Feb 19, 2023
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ESPN employees
Soccer season continued this weekend, because the XFL debuted with Saturday’s recreation between the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas. That is the third iteration of the XFL, following the unique season in 2001 and a reboot in 2020 that was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
XFL 2023 began off quick: The Renegades defeated the Vipers 22-20, rallying from a 14-3 halftime deficit with 19 straight factors earlier than holding off Vegas’ tying 2-point conversion try with eight seconds left. The Houston Roughnecks rolled over the Orlando Guardians within the late recreation, scoring on 4 straight possessions within the first half to beat an early deficit in a 33-12 victory.
Sunday began out with a thriller, because the Battlehawks used a 3-point conversion and a fourth-and-15 conversion to maintain possession in a 18-15 comeback victory over the San Antonio Brahmas. The D.C. Defenders ended Week 1 with a comeback victory of its personal over the Seattle Sea Dragons, forcing a Seattle fumble late to clinch the 22-18 win.
All XFL video games can be streamed reside on ESPN+ and can be found on the ESPN household of networks (ABC, ESPN and FX).
Soar to:
LV-ARL | ORL-HOU
STL-SA | SEA-DC
Sunday’s video games
Michael Joseph picked off two passes for the Defenders (1-0) to show round a recreation the Sea Dragons had been controlling, returning one for a 15-yard landing to convey the Defenders inside 18-16, then selecting off Seattle quarterback Ben DiNucci in the beginning of the fourth quarter. Joseph’s second decide set D.C. up on the Sea Dragons 14, with D’Eriq King placing the Defenders forward two performs afterward a 5-yard landing run. D.C. then held Seattle on the ultimate drive, recovering a DiNucci fumble on the D.C. 4-yard line with 19 seconds left.
0:24
D’Eriq King punches it in to offer the Defenders the lead
D.C. QB D’Eriq King calls his personal quantity, rushes up the center and scores a landing to offer the Defenders the lead.
The Sea Dragons had been rolling early, scoring on their first two drives to take a 9-0 lead. DiNucci ended the primary drive with a 6-yard, backhanded flick to receiver Josh Gordon — a former All-Professional with the Cleveland Browns — for a landing. DiNucci threw for 282 yards on 35-of-54 passing, whereas Gordon hauled in six catches for 74 yards.
0:34
Ben DiNucci shovels go to Josh Gordon for Sea Dragons TD
Seattle QB Ben DiNucci sneaks a shovel go to Josh Gordon ultimately zone for an early landing.
The Sea Dragons’ lead grew to 18-8 within the third quarter on a 13-yard landing run by Brenden Knox and corresponding 3-point conversion run by DiNucci. However that is when the D.C. crowd began to make its presence felt.
When life offers you lemons, throw them on a soccer subject❓😁@XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/vQmRkjX9BR
— ESPN (@espn) February 20, 2023
The Defenders received regardless of gaining solely 175 yards on offense. They compelled three turnovers, the 2 interceptions by Joseph and the late fumble restoration by defensive lineman Jamal Brooks.
Battlehawks 18, Brahmas 15
The Battlehawks could not get something going for three-plus quarters, as San Antonio took a 15-3 lead with 3:02 left. However St. Louis rallied behind former NFL quarterback AJ McCarron, who shrugged off 5 sacks. He threw an 18-yard landing go to Hakeem Butler with 1:25 left, then hit Austin Proehl on a 10-yard, 3-point conversion to maneuver the rating to 15-12.
St. Louis went for a fourth-and-15 conversion in lieu of an onside kick, and McCarron discovered Proehl once more to retain possession. McCarron and Proehl attached once more for 14 yards for the game-winning rating with 16 seconds left to offer the Battlehawks (1-0) the unbelievable win.
3:00
Battlehawks rating 15 factors in closing minutes to stun the Brahmas
The Battlehawks come again from 15-3 within the closing two minutes to prevail 18-15 vs. the Brahmas.
McCarron went 11-of-14 for 133 yards and two landing passes within the fourth quarter.
AJ McCarron was emotional after celebrating the @XFLBattlehawks‘ comeback win together with his youngsters ❤️ @10AJMcCarron | @XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/6NJ9lViJvc
— ESPN (@espn) February 19, 2023
The Brahmas (0-1) dominated many of the recreation, going up 15-3 due to a 4-yard landing go from Jack Coan to Fred Brown within the fourth quarter and three subject targets. Coan threw for 207 yards on 25-of-36 passing with a landing and an interception whereas former NFL working again Kalen Ballage ran for 84 yards on 24 carries.
