Beef wins third straight with 41-37 victory in I-29 battle

A late interception by Chris Perry led to the go-ahead touchdown pass from Vincent Espinoza to Dequan Dudley with 37 seconds remaining as the Omaha Beef claimed their third straight victory with a 41-37 win over the Sioux City Bandits Saturday night at the Tyson Events Center. Sioux City’s offense drove the ball back down to the Omaha seven-yard line with 13 seconds left, but Bandits quarterback Lorenzo Brown threw three straight incompletions, and the Beef improve to 3-5 on the season.

Sioux City got the first points of the game when Dylan Karnes kicked a 22-yard field goal. The Beef then went on a ten-play drive that ended with an Espinoza to Devanaire Conliffe four-yard touchdown pass as Omaha led 6-3 after the first quarter. Omaha increased their lead on their next possession as Ivan Corbin finished a seven-play drive with a three-yard run. Sioux City would score the next two touchdowns as Jadon Johnson caught a two-yard touchdown and Raheem Harvey a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brown. Omaha would close the first half as Conliffe caught his second touchdown of the night, an eight-yard pass with 14 seconds left and it was 20-17 Sioux City at halftime. Conliffe caught a game high ten passes for 89 yards.

The Bandits would outscore the Beef 14-7 in the third quarter as Bandon Sheperd 13-yard catch and Brown one yard rush was bookends to Corbin’s second touchdown run. Corbin rushed for 14 yards on his six attempts. Omaha would run 15 more plays than Sioux City but gained 12 less yards. The Beef had the ball for almost 15 more minutes than the Bandits.

However, it was Omaha that won the fourth quarter. Sioux City’s Sheperd hauled in a 30-yard pass to put the Bandits up 37-27, but Omaha would score twice in the last 1:37. Corbin scored his third touchdown on a two-yard touchdown catch to cut Sioux City’s led to three points. The Bandits got the ball back with 1:04, but two plays later Perry stepped in front of the pass attempt and returned it to Sioux City’s 21 yardline. After a holding call backed the ball back to the Omaha 24 yardline, Espinoza found Dudley wide open for the winning score. Espinoza finished the game 19 of 30 for 152 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He also ran the ball six times for 41 yards.

Jaylen Johnson led the Beef with seven tackles as Chris Perry added four along with his interception. Chase Contreraz went five of six on extra points tries.

Brown went 13 of 18 passing for 155 yards and four touchdowns and one interception. He added 49 yards and a touchdown on five carries. Jadon Johnson was the leading receiver with six receptions for 54 yards while Brandon Sheperd had five catches for 68 yards. Laronji Vanson-McCoy led the Bandits with eight tackles with Marzion Cosby getting the interception and six tackles.

OTHER NOTES:  

Coach’s show is this Monday from 6-7pm at Goose’s Bar and Grill.

Any questions call the Beef office at 402.346.2333.

2026 Omaha Beef Schedule (3 -5)

Beef All-Time records vs. (As of 5/16/26)