However, after two trips to the red zone, the Roughnecks only had a 25-yard field goal from JJ Molson to prove it. While Coghlin managed to score another basket for the home team at the end of the first half, both teams headed to the locker room with the score 6-3 in favor of Memphis.

The second half began with the Roughnecks receiving the ball, Henderson, as if taking some advice from his former teammate Lamar Jackson, was moving the Houston offense around.

back through the air, finding WRs Keke Chism and Justin Hall for big gains, before having Merritt find the end zone from a yard out to cut the Showboat lead to three. The Showboats looked ready to respond, until Showboats QB Josh Love’s pass was intercepted by Roughnecks S Markel Roby and taken for a touchdown. Despite the touchdown being called back due to an illegal blocking penalty, the Roughnecks began the final quarter of the season with the ball in their possession.

Houston started the fourth quarter by tying the game at 12, thanks to a 39-yard field goal from JJ Molson. The Showboats, however, proved difficult to contain thanks to the uncompromising running of Darius Victor. Victor found the end zone again, making the score 19-12 in favor of Memphis after a successful one-point conversion. The Roughnecks offense took the field again with just over six minutes left and under seven minutes to play. Nolan Henderson, who proved to be a problem for the Showboat defense all night, began to lead the Roughnecks down the field with completions to Hall and WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams. But when a short Hall completion wasn’t enough to convert a 4th down, the Memphis Showboats took over and managed to run out the clock.

POST-GAME NOTES

• Making his second start of the season for the Roughnecks, quarterback Nolan Henderson was 21-34 with 232 yards and 43 yards rushing.
• S Markel Roby had his third interception of the season, tying him for first in the league in that category.
• LB Marvin Moody led the way for the Roughnecks defense, recording 10 tackles.