#NNPA BlackPress

Houston Roughnecks Seal South Division with Comeback Win

On Saturday, April 15, the Houston Roughnecks played their regular-season home finale against the Las Vegas Vipers. After a slow start, the Roughnecks came alive in the second half to earn their second straight win. Despite the sweltering heat, nearly 11,000 fans gathered in TDECU Stadium to watch live action in the XFL. What is […]
The post Houston Roughnecks Seal South Division with Comeback Win first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

April 19, 2023

Forward Times Staff

What is the XFL?

The XFL is a professional football league, founded by WWE executive Vince McMahon in 2001. In 2018, he created a revamped version of the league, featuring eight teams (including the Houston Roughnecks). The Roughnecks were undefeated through the first five games of the 2020 season. But the XFL shut down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it filed bankruptcy the next month. It was bought in bankruptcy court by a group that included megastar Dwayne Johnson (known as The Rock) — and Dany Garcia, his business partner (and ex-wife). Garcia became the first female owner of an American pro sports league.

The XFL re-launched in February 2023, with eight teams split into two divisions. (By contrast, the NFL consists of 32 teams split across two conferences and into eight different divisions.) Its name reflects a unique approach: as Johnson puts it, “the X in XFL represents the intersection of dreams and opportunity.”

The XFL functions largely like the National Football League. Two teams of 11 players each compete on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with possession of the football, attempts to advance down the field (and score points) either by running with the ball or passing it; the defense works to stop them from scoring and get the ball themselves. The offense has four chances (called “downs”) to advance the ball ten yards (known as a “first down”). If they fail, they have to kick the ball away to the other team (known as a “kickoff”).

Typically, NFL kickoffs have players running into each other at warp speed; sometimes they even run into the kicker! But the XFL uses a modified kickoff: teams line up five yards apart while the kicker boots the ball away. No one (except kickers or returners) can move until the ball is caught or hits the ground. (This reduces player collisions, thus making the game safer.)

The XFL also features innovative rules that distinguish it from the NFL. The play clock lasts for 35 seconds instead of 30. Instant replay can correct errors made on non-reviewable plays. Typically, NFL touchdowns are followed by an extra-point kick; two-point conversions are relatively rare. But in the XFL, teams have more options: they can try for one extra point from the two-yard line, two points from the 5, or three points from the 10. And overtime rules are different. Rather than play an extra period, each team gets three chances to attempt a conversion from the opponent’s five-yard line.

Perhaps most notably, the XFL features an interactive experience for both fans and media.

The Game

Saturday’s game was the first meeting ever between these two teams; head coaches Wade Phillips and Rod Woodson are first-year XFL coaches. The Roughnecks notched an overtime win over the San Antonio Brahmas the previous Sunday. That Easter Sunday victory helped Houston clinch a playoff berth. (In the XFL, the top two teams in each division make the playoffs.) The Roughnecks entered the game leading the South Division at 5-3. Meanwhile, the Vipers have been eliminated from playoff contention, with a record of 2-6.

First Half

Turnovers dogged the Roughnecks in the first half. Houston quarterback Brandon Silvers threw an interception in the first quarter. Vipers defensive back Keylon Kennedy picked off a pass intended for Roughnecks receiver Deontay Burnett. The Vipers took advantage of the turnover and scored the first points of the game. Vegas quarterback Jalan McClendon passed to John Lovett for 28 yards, then threw to tight end Sean Price for the touchdown. (The Vipers attempted a one-point conversion, but Roughnecks player A.J. Hendy caught the ball that was meant for Price.)

Early on in the second quarter, Roughnecks receiver Cedric Byrd fumbled the ball. Vipers DB Maurice Smith forced the fumble; linebacker C.J. Avery recovered it. It was Houston’s second turnover of the day, and Vegas again capitalized. Jalan McClendon tossed to receiver Cinque Sweeting for a two-yard touchdown. Running back John Lovett attempted to run in for a two-point conversion, but Houston’s defense smothered him. Still, Vegas led 12-0 with nine minutes left in the half.

