he Houston Roughnecks managed to hold on to their lead in a tightly contested game against the Vegas Vipers, winning 28-21 at TCECU Stadium. With an official attendance of 10,967 fans, the Roughnecks improved their record to 6-3, while the Vipers fell to a disappointing 2-7. With the win, the Roughnecks clinch the South Division and will host the South Division playoff game in Houston on April 29th.
The Roughnecks started slowly, trailing 6-0 after the first quarter but managed to score six points in the second quarter, narrowing the Vipers’ lead to 12-6 at halftime. Houston came out strong after the break, scoring 13 points in the third quarter and another nine in the final quarter to seal the victory. The Vipers put up a valiant effort, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short.
Houston’s rushing game was a major factor in the win, with Max Borghi and Brycen Alleyne both finding the endzone. Borghi finished with 74 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Alleyne contributed 42 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. The Roughnecks’ defense also played a key role in the game, with linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee leading the team with 11 tackles, including 6 solo tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Vegas Vipers quarterback Jalan McClendon had a solid performance, completing 27 of 37 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. However, he also lost a fumble, which proved costly. The Vipers’ rushing attack was led by John Lovett, who carried the ball nine times for 46 yards and a touchdown, with an impressive average of 5.1 yards per carry.
In the receiving department, John Lovett topped the Vipers with 63 yards on four receptions, while Geronimo Allison caught six passes for 60 yards. For the Roughnecks, Justin Smith led with 26 receiving yards on two catches.
Special teams played a role in the game as well, with Vipers kicker Sam Sloman going 1 for 2 on field goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards, while Roughnecks kicker Austin Jones was perfect, hitting his only field goal attempt from 28 yards out.
The Vipers will look to bounce back from this loss in their next game, while the Roughnecks will aim to continue their winning ways and solidify their position in the standings.
XFL Box Score
