The Houston Roughnecks Suffer Defeat in Their Final Home Game of the Season

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Hosting the USFL Conference’s second seed, the Michigan Panthers, the Houston Roughnecks battled until the conclusion of the contest, leaving the stadium with a loss in their final home game of the 2024 season, 26-22.  

With the game clock starting at 15:00, the visiting Panthers would attain control of the ball  possession with a total of 11 minutes. Following a series of three and outs, Michigan made two  red zone a/ppearances. At the HOU 22-yard line, RG Josh Dunlop would receive an offensive  holding penalty, sending the team back 10 yards and reversing the 13-yard touchdown on the  play. As the Panthers attempted to recoup from their mistakes, the Roughnecks would spoil their  second possession with a fumble loss on their first down. Putting the ball back in the hands of the  opponent, Michigan would correct their error ahead of the second quarter with a 3-yard rushing  touchdown by RB Nate McCrary putting the first score on the board.  

Seeking to score, Houston slowly drilled down the field while battling penalties and incomplete  passes. Making their first red zone debut of the match, the Roughnecks would settle for a 39-yard  field goal, producing their own points 6-3. Michigan would go quietly in the final minutes of the  second quarter, but the boys in blue would begin to pick up the slack defensively with the first  interception of the game by LB D’Juan Hines, sealing the score 6-3 heading into the tunnel for halftime.  

Receiving the ball to start, Houston would return to the field hot-wired with a 63-yard  touchdown catch by WR Justin Hall on the second play of the second half; drilling their first lead  of the game 9-6. As the offense produced the match, the defense would ignite the fire with  another tipped interception by FS Markel Roby to end Michigan’s first drive of the half. To keep  up the scoring momentum, the Roughnecks offense would capitalize with another touchdown  reception by WR Justin Hall, increasing their lead to 16-6 following a successful 1-point  conversion.  

Still battling, the Panthers would only let 6 points go unanswered as they journeyed to the  endzone for a 4-yard touchdown by WR Trey Quinn, closing in on the Roughnecks’ lead. But the  home team would continue to dominate the third. After a face mask penalty against Michigan  and placing them at the 2-yard line, fans would cheer RB Mark Thompson across the goal for  another Roughnecks touchdown. 

With a score of 22-12 on the board, both teams entered the final set of fifteen contending to see  who would come out on top. In the first five minutes of the quarter, the Panthers would cut into  the Roughnecks lead with a 11-yard rushing touchdown by QB Bryce Perkins and successful 1- point conversion; increasing the score 22-19. Only needing to hold-off Michigan’s powerful  offense, but the task would prove to be challenging as Panthers QB Bryce Perkins continued to  scramble across the field, evading the Houston defense. The fast-on-foot QB would walk into the  Houston end zone for another touchdown, putting them back on top 26-22. Unable to gain their  promising momentum back, the Roughnecks would again fall short after failing to score in the  fourth. 

Houston will face USFL Conference rivals, the Memphis Showboats, in their last road game of  the season at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. on Sunday, June 2. Game 10  will air on FOX at 6 p.m. CT/7p.m. ET.  

POST GAME NOTES:  

• WR Justin Hall recorded a season-high 2 receiving touchdowns and led the team with  109 yards.  
• QB Nolan Henderson finished with a season-highs of 150 passing yards and 67 rushing  yards. 
• LB D’Juan Hines snagged his first interception of the season.  
• FS Markel Roby recorded his second interception of the season, continuing to lead the  team with 2. 
• RB Mark Thompson continues to lead the team with 5 rushing touchdowns.