Luis Perez's head-scratching decision headlines UFL storylines from Week 8
With the Arlington Renegades trailing by three points and needing only a field goal to send the game into overtime, quarterback Luis Perez took matters into his own hands — with disastrous results.
Instead of spiking the ball to set up a long field goal, Perez faked the spike and tried to connect on a quick out route to get a couple yards closer. However, DC Defenders cornerback Deandre Baker picked off the fluttering pass to seal a 33-30 victory and a spot in the postseason.
"I thought we were just spiking the football and were going to kick the field goal," Arlington head coach Bob Stoops said. "And Luis thought he had the out route, so he threw it. It didn't work that way."
Despite Perez's season-high 350 passing yards, the Renegades were eliminated from the playoffs for a second consecutive season after the critical turnover. Like last year, the Renegades struggled to get over the hump in close games. Now 3-5, all five losses for Arlington have been by a touchdown or less. The Renegades were 1-5 in one-score games last season.
With the victory, the Defenders (6-2) were one of four teams to punch their ticket to the playoffs over the weekend, as the teams in the postseason have been decided with two weeks left in the regular season.
On Saturday, St. Louis Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney forced Birmingham Stallions running back C.J. Marable to fumble with his team driving and 16 seconds left. Cornerback Myles Jones recovered it, and St. Louis held on for a 29-28 victory in front of 30,114 fans at The Dome at America's Center.
St. Louis (6-2) clinched a playoff berth with the victory and Arlington's loss. Even with the setback, the Stallions (5-3) also clinched a postseason berth because the Michigan Panthers (6-2) topped the Houston Roughnecks (3-5) on the road, 30-18.
The UFL announced that no matter how teams finish, the USFL Conference title game will be held at Protective Stadium in Birmingham and the XFL Conference championship tilt will be held in St. Louis on June 8.
Elsewhere, the Memphis Showboats (2-6) outlasted the San Antonio Brahmas (1-7) in overtime, 24-22.
Here's a look at other storylines from Week 8: Jacob Saylors grabs UFL rushing lead with 118-yard performance
A frontrunner for 2025 UFL Offensive Player of the Year, Saylors finished with 118 rushing yards on 16 carries in Week 8 — including a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and a 2-yard run for the ensuing 1-point conversion that served as the winning score.
Saylors now leads the league in rushing yards (466) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (five) with two games left. The Battlehawks have the top rushing offense in the league, averaging 141 rushing yards a contest. St. Louis is now riding a four-game winning streak.
"Birmingham's defense knew we were running the football," St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht said. "We knew we were running the football, and we just kept pounding it away. Ultimately, that was the difference in the football game. But just really proud of the way he (Saylors) played and what he brings to the table.
"He's a captain. He's our best player honestly, and he lives up to those expectations. In the biggest games, in the biggest moments, you've got to show up, and he did."
A late-game scratch, league MVP candidate Bryce Perkins did not play against the Roughnecks due to an ankle injury. Perkins was limited in practice during the week but fully participated Friday and was listed as probable for the game.
However, Michigan head coach Mike Nolan had been rotating Perkins and second-stringer Etling earlier in the year, and the latter performed very well (14-for-22 passes for 167 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions).
"As I settled in and just got to see what the defense was doing, I kind of got into the rhythm of seeing the plays," Etling said. "I got into the rhythm of playing live football again. It's kind of just like old hat. I've been playing football for a long time, so it's no biggie once you get into a rhythm."
Houston QB Jalan McClendon completed 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. However, he did throw a pick-six in the second half with the game still within reach; Michigan CB Keni Lovely returned it 55 yards for the score. Jordan Ta'amu solidifies frontrunner status for UFL MVP award
The Ole Miss product is one of only two quarterbacks (Perez is the other) to start every game this season and continues to churn out prolific passing performances for the Defenders.
Ta'amu finished 15-for-26 with 240 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 24 yards and even caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from receiver Chris Rowland. Ta'amu leads the league in passing yards (1,990) and passing touchdowns (16). He's also No. 16 in the UFL in rushing yards (171).
"I'm just excited for this opportunity to rewrite history," Ta'amu said about his team reaching the postseason. "The last two years it hurt, not winning those championships. We felt like in the locker room that we were the better team."
While his team has struggled to get wins, the USC product has put together some highlight performances over the last two weeks. The latest highlight-reel catch was an acrobatic, one-handed grab for a 5-yard touchdown at the back of the end zone from Perez. Vaughns finished with three catches for 51 yards and two scores on eight targets.
[MORE: Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8]
Over the last two games, Vaughns has 12 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He's sixth in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (344) and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions (three) with two games left.
FOX's Friday night game had a little bit of everything, including a blocked punt followed by a missed field goal. The two teams combined for five turnovers and 128 penalty yards.
San Antonio tight end Steven Stilianos threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson for a touchdown, while another player who usually has his hand on the ground — Memphis defensive tackle Josiah Bronson — reeled in a touchdown-saving interception.
In the end, Memphis QB Troy Williams led his team to two straight two-point conversions in OT for the Showboats' second win this season. Jashaun Corbin finished with 25 carries for 145 rushing yards and a score for the Brahmas.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams .
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League
recommended
Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Roxanne Perez living up to 'The Prodigy' nickname heading into WWE Money in the Bank
Roxanne Perez living up to 'The Prodigy' nickname heading into WWE Money in the Bank Show Caption Hide Caption John Cena warns media, he will ruin wrestling, he is the last real champion in WWE After making history at WrestleMania 41, John Cena warns the media that he will ruin wrestling and he is the last real champion in WWE One way to identify who are the top wrestlers is by who has a nickname. More often than not, those with a tag are some of the greats. There's 'The Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels. 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair. 'The Tribal Chief' Roman Reigns. 'The Viper' Randy Orton. 'The Man' Becky Lynch. 'The Champ' John Cena. The list goes on and on. What do they all have in common? All the aforementioned stars earned their names during their career. It took championship reigns, iconic matches and memorable moments while earning the crowd's praise for them to be bestowed the honor. Then there's Roxanne Perez. From the moment she signed with WWE at age 20, Perez has been dubbed 'The Prodigy.' Meaning a highly talented youth, the nickname set incredible expectations for her. How can you be named 'The Prodigy' and not become an instant success? The bar was set incredibly high for the woman standing at 5-foot tall. So far, Perez has soared above every benchmark set on her. She won the NXT Women's Championship in her first year with the company in 2022, and became the third-ever two-time title holder last year while becoming the face of the women's developmental division. Success at NXT set the foundation, but the real test was going to be whether Perez could continue rolling on the main roster. Like a baseball player, you can be great in the minors, but your legacy ultimately lies in the major leagues. It's a small sample size, but the early returns show 'The Prodigy' really is the perfect nickname. She had a record setting day at the Royal Rumble in February and was in Elimination Chamber one month later. Now officially called-up, she'll have her third main roster premium live event of 2025 in the women's Money in the Bank match. Not bad for being the youngest star on the main roster at 23 years old. ''The Prodigy' is not just a nickname; it's something that I've created myself into through hard work,' Perez told USA TODAY Sports. 'The main roster officially knows that Roxanne Perez, 'The Prodigy,' is here, and she's here to stay, and she's here to make waves.' Roxanne Perez's building confidence The Perez appearing on Monday Night Raw isn't the same one that showed up on NXT three years ago. Gone is that bubbly, innocent new kid on the block who captured fans' hearts. Now is a more blunt, unapologetically vicious star who doesn't care 'what everybody says,' as she puts it. It's a side of Perez that oozes with swagger, but it took time to develop what shows up on screen. Perez said she's glad she spent three years in NXT rather than jumping on the main roster early. In the developmental stage, she believes she really got to work on what she wanted to portray. It's a complete contrast to what helped her establish a spot in the company, but Perez noted she 'evolved into who I was really meant to be.' Showing a successful darker side of herself proved to management she was ready for the call-up. She had developed something that clicked. However, with that came the next challenge: keeping the confidence off-screen. One could argue no one on the roster was as big of a WWE fan as a kid than Perez. It was around age 8 the Laredo, Texas native knew she wanted to be a wrestler. Some wrestlers from that time like CM Punk and Natalya − who she famously got to talk to on "Total Divas" − are still on the roster, and Perez was able to look up to the leaders of the women's revolution as she started getting in the ring. Those same people she admired are now coworkers, and Perez admitted that has led to some bits of imposter syndrome. There were doubts she belonged alongside decorated stars – even as she started racking up her own accolades – and plenty of training was needed to overcome the feeling. 'To have the name prodigy on my back, it was definitely kind of hard mentally because it was like, well, am I 'The Prodigy' when I'm surrounded by all of these people?' she said. 'I really had to kind of find that confidence in me and realize, no, yeah, I am. Just because I'm surrounded by these people that I've watched growing up doesn't mean that I can't be on the same level as them. 'I really had to start training myself to be like, 'you belong here.' And now I feel like everybody knows that I do belong here.' The work Perez has put into her confidence has carried over into the ring. Whether it's shunning away the cheers or scheming menacing methods of victory, Perez has found the right persona for her, and she's still crafting it. She still views every time she appears as an audition, and even for someone on a meteoric rise like her, it feels like the correct approach for a young star. While she's had the opportunity to get her feet wet in the main roster, Perez is in the most delicate stage one could be on in WWE. Success in NXT doesn't mean it carries over onto the main roster. For every star that stays hot, there's another that didn't pan out. It leads to limited opportunities, being forgotten and the eventual release from the company. Perez said she could've been someone that flamed out following her time with NXT, but its the consistent effort being put in that has led to the solid start and building a foundation for it to last. 'I'm trying to prove myself every single night,' she said. 