Wolfpack Fall To Renegades 42-35 In Last Seconds

The Washington Wolfpack faced off against the Beaumont Renegades in the Angels Of The Wind Arena on ViceTV. The Wolfpack had won two road games in a row and returned to play in front of their home crowd for the first time since facing Albany. This game was a rematch from two weeks ago, when the Wolfpack won. The Wolfpack fell to the Renegades, 42-35.

Wolfpack Start Strong In First Half

The Washington Wolfpack started the game with the ball, and everybody was surprised to see it was Eric Phoenix who came out on the field instead of Jaiave Magalei. Magalei had a personal/family issue and was out for the game. Phoenix started the game a little off schedule, but found his rhythm on the first drive. He hit Aakiel Greer for a 22-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead over the Wolfpack.

Beaumont wasted no time answering, however. Andrew McBride hit Dontrell Morrison for a 21-yard touchdown in a drive that only took four plays in two minutes. 

On the next drive, the powerful running back Undra Hendrix took a screen play all the way to the one-yard line. Head Coach JR Wells rewarded him on the very next play with a short run for the touchdown! The touchdown gave the Wolfpack a 14-7 lead. 

On the next drive, Beaumont converted on fourth down to keep the ball moving, driving down to the 24-yard line. Byron Edwards intercepted a deflected pass to halt the drive, as Washington took the ball over at the end of the first. To start the second, Phoenix hit JoJo Olibrice for the first down. Phoenix then hit Deshon Williams for a touchdown to give the Wolfpack a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Beaumont tried to rally, driving the ball down the field methodically. There were several defensive penalties that helped keep the drive alive. The Wolfpack held the Renegades on second down on the two-yard line. On third down, Tywon Buckley watched the quarterback’s eyes perfectly and intercepted the ball. 

Phoenix helped move the ball down the field, hitting Justin “JoJo” Olibrice for multiple receptions. However, Phoenix was hit from behind on one of the next plays, and the ball popped loose. The Renegades took the ball back with 3:14 left on the clock and were looking to draw closer before halftime. 

Coming out of the one-minute warning, Beaumont quarterback McBride pushed the ball down the field to Zuri Davis, taking them to the eight-yard line. A penalty on the Wolfpack on third down moved the ball to the four-yard line. McBride then hit Zuri Davis for a passing touchdown, bringing the game score to 21-14 with 38 seconds left. 

Eric Phoenix hit Deshon Williams for a seventeen-yard pass with just seven seconds left in the half. However, the Renegades sacked Phoenix on back-to-back plays to end the half. The Wolfpack held on to a 21-14 lead. 

Second Half Battle

To start the second half, Beaumont had a 38-yard kick return to put them in great field position. Right after that, McBride hit Vincent Wilkerson in the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game 21-21. On the resulting drive, Washington turned the ball over on downs. The Washington defense knew they had to step up and make a play, and they did as Eugene Ford intercepted the ball. 

It didn’t take long for Phoenix to hit Deshon Williams on a short pass that Williams took for 29 yards. On the very next play, Phoenix found Williams wide open in the endzone to give the Wolfpack the lead. After a blocked extra point, the game was 27-21 in the third. The Renegades were able to answer, though, as Vincent Wilkerson ran for a touchdown, giving the Renegades a 28-27. 

On the next drive, Brandon Lombana caught a ten-yard pass. The Renegades thought they forced a fumble, but he was down on the play. The Wolfpack ended up turning the ball over on downs. Beaumont was able to drive down the field, and McBride hit Zuri Davis again for a touchdown to take a 35-27 lead. 

The Renegades turned the ball over at the five-yard line, with hopes their defense could stay strong with six minutes left in the game. They held them to fourth and nine, but McBride hit Zuri Davis for the first. The Wolfpack defense wasn’t done, though, as they forced a fumble, and Machiah Lee recovered it with less than two minutes left in the game. 

Washington had 42 yards to go with just a minute remaining in the game. On 4th and 9, Phoenix hit Deshon Williams on a crossing route. Williams hurdled a defender and ran it in for the touchdown. The Wolfpack went for two to tie the game after the touchdown. They got it to tie the game 35-35. Beaumont challenged the play, but the play was upheld, keeping the game tied with 21 seconds left. 

The Renegades ran the kickoff back for a touchdown to take the lead back, 42-35. The Wolfpack had 45 yards to go in 13 seconds. With three seconds left, Phoenix sent up a Hail Mary, but the ball was deflected. Washington fell to 2-4, losing 42-35. 

Eric Phoenix's First Start And Other Standouts

Despite the loss, there was plenty of positivity on the Wolfpack side. Eric Phoenix, making his first start, threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns. He had what appeared to be some initial jitters, but settled into a rhythm rather quickly. Head Coach JR Wells did a great job managing the game and calling plays to put his players in good positions to succeed. 

Deshon Williams also stood out again, having six catches for 124 yards and three touchdowns. No plays were bigger than his late-game touchdown after he hurdled a defender after catching a short pass and took it to the house. With all the weapons Washington has, it is tough to cover all of them, and Williams was the benefactor in tonight's game. 

The defense also had some really good plays. Despite the points allowed, the defense played strong and had several highlights. Byron Edwards, Tywon Buckley, and Eugene Ford all had interceptions. The defense also forced a fumble late in the game, which led to the game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion. 

What's Next For Wolfpack

The Wolfpack are on the road next week to take on Oregon again, the team they beat last week 79-19. The Lightning may be out for revenge, but this Wolfpack team is focused and will be ready for the challenge. That game is on Saturday, May 30, at 6 PM.