A two-point conversion was all the difference as the Arlington Renegades improved to 2-0 on the season with an 11-9 victory over the Houston Roughnecks (0-2) Sunday.
A nine-yard connection from quarterback Luis Perez to wide receiver Deontay Burnett broke a 3-3 stalemate, putting the Renegades up 9-3. After a successful two-point conversion, also to Burnett, Arlington led for good.
Coming off a 33-point performance in their season opener, the Renegades came out victorious in a different game style. The match was physical, hard-hitting and defensive, one that saw multiple players leave the game for injuries.
“You do have to win different ways and find a way to do it. We did,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “I think you have to really credit the defense for how strong they played the whole day.”
Both teams got off to slow starts offensively. After the Renegades scored a field goal in the opening quarter, the Roughnecks equalized the game 3-3 with a field goal as the first half wound down.
Perez said the team’s self-inflicted wounds hurt them from finishing drives.
“From the offensive standpoint, it was kind of one of those games,” he said.
Action picked up in the third quarter for both teams. Arlington seemed to gain momentum after Perez’s 29-yard completion to tight end Sal Cannella. However, Cannella took a shot to the head by a Houston defender that caused him to fumble and turn the ball over.
After a 33-yard return, Houston possessed the ball at midfield, primed to capitalize with points. However, the very next play, Renegades cornerback Ajene Harris intercepted a pass by Roughnecks quarterback Anthony Brown that solicited a roar from the crowd.
Despite the back and forth, the game was still knotted heading into the fourth quarter.
With a little over 10 minutes remaining, the touchdown and two-point conversion by Burnett gave the Renegades an eight-point lead.
The Roughnecks didn’t go out without a fight. After being replaced for a couple of drives, Brown led Houston 67 yards for a touchdown. Trailing 11-9, Houston needed to attempt a two-point conversion to tie the game. Unable to find an open receiver, Brown scrambled to the right but dove short of the goal line.
Houston’s chances dwindled, but it had one last opportunity to keep the hope alive. The Roughnecks attempted to convert a fourth-and-12, a rule unique to the United Football League but similar to an onside kick in the NFL. The Renegades’ defense came up with the stop, seemingly ending the game.
“I just want to tip my cap to our D-line,” Harris said. “They work very hard every week getting to that quarterback, and today, they got to that quarterback and made it kind of easy for us in the secondary just to do our job.”
Arlington’s defense held Houston to 225 total yards and 63 rushing yards.
The Renegades will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Birmingham Stallions at 7 p.m. Friday. The game will be televised on FOX.
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