Watch: San Antonio Bahmas use UFL rule to complete comeback

San Antonio Brahmas quarterback Chase Garbers (14) throws a pass to tight end Cody Latimer (3). Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: San Antonio Bahmas use unique UFL rule to complete fourth-quarter comeback

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 4/6/24

San Antonio kicked off the second week of UFL action with a furious fourth-quarter rally against Memphis spurred on by a unique UFL rule.

Instead of attempting an onside kick following a late touchdown, the Brahmas used the UFL's "alternative possession option," which allows teams to run a play from scrimmage to retain possession.

San Antonio converted the "fourth-and-12" from its own 28-yard line. Wide receiver Jontre Kirklin caught quarterback Chase Garbers' pass at the line to gain and was immediately driven backward.

THE FIRST ALTERNATE POSSESSION OPTION OF THE SEASON IS GOOD

The Brahmas elect to go for the 4th-and-12 from their own 28-yard line rather than attempt an onside kick and successfully keep possession pic.twitter.com/nhwrvkcTug
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 6, 2024

The Brahmas were only allowed to run the play because Kirklin made a clutch touchdown reception with 48 seconds remaining to pull them with five.

Kirklin with the BIG-TIME catch @XFLBrahmas add on another with under a minute left to play pic.twitter.com/3FqAyIYLgB
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 6, 2024

San Antonio completed its 20-19 comeback win with tight end Cody Latimer's 10-yard touchdown reception with only three seconds left.

ARE YOU KIDDING?!

BRAHMAS TAKE THE LEAD WITH 3 SECONDS LEFT pic.twitter.com/MJcMMgi4ng
— United Football League (@TheUFL) April 6, 2024

The onside kick alternative is an interesting wrinkle used by the XFL and USFL in previous years. The Brahmas took advantage. Who knows? Perhaps an NFL team could follow soon.

The spring league is something of an incubator for the NFL, which implemented a version of the XFL's kick-off rule earlier this offseason.

Over the years, teams have been increasingly less successful on onside kicks. NFL Operations noted in November 2023 that teams had converted only 5.6 percent of their onside kick attempts. In 2022, teams converted 31.2 percent of their fourth-and-12 attempts (h/t The Sporting News).

More must-reads: