MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Showboats dominated on all sides of the ball right up until the final 48 seconds where they allowed the San Antonio Brahmas to score a touchdown, grab a fourth and 12 conversion and score another touchdown to win 20-19.
The Showboats looked ready to roll from the opening kickoff with Trey Williams returning it for over 35 yards.
QB Case Cookus wouldn't take long to find the end zone from there, going 42 yards on 13 plays ending with a touchdown pass to Daewood Davis. Cookus then rushed it in to complete the one-point conversion to give Memphis a 7-0 lead.
The Showboats' defense protected the early lead and gave San Antonio nothing to work with, holding them to 14 total yards and one first down in the first half.
Memphis took a 13-0 lead into the sheds.
Case Cookus left the game for a play in the third quarter after getting up slowly from a tackle, but that wouldn't stop him. Later in the quarter Cookus threw a 48-yard dime to Jonathan Adams, which led to another Showboats field goal and a 16-0 lead.
San Antonio tried to make a game of it in the fourth quarter with a Chase Garbers 10-yard TD pass to Marquez Stevenson, followed up by a 2-point conversion to make it just an eight point game.
The Showboats would kick yet another field goal to take a 19-8 lead and that would be the score all the way until the 48 second mark when Garbers found Marquez Stevenson for the score and they added on a two point conversion.
Trailing by three the Brahmas went for the three-point conversion and failed. They then chose to go for it on fourth and 12 instead of an onside kick and executed. That allowed the Brahmas to score their second TD (Garbers five yards to Jontre Kirklin) in 48 seconds which propelled them to a 20-19 win.
San Antonio ended up outgaining Memphis 310 to 288 yards. Cookus went 17-31 for 194 yards and one TD.
Maximilian Roberts led the Memphis defense with 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 tackle for loss and 2 tackles.
Matt Coghlin went 4-4 of field goals with his longest going for 35-yards.
With the loss, the Showboats and new head coach John DeFilippo start the season 1-1. Next they will play the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday, April 13 at 6 p.m. CT.