0:29
Fred Brown hauls in Brahmas’ TD
Jack Coan connects with Fred Brown for the rating because the Brahmas prolong their result in 12-3 vs. the Battlehawks.
Saturday’s video games
Roughnecks 33, Guardians 12
Houston’s protection dominated Orlando, because the Roughnecks registered seven sacks on Guardians quarterbacks Paxton Lynch and Quinten Dormady and overcame an early landing to set the tone. The Guardians (0-1) scored first when receiver Cody Latimer — who performed with Lynch on the Denver Broncos — outfought a Roughnecks defensive again for a 27-yard landing reception on the primary collection of the sport.
0:38
Orlando Guardians rating first TD upon evaluation
Paxton Lynch connects with Cody Latimer, who upon evaluation is rewarded with the Guardians’ first landing.
However the Roughnecks (1-0) dominated from there, due to 4 sacks from linebacker Trent Harris and two from defensive finish Tim Ward. That allowed Houston to erupt for twenty-four unanswered factors, 21 of them approaching 4 consecutive possessions within the first half. Roughnecks quarterback Brandon Silvers threw two landing passes, a 10-yarder to Jontre Kirklin for Houston’s first rating and a 46-yarder to Deontay Burnett through which the previous NFL receiver caught it with one hand and pulled away for the landing.
0:30
Deontay Burnett snags one-handed TD for the Roughnecks
Roughnecks QB Brandon Silvers lobs it to Deontay Burnett, who makes a one-handed seize for a landing.
Houston working again Max Borghi additionally ran for a 27-yard landing.
Orlando broke the Houston scoring run within the fourth quarter with a 51-yard landing go from Dormady to Andrew Jamiel, however a fumbled punt late within the fourth quarter ruined any hopes of a Guardians comeback, because the turnover was a 5-yard landing run by Houston backup quarterback Cole McDonald.
Silvers led the best way for the Roughnecks, throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-42 passing with two interceptions. Burnett had eight receptions for 88 yards, whereas Kirklin had 5 catches for 66 yards. Lynch led Orlando with 136 yards on 15-of-21 passing.
— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) February 19, 2023
Renegades 22, Vipers 20
After a tough first half, the Renegades scored 12 third-quarter factors off two Vegas turnovers to take the lead and held on to maneuver to 1-0. Arlington’s protection dominated motion within the second half, highlighted by two pick-sixes. Defensive deal with Tomasi Laulile keyed the third-quarter run with a 22-yard landing return off an errant go by Vegas quarterback Luis Perez, whereas cornerback De’Vante Bausby scored on a 4-yard interception return for a TD within the fourth quarter. The Renegades’ D additionally got here up large with eight seconds left, as T.J. Barnes sacked Perez on a possible game-tying 2-point conversion try.
0:31
Arlington’s Tomasi Laulile scores an electrical pick-six
Arlington’s Tomasi Laulile jumps in entrance of the receiver, intercepts the go and returns it for a landing.
Bausby’s decide got here after the Vipers (0-1) stopped the Renegades brief on a fourth-and-goal scenario from the 1. Vegas stored Arlington’s offense out of the tip zone, because the Renegades settled for 3 Taylor Russolino subject targets, the third placing the Renegades forward to remain late within the third quarter.
The primary half went a lot better for the Vipers, who scored on two landing passes from Perez to receiver Jeff Badet to take a 14-3 halftime lead. Perez hit Badet with a 5-yard scoring go on the primary possession of the sport, then related with the previous Oklahoma receiver on a 39-yard rating within the second quarter. Perez additionally threw a 14-yard landing go to Cinque Sweeting with 14 seconds left. Perez threw for 249 yards on 22-of-36 passing with three landing passes and two interceptions, whereas Badet had six receptions for 81 yards.
0:25
Jeff Badet snags first XFL TD of the season
Luis Perez avoids the strain and finds Jeff Badet for the rating because the Vipers take a 6-0 lead vs. the Renegades.
Arlington quarterback Drew Plitt threw for 172 yards on 19-of-25 passing with an interception, whereas Sal Cannella hauled in seven passes for 70 yards.
Vipers followers proper now… #XFL2023 | #XFLRenegades pic.twitter.com/DIRX8b8wpH
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) February 18, 2023
