HIGHLIGHTS:
SAN ANTONIO – After a month away, the San Antonio Commanders returned home and showed their fans exactly why everyone in the city should be excited about this football team.
The Commanders used their signature style defense to earn a 19-15 win over the Salt Lake Stallions (2-5) in front of a league-record 30,345 fans at the Alamodome on Saturday night.
The win was the fourth straight for the Commanders, who currently sit in first place in the Western Conference.
“Our guys brought it together enough to win the game,” Commanders Head Coach Mike Riley said. “It was a competive hard fought game. It was outstanding.”
Salt Lake City would settle for a field goal in the game’s opening drive, despite San Antonio’s defense suffering two injuries. The Commanders would score on their first possession of the game as quarterback Logan Woodside found MeKale McKay for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 6-3 but would miss the two-point conversion. The visitors would knot the score up with a field goal in the second quarter.
San Antonio would have a shot for points at the end of the half but would settle for a 24-yard field goal from Nick Rose to give the Commanders a 9-6 lead at halftime.
The Commanders would go three-and-out to start the second half as the Stallions would settle for a 52-yard field goal to knot the score up at nine apiece. Woodside would go down with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, so backup quarterback Marquise Williams would enter the game.
Williams sparked the Commanders in the final stages of the fourth quarter. He connected with Trey Williams for a 36-yard touchdown reception to put San Antonio ahead for good.
“He proved everybody right,” Riley said of Williams’ performance. “I was really impressed he made some plays to help us win the game.”
Salt Lake would drive down the field 75 yards as quarterback Josh Woodrum found Terrell Newby for a 21-yard score but Woodrum’s two-point conversion chance would be intercepted as De’Vante Bausby stepped in front of the pass and returned it untouched to the house, making it 19-15.
“They’re tough and aggressive,” Riley said of his corners. “They play hard and made some tough plays to win us that football game.”
UP NEXT:
The Commanders are now 5-2 on the season and will return to the field next Sunday when they welcome the Arizona Hotshots (3-3) at 7 pm Central Time from the Alamodome.
