SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio has a new professional football team, and the Brahmas made their XFL debut at the Alamodome Sunday afternoon.
XFL co-owners Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia made a big announcement at the game, saying that the Alamodome will host the XFL's championship game this season.
“Our inaugural XFL season is officially rolling with our eight teams showing out and representing the passionate fans of their cities,” The Rock said. “From now through May, our athletes have their eyes set on the Championship game and we’re pumped to bring this historic event to the Alamodome. Plus, on a very personal note, I started my wrestling career in San Antonio, specifically at the Alamodome. This was my very first Royal Rumble. The city, the fans - San Antonio and the state of Texas helped shape my career.”
"You could feel it today, the passion, the excitement," Garcia said. "This city has been overlooked in the past and this is an opportunity, we are not gonna do (that). This is an incredible city they're so warm, so much juice, so much history and heritage, and this is a football town."
“San Antonio is the perfect spot for the XFL’s inaugural championship game, and we are more than ready to host this exciting event,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “From the Alamo to the Riverwalk to the city’s burgeoning culinary scene, XFL fans will have an array of fantastic entertainment options for championship weekend in San Antonio.”
The Brahmas, coached by Super Bowl champion Hines Ward, locked horns with the St. Louis Battlehawks in a defensive battle in front of over 24,000 fans at the dome downtown on Sunday afternoon. San Antonio dominated for much of the contest, but the defense faltered late in an 18-15 defeat.
Quarteback Jack Coan threw a pick on San Antonio's first possession, but the defense held and the Brahmas struck first with a field goal on their second trip. Coan put together a 10-play drive at the start of the second quarter, but lost a fumble. St. Louis capitalized and tied things up with a field goal.
The Brahmas drove down the field at the end of the first half and got in position for a 34-yard try, but Parker Romo missed the field goal and the teams went into halftime knotted at three.
Brahmas running back Kalen Ballage helped lead another long drive to start the second half, and this time the chip shot went through the uprights to put San Antonio in front.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter Coan connected with Fred Brown three times, and the third was a touchdown in the back corner of the endzone. After another stop by the defense, the Brahmas got Romo in position for a 48-yard field goal and he drilled it to make it a two-possession game.
PHOTOS: San Antonio Brahmas make XFL debut at the Alamodome
St. Louis had struggled all day offensively, but ripped off a 71-yard drive that ended in a touchdown pass in under two minutes. They went for a three-point conversion from the 10-yard line and made it to pull within a field goal.
Instead of going for an onside kick they tried a 4th and 15 play from their own 25, and they converted it to keep the ball. The Battlehawks drove into the red zone, and AJ McCarron threw a dart down the seam to give St. Louis their first lead of the game with 16 seconds left.
The Brahmas couldn't make a miracle comeback at the end, and fell 18-15 in their home opener. They'll head to Orlando next week in search of their first win, and their next home game will be on March 19 against Arlington.