With under four minutes to go in the half, Roughnecks linebacker Deandre Johnson strip-sacked Jalan McClendon. Johnson hit McClendon as he was preparing to throw. The ball slipped out, spiraling onto the ground. Linebacker Tavante Beckett picked the ball up and returned it for a score, flipping into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown.

The Vipers responded with a field goal attempt. Their kicker Samuel Sloman has some history in Houston. Two years ago, he kicked the game-winning field goal at NRG Stadium, helping the Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans on Jan. 3, 2021. But this time, Sloman wasn’t so lucky: he missed a 55-yard field goal as time expired. The Vipers led 12-6 at halftime.

Ajene Harris with a scoop and score touchdown – Photo from XFL Media

Photo from XFL.com

RB Brycen Alleyne goes airborne into the end zone – Photo from XFL Media

Running back Max Borghi scored a touchdown in the third quarter – Photo from XFL Media

Second Half

Houston got the ball to start the second half. Turnovers continued to hamper the Roughnecks. Silvers threw his second interception in the third quarter. Once again, it was Keylon Kennedy who picked Silvers off. Vegas took over on offense. But Houston took the ball right back.

McClendon threw to Vipers wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who made the catch. But Roughnecks defensive back Ajene Harris snatched the ball right out of Bryant’s hands, running toward the goal line and flipping into the end zone.

It was Houston’s second defensive touchdown, tying the game at 12. Silvers’ one-point conversion pass was caught by tight end Tavonn Salter. Houston took a 13-12 lead with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

Houston’s defense wreaked havoc on the next drive. McClendon got sacked by two Houston defenders, losing three yards. Then Burt lost seven yards on a rush foiled by the defense. And Jeff Badet dropped a pass on third down. Vegas was forced to punt.

Houston’s offense turned on the jets on its drive. Cam McDonald entered the game at QB and ran for five yards before running back Max Borghi rushed 21 yards to the 12-yard line. Brycen Alleyne lost two yards on a rush. But then Brandon Silvers returned, connecting with receiver Travell Harris for a 12 yard-gain. It was first and goal at the two-yard line. Max Borghi scored with a two-yard rushing touchdown.

The conversion attempt was no good. But Houston had taken its first lead of the game, with Vegas trailing them 19-12.

The fourth quarter started with some major blows for the Vipers. McClendon got sacked again on first down. On third down, Houston’s defense tackled the receiver short of a first down. Vegas settled for a field goal; this time, Sloman drilled a kick from 53 yards out. Houston’s lead narrowed; they led Vegas 19-15 with 13 minutes left.

But it wouldn’t stay close for long. After empty drives for both teams, Max Borghi broke free for a 36-yard run. Borghi thrilled spectators as he ran all the way from midfield to the 14-yard line.

Fellow running back Brycen Alleyne took it from there, sprinting forward for 14 yards before somersaulting into the end zone. Alleyne launched himself into the air, soaring sideways before he landed on the ground.

Alleyne celebrated his touchdown score with a backflip in the end zone. Then he jumped into the stands to celebrate with fans.

Alleyne was excited to celebrate his touchdown with the home crowd. “It was definitely exciting,” Alleyne said. “This is my first XFL touchdown. I had a touchdown against Seattle. They called it back. So, this is my first official touchdown…I’ll take it.”

Both Alleyne and Borghi took advantage of opportunities to run in what’s normally a pass-heavy offense. “[If] they’re going to give us an opportunity to run, we’re going to take advantage of it — and we did,” Borghi said after the game. “Coach called our names, me and Bryce both, and we made plays when it mattered most.”

After the touchdown, Houston’s conversion attempt failed. But the Roughnecks had jumped out to a ten-point lead. They were up 25-15 with eight minutes to go.

The Vipers took advantage of a defensive miscue by Houston. Refs flagged DB David Tolentino for pass interference. That 28-yard penalty set Vegas up to score. Vipers RB John Lovett sped away from the defense for a 25-yard touchdown. The Vipers chose to go for two, but the conversion attempt failed. Now they trailed by just four points, with Houston leading 25-21.

