The XFL is back football fans! What a way to get the season kicked off, with a terrific first week of action that should keep the masses coming back for more!
Seattle Dragons (0-1) at DC Defenders (1-0)
Final Score: DC Defenders, 31 Seattle Dragons, 19
Cardale Jones led the D.C. Defenders to a 31-19 win over the Seattle Dragons. Jones passed 291 yards and two touchdowns. The former Ohio State quarterback started slow but later found his rhythm as the game went on. D.C used a trick play to score one of their touchdowns, it was a double-reverse flea-flicker from Jones to Khari Lee. But it was the Defenders defense that stood out. The defensive picked up three turnovers, scored a defensive and special teams are touchdown.
The Dragons got a strong performance from former NFL player Ricky Proehl son Austin Proehl, Proehl caught five passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Silvers threw for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. One of the interceptions was not on him; Proehl fell down on the out route, causing a pick-six. Take away the turnovers and Seattle may have come away with a victory.
DC Defenders
Cardale Jones (QB): 16/26, 235 Passing yds, 9 YPA, 2 Pass TD, INT, 9 Rush att, 28 rush yds
Jhurrel Pressley (RB): 31 rush, yds, 2.6 YPC, TD, 2 rec. on 3 targets, 2 yds
Eli Rogers (WR): 6 Receptions on 6 targets, 73 rec. yds
Jameer Thurman (Defense): 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 TFL, sacks, 2 PD
Seattle Dragons
Brandon Silvers (QB): 21/40, 217 Passing yds, 5.4 YPA, 3 Pass TD, 2 INT, 1 Rush att, 1 rush yds
Kenneth Farrow (RB): 41 rush, yds, 5.9 YPC, 4 rec. on 4 targets, 14 yds
Austin Proehl (WR): 5 Receptions on 10 targets, 88 rec. yds, 2 TD
Steven Johnson (LB): 8 tackles (6 solo), 2 TFL
Written by: LaMarr Fields
LA Wildcats (0-1) vs. Houston Roughnecks (1-0)
Final Score: Roughnecks 37, Wildcats 17
The Roughnecks came out swinging, getting an impressive win in the franchise’s first
start in front of the home crowd. QB PJ Walker looked electric as a dual-threat QB, extending plays and using his impressive arm strength to stretch the field. A well-balanced attack from a trio of receivers helped to keep the Wildcat defense on their toes from every direction. It was the defense however that gave the Roughnecks the game, with two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and 16 (!) QB hits.
The Wildcat defense was unable to keep them in this game, failing to come close to the Roughnecks numbers in turnovers and QB hits. Only former meme Shawn Oakman was able to register a sack or hit. While the offense wasn’t great either they put up a strong first half only to completely fade out in the 2nd. QB Chad Kanoff has his share of impressive throws, especially to his favorite target Nelson Spruce who registered 15 (!) targets, 11 receptions, and 103 yards, well over tripling any other receivers numbers.
Notable Performances:
Winning Team
PJ Walker (QB): 23/29 (59%), 272 yards, 7YPA, 4TDs, 1INT, 4 rushing attempts, 26 yards
James Butler (RB): 9 attempts, 30 yards, 3.3 ypc, 1TD
Cam Phillips (WR): 9 targets, 4 receptions, 67 yards, 1TD
Kony Ealy (DE): 5 QB hits, 0.5 sack, 2 TFL, 3 tackles
Losing Team
Chad Kanoff (QB): 21/40 (53%), 214 yards, 5.4YPA, 1 TD, 1 INT
Elijah Hood (RB): 12 attempts, 43 yards, 3.6 ypc
Nelson Spruce (WR): 15 targets, 11 receptions, 103 yards
Shawn Oakman (DE): 2 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 tackle
Written by: Mason LeBeau
TB Vipers (0-1) vs. NY Guardians (1-0)
Final Score: New York 23, Tampa Bay 3
Recap: How about that, New York? There’s finally a team right now which is playing wholesome football at a pace which is better than the Giants or Jets have produced in the last few years. Matt McGloin was precise enough to win the game despite a 52% completion rate, but it was the defense that stole the show. The Vipers made it inside the Guardians’ 10-yard line on five different occasions and came away with only one field goal from chip-shot range. The defense constantly swarmed Vipers quarterback Aaron Murray, sacking him five times and forcing three turnovers, one of which was recovered and returned by Jamar Summers for the final score of the contest. If the Guardians can fully develop their front four and generate a consistent pass rush, they might become the new favorite to win the East.
