The Memphis Showboats held on for a thrilling 38-37 victory over the Tampa Bay Bandits in a Week 4 showdown that saw multiple lead changes and a dramatic finish. Memphis came out firing in the first quarter, with quarterback Walter Lewis connecting on two long touchdown passes to Derek Crawford and Buster Rhymes, while Don Bessilieu added a 14-yard interception return for a score. Despite an early 21-7 deficit, Tampa Bay fought back with a 78-yard touchdown pass from John Reaves to Jerry Price, keeping them within striking distance.
Tampa Bay’s offense erupted in the third quarter, as Reaves orchestrated three consecutive touchdown drives, including a 16-yard strike to Willie Gillespie that gave the Bandits their first lead of the game at 31-24. However, Memphis responded in the final quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Crawford and a 3-yard touchdown run by Leonard Williams, reclaiming the lead at 38-31 with just 1:35 remaining. Tampa Bay’s last-minute drive ended in heartbreak, as Reaves found Gillespie for a 9-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left, but the missed extra point sealed their fate.
Memphis, now 4-0, remains unbeaten, thanks to Lewis’ clutch performance and a resilient defense that forced four turnovers. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay falls to 3-1, despite Reaves’ 475 passing yards and five touchdown passes. The game will be remembered for its back-and-forth nature, with both teams showcasing their offensive firepower in a contest that came down to the final moments.