Borghi jump-started the offense with a huge kickoff return, rushing 31 yards before Cameron Sutton knocked him out of bounds. Refs penalized Sutton for a late hit, adding 15 yards to the run. Houston progressed from there. On 3^rd and 8 on the eight-yard line, Houston was stopped short. They elected to try a field goal. Kicker Austin Jones drilled a 28-yard field goal to give the Roughnecks a 28-21 lead.

With under two minutes left, the Vipers had to convert…and fast. Starting on the 30, McClendon threw to receivers Jeff Badet for 21 yards and Geronimo Allison for 12 more. He connected again with Badet on back-to-back plays. With 30 seconds remaining, the Vipers had a chance to score a touchdown and tie (or win) the game. But 30 seconds ticked down to 18. Despite having a timeout to spare, the Vipers let time run off the clock, due to confusion over whether to spike the ball or run a play.

“I was thinking [we were clocking it]. Then I realized Jalan was calling a play, and I told (offensive play-caller Ray Sherman) to clock it and we didn’t, so I finally called timeout,” Vipers coach Rod Woodson said. “That was like a 10-second window. That’s something Jalan will learn from. He’ll get a better feel for when he should and shouldn’t do things.”

As more time ticked away, the Vipers rushed to the line and spiked the ball. Just four seconds remained. Vegas had one last chance to tie (or win) the game. But McClendon’s pass to receiver Matthew Sexton was too high and fell incomplete.

The Houston Roughnecks won, 28-21. They’ve won the South Division with a record of 6-3. And they’ve earned home field advantage: the Roughnecks will play in the South Division Championship on April 29. For the first time since 2019, a Houston football team will play a playoff game at home.

Roughnecks head coach Wade Phillips praised his team for making the playoffs and earning home-field advantage. “That’s two out of our four goals. One was to make the playoffs; two was to win the division and play at home; three is to win the divisional game, and of course four is to win the championship. So we’re halfway there,” he said. “I’m proud of our team.”

The post Houston Roughnecks Seal South Division with Comeback Win appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

The post Houston Roughnecks Seal South Division with Comeback Win first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

Posts by Forward Times Staff

Up Next

Prairie View A&M University Lady Panthers Outdoor Track & Field Shine Bright at the Carl Knight Invitational

Don't Miss

Global Unveiling VW ID.7 NYC #AutoNetwork #ID7

Forward Times Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

COMMENTARY: Jim Crow 2.0 at the Pentagon

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 3, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Pete Hegseth insists that he is restoring “merit” to the United States military. But after months of dismissals, blocked promotions, and ideological purges, the evidence tells a different story. His campaign against so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” has become something far more dangerous: an assault on equal opportunity that falls with particular force on African Americans, while also targeting women, Latinos, gay Americans, and transgender service members.

The latest example is both troubling and infuriating.

Once again, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of an exceptionally qualified woman—Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt. Bauernschmidt is no ordinary officer. She became the Navy’s first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, one of the most demanding leadership assignments in the world. Her career reflects decades of exemplary performance, operational excellence, and leadership under extraordinary pressure.

Yet once again, a distinguished military career appears to have been subordinated to an ideological agenda masquerading as “merit.”

I call BS!

The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement.

The pattern has become impossible to ignore.

General Charles Q. Brown Jr., only the second African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed despite a career that placed him among the most accomplished military leaders of his generation.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman ever to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, was removed despite decades of distinguished command experience.

Reports have documented interventions that blocked or delayed the promotions of Black officers and women selected through the military’s rigorous promotion system.

Now Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt joins the growing list of highly accomplished officers whose careers have been derailed for reasons that have never been persuasively explained.

Where is Congress?

Its silence has become deafening.

Congress has an independent constitutional responsibility to oversee the armed forces. Instead, too many lawmakers have watched silently while one of the nation’s most respected institutions is subjected to ideological litmus tests and political interference.

This is not military reform. It is testosterone-fueled performative masculinity disguised as a philosophy of military excellence.

