Showboats stop Stallions in OT for first win of season

Field Level Media|published: Sat 26th April, 01:22 2025

Showboats fans cheer on their team during the UFL game between the Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tenn., on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

After the Birmingham Stallions tied the game on a late touchdown, the visiting Memphis Showboats picked up their first win of the season, 24-20, in overtime on Friday night.

The Showboats (1-4) had a chance to win in regulation, but Matt Coghlin was wide right on a 57-yard field-goal attempt. In the best-of-three overtime format, the Showboats completed a pair of two-point conversions, while the Stallions (3-2) came up empty.

Stallions quarterback Case Cookus, who was 15-for-33 for 145 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, found Marlon Williams on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left. Cookus then hit Jace Sternberger for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 20-all.

The Showboats jumped out to an 11-0 lead, highlighted by a 78-yard touchdown pass from Dresser Winn (17 of 29 for 235 yards) to Dee Anderson late in the first quarter. Memphis led 17-3 at the half after Isiah Hennie took the ball 108 yards for a score following a missed field goal late in the second quarter.

Cookus connected with Jordan Thomas on a 33-yard score in the third for the Stallions' first TD, then the teams traded field goals in the fourth before Cookus' late heroics forced overtime.

--Field Level Media