Jacksonville, FL – The Vegas Knight Hawks soared into VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Sunday afternoon with hopes of securing a road victory, but ultimately fell to the Jacksonville Sharks by a final score of 36-19. Despite flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, the Knight Hawks couldn’t maintain consistency against a determined Sharks squad.
The game began with both offenses feeling each other out. Jacksonville drew first blood with a short Kaleb Barker rushing touchdown, but Vegas quickly responded as running back Antonio Wimbush punched in a one-yard score, knotting the game at six apiece. The first quarter ended with the Sharks regaining the lead courtesy of an Edward Vander two-yard run.
The second quarter saw a flurry of offensive activity. Knight Hawks quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson connected with Quentin Randolph for a 12-yard touchdown strike, briefly pulling Vegas within one point. However, Jacksonville answered swiftly with another Barker rushing touchdown. Wimbush then found the endzone for his second rushing score of the game, bringing the Knight Hawks back within striking distance at 21-19. Just as it seemed Vegas might carry that momentum into halftime, the Sharks’ Jimmie Robinson Jr. hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass with mere seconds remaining, extending Jacksonville’s lead to eight.
The second half proved to be a tougher sled for the Knight Hawks’ offense. Both of their third-quarter possessions ended in unsuccessful fourth-down attempts, stalling any chance of a comeback. The Vegas defense showed resilience at the start of the fourth quarter, holding the Sharks on fourth down to keep the score at 33-19. However, any hopes of a late rally were dashed when Johnson’s pass was intercepted in the endzone by Jacksonville’s Malik Jones with just over seven minutes left. A late field goal by the Sharks sealed the 36-19 victory, despite a final drive by Vegas that ultimately fell short.
While the scoreboard reflected a decisive Jacksonville victory, there were bright spots for the Knight Hawks. The defensive line showed promise, with Claude Davis and Lorenzo Hernandez each recording a sack and a tackle-for-loss on back-to-back plays in the first quarter. Wimbush proved to be a reliable force in the running game, tallying two touchdowns. Randolph was Johnson’s primary target through the air, leading the team with a receiving touchdown and 40 yards. Linebacker Makel Calhoun anchored the defense with a team-high six-and-a-half tackles.
Despite the loss, the Knight Hawks won’t have to wait long for a chance to bounce back. They return home to Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada, for their home opener on Friday, April 11th, for a rematch against the San Diego Strike Force. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM Pacific Time. This will be the first opportunity for the Vegas faithful to cheer on their team in person this season, and the Knight Hawks will undoubtedly be looking to deliver a victory in front of their home crowd. Tickets for “Opening Knight” are still available.