The irony is impossible to miss. Hegseth repeatedly invokes “merit,” yet his rhetoric begins with the assumption that Black officers, women, and other historically excluded Americans must somehow justify their achievements in ways that white male officers are rarely required to do.

That is not meritocracy. It is prejudice wrapped in patriotic language.

No one is asking that anyone be promoted because of race or gender. Americans simply expect that promotions be based on demonstrated competence, leadership, integrity, and service. The officers being targeted have already proven themselves repeatedly under one of the world’s most demanding evaluation systems.

Their records speak for themselves.

The attack on African American military leadership has been especially pernicious.

For generations, Black Americans fought in segregated units, earned decorations while denied equal treatment, and repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to a nation that often failed to extend them full citizenship. They broke barriers not because standards were lowered but because excellence finally overcame institutional discrimination.

Today’s campaign against “diversity” threatens to revive old assumptions under new slogans.

The implication that Black generals and admirals somehow owe their success to affirmative action rather than extraordinary performance echoes some of the ugliest stereotypes of the Jim Crow era. Yesterday’s segregationists claimed Black Americans were inherently less qualified. Today’s culture warriors simply employ more politically acceptable language while inviting the same suspicion about Black achievement.

That is why Hegseth’s campaign increasingly resembles Jim Crow 2.0.

The targets may now wear stars on their shoulders instead of military patches on segregated uniforms, but the underlying message is hauntingly familiar: Black excellence is presumed suspect, while white excellence is presumed earned.

America’s military became the finest fighting force in history because it opened its doors to talent wherever it could be found. It grew stronger after President Truman desegregated the armed forces. It became stronger when women assumed greater command responsibilities. It became stronger when every qualified American was given the opportunity to serve to the fullest extent of their abilities.

Diversity is not a concession. It is a strategic advantage.

The nation’s adversaries do not fear an American military because it is racially homogeneous. They fear it because it draws upon the talents of more than 340 million Americans whose diverse experiences, perspectives, and abilities make our armed forces unmatched anywhere in the world.

Every politically motivated dismissal of a distinguished officer sends a chilling message throughout the ranks: excellence alone may no longer be enough if you belong to the wrong demographic group.

That weakens morale. It weakens recruitment. It weakens retention.

And ultimately, it weakens national security.

Pete Hegseth has every right to pursue military readiness. He has no right to redefine merit in ways that repeatedly cast suspicion upon the accomplishments of Black officers, women, and others who have devoted their lives to defending this nation.

America deserves better. The men and women who wear the uniform deserve better. The Constitution deserves better.

And unless Congress finds the courage to exercise meaningful oversight, history may well remember this period not as a restoration of military excellence, but as the moment political ideology attempted to resurrect, in modern form, the old poison of exclusion.

Jim Crow did not strengthen America. Jim Crow 2.0 will not strengthen America’s military. It will only diminish it

Wade Henderson
Strategic Advisor
Civil and Human Rights
wade@wadejhenderson.com

bpusa-syndication

Posts by bpusa-syndication

#NNPA BlackPress

New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial

By Emilie St. John (Contributor) Karmelo Anthony will return to court next month in his first step to overturn his murder conviction. Anthony was found guilty last month in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His new legal team has filed motions seeking the recusal of State District […]
The post New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 31, 2026

Oakland Post

By Emilie St. John
(Contributor)

Karmelo Anthony will return to court next month in his first step to overturn his murder conviction.

Anthony was found guilty last month in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His new legal team has filed motions seeking the recusal of State District Judge John Roach Jr. from overseeing the appeals process.

Two hearings have been scheduled on the motion for Aug. 9 and 10 in the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, according to Fox4 News.

On July 14, Senior Judge Sid L. Harle of the 226th District Court was assigned to preside over the defense’s motion to recuse Collin County Judge John Roach. The assignment took effect immediately and authorized Harle to handle all matters related to the recusal request, the filing read.

The Collin County District Attorney’s Office continues to defend its handling of the case by issuing a statement to NBC 5 DFW.

