Bandits Fall in Heartbreaker at SW Kansas, 41-38

DODGE CITY, KS — In one of the most thrilling games of the 2026 NAL season, the Sioux City Bandits came up just short on the road Sunday night, falling to SW Kansas 41-38 in a last-second battle at United Wireless Arena.

The Bandits (2-2) showed resilience all night, overcoming an early deficit and building a two-score second-half lead, but the undefeated SW Kansas squad (4-0) used a dramatic final drive to steal the win in the closing seconds.

Back-and-Forth First Half

SW Kansas struck first with a touchdown pass from Matt Struck to Demarius Washington late in the opening quarter, taking a 7-0 lead.

Sioux City answered in the second quarter behind a strong performance from Jeff Mack II, who powered in a 2-yard touchdown run to get the Bandits on the board. Mack made his presence felt again moments later with a 51-yard kickoff return touchdown, keeping Sioux City within striking distance.

Despite multiple explosive plays, the Bandits trailed 21-20 at halftime after Mack added another rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion connection from Lorenzo Brown to Brandon Sheperd.

Bandits Dominate the Third Quarter

The momentum swung heavily in Sioux City’s favor coming out of the locker room.

Quarterback Lorenzo Brown connected with Damond Powell twice for touchdown passes of 24 and 20 yards, capping a dominant stretch that saw the Bandits score 15 unanswered points. A 50-yard rouge from kicker Dylan Karnes extended the lead to 35-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

During that stretch, the Bandits defense also stepped up, highlighted by interceptions from Juan Moore and Laronji Vason-McCoy, helping limit a high-powered SW Kansas offense.

Late-Game Drama

SW Kansas mounted its comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points in the final frame.

After narrowing the gap to 35-28, the home team tied the game with just over a minute remaining on a Jaden Sutton rushing touchdown.

The Bandits responded under pressure, driving downfield and taking a 38-35 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Karnes with just 22 seconds remaining.

However, SW Kansas answered quickly. A 43-yard pass from Struck set up a game-winning 1-yard touchdown run with just eight seconds left, sealing the 41-38 victory.

Sioux City had one final chance, but a 41-yard field goal attempt as time expired missed wide left.

Key Performances

• Jeff Mack II led the Bandits with 139 all-purpose yards, including two rushing touchdowns and a kickoff return score.
• Lorenzo Brown finished 16-of-26 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 15 rushing yards.
• Damond Powell hauled in 8 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, continuing his standout season.
• Defensively, Laronji Vason-McCoy recorded 9 total tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble.

By the Numbers

• Sioux City totaled 218 yards of offense, compared to 334 for SW Kansas.
• The Bandits forced two interceptions and scored 9 points off turnovers.
• Special teams played a major role, highlighted by Mack’s kickoff return touchdown and Karnes’ 50-yard rouge.

Up Next

The Bandits return home next week for their regular-season home opener as they host Salina, looking to bounce back after a hard-fought road loss.

Despite the result, Sioux City proved it can compete with the league’s top teams, setting the stage for an exciting stretch of the 2026 season.