'You can't get comfortable, ever.' Joining the Judgment Day, ready for Money in the Bank The Royal Rumble match was nothing new for Perez after appearances in 2023 and 2024, but it was the 2025 edition that gave a peek of the leap she was bound to take. She was entrant No. 3 and lasted a women's record one hour, seven minutes and 47 seconds, finishing runner-up to Charlotte Flair. It was a monumental moment to put the young star in, and she nearly clinched a WrestleMania match when she competed in the women's Elimination Chamber in March. Even though neither match resulted in victory, it was clear Perez was ready for the big stage, officially joining Raw on May 19. The move to Raw has also led Perez into an intriguing storyline. With assistance from Finn Balor, she has tried to make her way into The Judgment Day, a move she believes will really help further her career. There's been pushback from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez as Perez is trying to get in the good graces of the group by helping out in matches and offering gifts. 'I think it's going well, I don't know if you'd say the same,' she said. 'Some of them are kind of enjoying my time there. Some are not, but that's OK.' One notable moment happened when Perez gifted Dominik Mysterio his beloved chicken nuggets. Fans instantly believed it would lead to her becoming the new on-screen lover for the Intercontinental Champion, therefore leading to heat with his current beloved in Morgan. Regardless of where it leads, it feels like there's just something about Mysterio that makes women swoon. But when asked about what makes Mysterio such a hot commodity, Perez didn't understand what the fuss was about. 'No one says I folded or that I'm in love with him,' she said. 'I don't know who says I find him intriguing in that way. I'm just trying to be in everybody's good graces. 'I think everybody just needs to see how it unfolds.' While she works into the group, Perez will get another massive opportunity with the women's Money in the Bank match on June 7. Win and she gets a championship match at any moment in the next year. It's always been a dream for Perez to compete in Money in the Bank, and she's hoping to make memories during the match where she becomes forever linked with the 2025 show. She also may have given a hint at what she would do if she wins; she said her favorite moments are when the briefcase is cashed in on the same night. So Iyo Sky or Tiffany Stratton aren't safe at all if it's "Rox in the Bank." The PLE win would result in someone that will 'make a change in the woman's division in so many good ways,' Perez said. It could further launch her way toward the top of the roster, and cement 'The Prodigy' wasn't just a nickname for Perez; it was her destiny. 'Everything is going exactly the way that I wanted it to, in the way I manifested it to, and the way I just worked hard for it too,' she said. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Associated Press
Sims leads Los Angeles against Dallas after 32-point showing
Los Angeles Sparks (2-6, 1-5 Western Conference) at Dallas Wings (1-7, 0-4 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles Sparks visits the Dallas Wings after Odyssey Sims scored 32 points in the Sparks' 85-80 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Dallas finished 9-31 overall and 6-14 in Western Conference action last season. The Wings averaged 20.4 assists per game on 31.7 made field goals last season. Los Angeles finished 5-15 in Western Conference play and 8-32 overall during the 2024-25 season. The Sparks averaged 78.4 points per game last season, 15.0 from the free-throw line and 21.6 from beyond the arc. INJURIES: Wings: Paige Bueckers: out (concussion protocol). Sparks: Cameron Brink: out (knee), Rae Burrell: out (leg). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Fox Sports
20 hours ago
- Fox Sports
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Jordan Ta'amu on top as regular season comes to a close
With the UFL regular season coming to a close, there are just three players to consider for the title of UFL MVP. But one stands above the rest. Here's a look at my updated MVP rankings following Week 10: 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 10 stat line: 26-of-32 for 283 passing yards Week 10 result: 23-6 win over San Antonio Perez is the only quarterback to start every game for his team this season, which is no small feat in a league that is built around playing 12 consecutive weeks with 10 of those weeks counting toward the regular season. For the second year in a row, Perez has won the UFL passing title. This year, he did while being the only passer to complete at least 70% of his passes. Had the Arlington Renegades made the playoffs, Perez might've won the UFL MVP for his consistency in excellence alone. As it stands, the 2023 XFL champions enter this offseason with a .500 record but with the foundation to push for their first UFL playoff appearance next season. 2. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 10 stat line: N/A Week 10 result: 19-12 loss to Houston Despite missing three games this season, UFL coaches still opted to name Perkins to the All-UFL team — the only QB to receive that honor. With that acknowledgment, it's clear that the Panthers wouldn't be a postseason team for a second year in a row if not for Perkins' efforts as a backup and then a starter for Mike Nolan's team. His 1,342 passing yards with nine passing and four rushing touchdowns is remarkable given the sample size in a league that is defined by its quarterback play. Frequently, the strength of that position will give an indication of the ceiling the team has, and Perkins' play demonstrated that, as the Panthers are capable of winning their first UFL championship. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 10 stat line: N/A Week 10 result: 13-8 loss to St. Louis No player has been more important to his team's winning than Ta'amu. Had he not sat out the final game of the season, Ta'amu might've finished No. 1 in passing yards and touchdowns. Through nine games, Ta'amu was the only player to throw for more than 2,100 yards while averaging 13.9 yards per completion. The Defenders did not finish as strong as they started, but their signature wins came early. Ta'amu led them to a Week 1 victory against the defending UFL champs, who they could meet in the UFL title game. Then in Week 3, he led them to a 27-15 win against the St. Louis Battlehawks in St. Louis. No doubt, Ta'amu will remember that when the Defenders and Battlehawks meet again this weekend in St. Louis for the XFL Conference Championship. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