“The defendant’s new lawyers have filed a motion containing several inaccurate characterizations of the trial proceedings. The entire prosecution team and I conducted this trial ethically and in full compliance with the Court’s rulings and any agreements with defense counsel. We look forward to addressing these claims thoroughly in a Court of law in the coming weeks. The jury heard extensive evidence over the course of the trial and returned a unanimous verdict. We remain confident in that verdict and the fairness of the proceedings.”

Anthony’s new legal team, made up of appellate, civil rights, and criminal defense attorneys, was retained following Anthony’s conviction.

“Our responsibility is to determine whether a legal error occurred and to ensure that every issue supported by the record is fully and vigorously presented on appeal,” the team said in a statement.

“We recognize the profound loss suffered by one young man’s family and the uncertainty facing another, and we extend our respect to everyone whose lives have been forever changed by these events,” the release reads.

Anthony was charged with the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, April 2, 2025. Anthony has long maintained it was an act of self-defense.

The attorneys are representing Anthony pro bono. The nearly 200-page notice of appeal seeks a new trial because his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated.

“The cumulative and practical effect of these provisions was to exclude members of the public from proceedings at every stage,” the filing reads.

The filing also focused on an alleged “handshake deal” that kept Anthony from taking the stand in his defense.

The defense filing said the agreement was that the jury would not hear that Metcalf and his twin brother had been accused of racism and bullying in the past. In exchange, they also would not see Anthony’s cellphone records or his school disciplinary record, according to court documents reported by the Dallas Morning News.

Anthony’s former defense attorney, Mike Howard, said the defense relied heavily on that deal. The team chose not to ask certain questions of witnesses or call on a separate expert witness based on that agreement. It also abandoned plans to introduce testimony and evidence about the allegations against Metcalf and his brother.

Appellate attorney Russell Wilson is now handling post-trial proceedings and Anthony’s appeal. He recently sat down for an interview, stating, “The court committed multiple errors during the June murder trial, preventing him from receiving a fair trial.”

“You know, we file motions that we expect to prevail on, but we understand that there’s two sides to every story. And at the end of the day, it’ll be a judge that has to make these decisions, but we feel confident in the positions that we’re taking,” Wilson said during an interview with WFAA. “There were substantial issues that we thought a reviewing court needed to look at. We thought these were constitutional irregularities, and we could have them addressed now. And so, we put them into a motion for a new trial.”

Bree West, a former Dallas County Assistant District Attorney, found it startling that so little time was given to Anthony’s team for such a serious “life or death” situation.

“I do think that it’s really challenging that potentially a court decided that you have 10 minutes to make that level of decision when it has the potential of being life-altering,” said West during an interview with Fox 4 News.

Judge Harle is no stranger to high-profile cases, having presided over the prosecution of a police officer charged in connection with the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Anthony was convicted on June 9 of the murder of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

The post New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump!

WESTSIDE GAZETTE — The author criticizes Donald Trump’s rhetoric, noting his use of terms like “Dumbocrats” and “Communist” to describe Democrats and democracy. The column asserts that Trump’s current strategy involves creating doubt about midterm elections due to a lack of Republican agenda.
The post COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 31, 2026

Oakland Post

Frankly Speaking

Wow! Wow! Wow! The swamp drainers have truly stepped down to new levels of stupidity. You remember Weapons of Mass Destruction? We now have Weapons of Mass Distraction. Trump has introduced Dumbocrats and Communists into the conversation about Democrats and Democracy.

Trump lies so much, and his current strategy is to set up doubt about midterm elections because he and Republicans have no agenda!

He has no “Trump “ card, but Iran has a strait! He called it a skirmish; it’s now a War. He said five days; now it’s five months. He said few casualties; now it’s 18 deaths. He knew nothing about Project 2025 but hired its architects! Trump lies about the lies and often forgets these little inventions called cameras and phones

We see and hear and then see and hear the inconsistencies.

I didn’t like 45 and dislike 47 even more!

The post LSMFT! Lord Save Me From Trump! appeared first on The Westside Gazette.

Based on reporting by Westside Gazette.

The post COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.