Chase Garbers' Comeback Bid Falls Short in UFL loss

Former Cal quarterback Chase Garbers nearly pulled off a last-minute comeback victory for the second week in a row, but this time it fell short.

Garbers' fourth-down incompletion with 16 seconds remaining on Sunday afternoon left his San Antonio Brahmas on the short end of a 31-24 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks in a United Football League game in San Antonio. The loss dropped San Antonio's record to 2-1.

Garbers entered this week's games leading the UFL in touchdown passes (five), completion percentage (73.8%), passer rating and total QB rating.

And he also came into the game against St. Louis knowing he could direct a late, game-winning drive. Last week, Garbers threw two touchdown passes in the final minute, including the winning TD throw with three second remaining, in a 20-19 victory over Memphis.

He almost did it again this week.

Garbers finished Sunday's game 27-for-41 for 143 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in his quarterback duel against St. Louis' A.J. McCarron, the 2023 XFL MVP, who went 19-for-27 for 152 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and one touchdown run.

McCarron and the Battlehawks seemed to have the game in hand when they scored with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter to take a 31-18 lead. But Garbers did his best work from that point on.

His 2-yard touchdown pass to Alize Mack reduced the St. Louis lead to 31-24 after the two-point conversion attempt failed with 2:10 remaining. The Brahmas then chose to kick off and held the Battlehawks to a three-and-out before regaining possession at their own 21-yard line with 1:43 left and two timeouts in their pocket.

Garbers drove San Antonio to the St. Louis 44-yard line but faced a fourth-and-4 with 21 seconds remaining. His fourth-down, 20-yard pass over the middle fell incomplete with 16 seconds left, effectively ending the game.

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