Memphis Showboats clawed out a victory against the Houston Gamblers, bringing the final score to 23-20. Both teams entered the game with an identical win-loss record in the USFL standings (4-3), making this contest a critical one for both the Showboats and the Gamblers.
Houston Gamblers’ Performance
The Houston Gamblers had a rather tumultuous performance. Quarterback Kenji Bahar struggled to find consistency, completing only 18 of his 39 passes for 216 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. However, Bahar also managed to gain 4 yards on the ground.
The Gamblers’ ground attack was more effective, with RB Mark Thompson leading the charge. Thompson managed to rush for 42 yards on 13 attempts, finding the end zone twice. RB Shermari Jones contributed 20 yards on just 3 carries.
The Gamblers’ leading receiver was TE Josh Pederson who hauled in 5 catches for 93 yards. Other notable contributions in the passing game came from WR Teo Redding (5 receptions for 57 yards) and WR Justin Hall (2 receptions for 19 yards).
Nick Vogel was efficient in the kicking game, making both of his field goal attempts.
Defensively, CB Manny Bunch stood out with an interception, a sack, and six tackles. Additionally, DT Isaiah Chambers and CB Donald Rutledge Jr. provided significant contributions with 4 tackles each. However, despite their efforts, they couldn’t quite stifle the Showboats’ offense enough to secure the win.
Memphis Showboats’ Performance
The Memphis Showboats overcame some offensive inconsistency to secure the win. QB Cole Kelley completed 12 of 24 passes for 146 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception.
On the ground, RB Kerrith Whyte was the primary workhorse, carrying the ball 19 times for 81 yards. RB Juwan Washington contributed with 34 yards on 9 carries.
WR Derrick Dillon was the standout receiver for the Showboats, catching 2 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. TE Daniel Helm also contributed significantly with 42 yards on 3 receptions. WR Vinny Papale also caught a touchdown pass.
Alex Kessman performed admirably in the kicking game, making three out of four field goal attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, CB Manny Bunch put up a commendable performance with an interception, a sack, and six tackles. MLB Khalan Tolson and OLB J.T. Tyler also contributed significantly with 5 tackles each.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, the Houston Gamblers showed potential in their running game. They will be looking to improve their passing performance and tighten up their defense in the coming games.
The Memphis Showboats, on the other hand, will be pleased with their defensive performance and the resilience they showed in securing this narrow victory. They will be aiming to continue this momentum into their next game.
With both teams now sitting at a 4-4 record, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining their playoff prospects.
USFL Box Score
