HOUSTON SABERCATS VS OLD GLORY DC 17-15 (4-19-2025)

Written by Jaylen Curtis

Photo by: Paris Malone

The Houston SaberCats faced off against Old Glory D.C. in a week 11 outer-conference showdown. Taking place on Saturday, April 26, DC Old Glory traveled into unfamiliar territory seeking to break their recent cold spell, as they dropped their two most recent games after a stretch of alternating wins and losses. On the other hand, the SaberCats were looking to continue building momentum and start a new winning streak after coming away with a victory in a gritty 17-15 barnburner in week 10 versus NOLA Gold. The ‘Cats came into this game with a 6-3 record, and in a tightly knit Western Conference, wins and points have never meant more.

It was H-Town night at Cats stadium, and a legend in the house was honored as a tribute. A spotlight was shone upon coach and noted champion Rudy Tomjanovich pregame, recognizing him as a great within the city and showing appreciation for the SaberCats season ticket holder. The energy was high from the opening kick as a result, and 80 minutes of high-intensity rugby followed.

Old Glory got off to a strong start, getting on board first with a penalty goal by center Jason Emery. This goal was shortly matched by Houston’s own AJ Alatimu, as he tied the score with a penalty goal himself to knot it up at 3-3. The tie was short-lived, however, as Old Glory retook the lead with the first try of the match by Hooker Martin Vaca. After the conversion by the previously highlighted Jason Emery, the away team took a 10-3 lead, building strong momentum early on. Facing adversity immediately, the SaberCats quickly rallied and started a tear of scoring.

The hometown team would go on a dominant 24-0 run to close out the first half, convincingly showing why they have hovered among the top of the MLR standings all season long. Taking a 27-10 lead into halftime, the ‘Cats built a comfortable lead they would look to protect over the final 40 minutes to seal the deal. The match was not shy of offense, as shortly after the break, another penalty goal put DC Old Glory at 13. As previously seen, the Cats responded with authority, building a 19-point lead with just over 20 minutes to go.

The adjustments made by Houston and the impact that followed as a result were seen for the remainder of the match, as the Cats continued to add on points which would prove to be significant at the conclusion of the showdown. With the strong 48-27 victory defending home field, Houston retained first place in the Western Conference and now lead the MLR in points, while Old Glory could not break their skid, and the streak of losses grew larger. Powered by AJ Alatimu’s game-high 17 points and a pair of tries from captain Nathan De Hoedt, the SaberCats improved to 7-3. They will now set their sights on a big-time away match against the New England Free Jacks who mirror their record, and the May 4th showdown is likely to have large implications on the standings.