The Vipers were predicted to have one of the highest win totals for the inaugural season of the XFL, yet played like a team that won’t be near the playoffs if they continue to throw out games like this. From the opening kickoff, it was clear that Aaron Murray was in over his head, and that was evident on the god-awful interception he threw in the endzone following a very impressive third-and-long conversion. Some could chalk it up to nerves, others could chalk it up to the Guardians just having the answers (which they did). However, if the Vipers really want to make a name for themselves, they might want to give former USF product Quinton Flowers more reps under center. He proved himself during his time with the Bulls, and that one 37-yard completion to Daniel Williams. It remains to be seen what head coach Marc Trestman thinks for Week Two.
Notable Performances:
Winning Team (New York)
Matt McGloin (QB): 15/29, 181 Passing yds, Pass TD, Pass 2-Pt; 1 carry, 1 yd, TD
Darius Victor (RB): 9 rush, 32 yds, 3.5 YPC
Mekale McKay (WR): 3 receptions, 58 rec. yds
Bunmi Rotini, Jr. (DE): 9 tackles (7 Solo), 1.0 sacks, 2 QB hits, FF
Losing Team (Tampa Bay)
Aaron Murray (QB): 16/34, 261 yds, 2 INTs
De'Veon Smith: 16 rush, 79 yds, 4.9 YPC
Daniel Williams (WR): 6 receptions, 123 rec. yds
Anthoula Kelly (DB): 3 tackles (0 Solo), 3 PD
Written by: Joe Carlino
STL Battlehawks (1-0) vs. DAL Renegades (0-1)
Final Score: St. Louis BattleHawks 15, Dallas Renegades 9
Recap: The BattleHawks arrived on the XFL scene in a way many did not expect coming in. Listed by Vegas as 9.5 point underdogs, the new St. Louis football team pulled off the upset in Dallas over the Renegades by a total score of 15 to 9. First off, this marked the first time in the young XFL history that the winner was the road team as all of the other games before this one featured home wins. Secondly, one of the anticipated offensive teams came out looking like a solid offense but more so a dominant defensive ball club. Led by Terence Garvin, Kenny Robinson, and Will Hill, the BattleHawks only gave up nine points and held Dallas to just one conversion on ten third-down attempts. St. Louis kicked off their football return with a bang and will be taking on the hottest team in the XFL right now in Houston next week.
The Dallas Renegades came out with a conservative dink-and-dunk approach for fill-in quarterback Philip Nelson. On the flip side of the BattleHawks, they were still listed as 9.5 point favorites and fell short of feeling like a true top-notch team Vegas was painting them out to be. Without starting signal-caller Landry Jones, Dallas fell into a tough trap early on, not being able to make shot plays down the field and only running the ball 12 times in the game. The lack of offensive creativity put Dallas in a bad position on third downs and were unable to overcome the shutdown BattleHawk defense. In the end, Dallas’ defense got the ball back into the offense’s hands to make a last-second run and Nelson threw a back-breaking interception into the arms of safety Will Hill. Dallas will be jumping up and down in excitement when they get their quarterback back for next week’s game.
Notable Performances:
St. Louis BattleHawks
Jordan Ta’amu (QB): 20/27, 183 Passing yards, 7.7 YPA, TD, 9 Carries, 77 Rushing yards
Matt Jones (RB): 21 Carries, 83 Rushing yards, 4.0 YPC, TD
De’Mornay Pierson-El (WR): 4 Receptions, 64 Receiving yards
Terence Garvin (LB): 8 Tackles (6 Solo), TFL, Sack
Dallas Renegades
Philip Nelson (QB): 33/42, 199 Passing yds, 5.0 YPA, INT, 1 Carry, -2 Rushing yards
Lance Dunbar (RB): 5 Carries, 27 Rushing yards, 5.4 YPC, 6 Receptions, 29 Receiving
yards
Floyd Nagel (WR): 6 Receptions, 43 Receiving yards
Tegray Scales (LB): 5 tackles (5 Solo), 3 TFL, Sack
Written by: Jake Ellenbogen