On Friday, May 16th, the Memphis Showboats will travel to the Alamodome to take on the San Antonio Brahmas. Posting identical 1-6 records, both teams have struggled this season after experiencing quarterback and head coaching losses. Moving forward under the guidance of Interim head coaches Jim Turner and Payton Pardee, the Showboats and Brahmas seek their second win.
A CHANGE AT QUARTERBACK
Quarterback Dresser Winn has an impressive 61.9% completion rate for 638 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Winn’s record is the 6th best in the league despite playing in only four games. Winn has also been effective on the ground, posting another 38 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown.
However, after Winn suffered a right knee injury last week against the St. Louis Battlehawks, Coach Turner has named Troy Williams as the starter with E.J. Perry as the backup. Winn is listed as “probable” so if needed, he could see action.
Williams last starting game this season was in Week 4 against the Michigan Panthers. To date, he’s completed 16/27 passes for 180 yards with one interception. Williams also found the end zone this season on five carries for 39 yards with one touchdown.
After taking over for Kellen Mond two weeks ago, quarterback Kevin Hogan recorded 408 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Drafted by the Chiefs in 2016 in the fifth round, Hogan has been with several other NFL teams before being signed by San Antonio a year ago.
THE GROUND GAME
With running back Wes Hills out of the lineup this week due to a leg injury, the Memphis ground game will rely on Deneric Prince (74 carries for 260 yards with one touchdown) and Jalen Jackson (25 carries for 63 yards). Prince, the former Kansas City Chief, has been effective as a power back in short yardage situations.
Although San Antonio has relied on the talents of running back Anthony McFarland, he is still dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the past few weeks. Consequently, the Brahmas signed recently released Michigan Panther’s running back Jaden Shirden. He joins Jashaun Corbin and Aidan Robbins in the back field for San Antonio. Corbin has 238 yards and two scores on 48 carries and another 83 yards on 11 receptions. Robbins has 17 carries for 51 yards with two touchdowns.
THE LATEST ROSTER MOVE
A few weeks ago, Memphis GM Jim Monos entered into an agreement with San Antonio trading talented wide receiver Dee Anderson (15 catches for 183 yards and one TD) for cornerback Darius Phillips.
Unfortunately, the trade has proven less than successful for either party. Due to injury, Phillips never played a single snap for Memphis and was released by the Showboats earlier this week. Anderson has appeared in only one game for San Antonio and has yet to record a reception. Prior to the trade, Anderson caught a stunning 78 yard touchdown pass from Winn in his debut appearance. The catch is the longest touchdown reception this season.
THE PASSING GAME
One of the bright spots for the Showboats this season has been the outstanding play of wide receiver Jonathan Adams who is leading the UFL in receiving yards 30 receptions for 407 yards with two touchdowns. Taking advantage of Adams’ athleticism, OC Noel Mazzone deployed Adams in the ground game with two carries for another 23 yards.
Rounding out the talented receiving corp for Memphis is Kwamie Lassiter with 21 catches for 231 yards with one touchdown and Kai Locksley with 7 receptions for 116 yards. Locksley was one of the top receivers in last weeks game, with 3 receptions for 60 yards including a beautiful 30-yard reception.
Former All-UFL Team wide receiver Daewood Davis who only recently returned to the Showboats lineup, will be looking for his first reception on Friday night.
For the Brahmas receiving corps. Jacob Harris, (15 receptions for 247 yards), Jontre Kirkland (26 for 201 yards) and Justin Smith (eight catches for 149 yards) are the favorite targets. However, neither of the three men have scored a touchdown. The Showboats’ defense hopes to capitalize on this statistic and keep it going.
MEMPHIS DEFENSE
DC Jarren Horton has done an impressive job improving the Memphis defense with LB Steele Chambers (54 tackles, two PBR’s) and safety Eli Walker (39 tackles, one INT and two PBR’s) leading Horton’s defense. Jaylon Allen and Andrew Dowell lead the team in sacks. Dowell, a recent addition to the defense has only played three games but he has been a terrific addition, recording a forced fumble and 22 tackles in addition to the sack.
Although the Showboats have two interceptions and five forced fumbles, the lack of turnovers continues to haunt the team with a minus 10 ratio against their opponents.
SAN ANTONIO DEFENSE
Things might not get any easier for Memphis this weekend when they face one of the UFL’s top defenses with last year’s ALL-UFL Team member LB Tavante Beckett joined by LB Jordan Williams and safety Jordan Mosely. Like last year, these three combine to present a fierce defensive challenge with a combined 152 tackles, five PBR’s and one interception. Safety Jalen Elliot (35 tackles, one INT and two PBR’s) and CB Corey Mayfield (20 tackles, one INT and two PBR’s ) have both proven very effective for San Antonio this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Showboats wide receiver and special-teams return specialist Isiah Hennie is one of the more explosive and exciting players on the field. Hennie added another 97 yards last week with four kickoff returns for a total of 455 all-purpose yards this season.
After taking over for Donald De La Haye, field goal kicker Tristan Vizcaino has a record of 4/5 field goals with a longest of 54. Showboats kicker Matthew Coghlin continues his impressive season. Coghlin is 11/13 with a longest of 52-yards.
The action begins at 7:00 pm CDT when the Memphis Showboats take on the San Antonio Brahmas Friday May 17th at the Alamodome. The game will be televised on FOX UFL Friday. Tickets are still available.
