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XFL 2023 Results: Week 6 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Sunday

Kristopher Knox
Mar 26, 2023
Brahmas WR Fred Brown and Renegades DB Will Hill III
Brahmas WR Fred Brown and Renegades DB Will Hill III

Week 6 of the 2023 XFL season got off to an intriguing start Saturday, with the Seattle Sea Dragons narrowly outlasting the winless Orlando Guardians in a 26-19 contest. Saturday's second game was a lot more lopsided, as the St. Louis Battlehawks rolled the Vegas Vipers 29-6.

The action picked back up Sunday afternoon, with the Arlington Renegades hosting the San Antonio Brahmas.

This was a pivotal XFL South matchup. At 3-2, the Renegades were looking to cement themselves as the No. 2 team in the division behind the 4-1 Houston Roughnecks. At 1-4, the Brahmas were just looking to keep their playoff hopes alive.

These two teams met a week ago, with Arlington getting the win on the road. The desperate Brahmas got a little revenge Sunday.

Brahmas 15, Renegades 9

The Brahmas got on the board first with a 16-yard John Romo field goal. That proved to be the only score of an opening first quarter largely dominated by defense.

Both teams struggled to move the ball early. In San Antonio's case, it wasn't a total surprise. San Antonio was without quarterback Jack Coan (ankle) and used the tandem of Jawon Pass and the recently acquired Kurt Benkert.

The Brahmas defense, though, made things difficult for Arlington too.

It was the San Antonio defense that provided the first touchdown of the game. Renegades quarterback Drew Plitt was sacked late in the second quarter, and linebacker Jordan Williams scooped up the ball and returned it four yards for the touchdown.

The Brahmas' two-point conversion attempt failed, but San Antonio still secured a 9-0 lead.

San Antonio took that lead—along with all of the momentum into halftime.

Pass and Benkert were a combined 7-of-13 for just 66 yards in the first half, and Pass (7-of-10) was responsible for all of the completions. However, the duo didn't fare any worse than Arlington's tandem.

Plitt and Kyle Sloter were a combined 7-of-13 for only 33 yards. It was a terrific half for the Brahmas defense and a very disappointing one for the home team.

https://twitter.com/tripledeek151/status/1640085519752126464
https://twitter.com/Renegade__Rob/status/1640085560906661890

Things changed dramatically in the third quarter.

Arlington finally got on the board with its opening drive of the third quarter. The drive featured a heavy dose of running back De'Veon Smith and was capped by a 53-yard field goal by Taylor Russolino.

The Renegades fully seized the momentum on the ensuing series when Donald Payne picked off Benkert in San Antonio territory.

Smith immediately ripped off a 15-yard run to kick off the post-turnover drive. A couple of plays later, Plitt delivered a 16-yard strike to Lujuan Winningham for the touchdown.

Winningham made an incredible grab on the play in what has easily been one of the highlights of the weekend thus far—if not the catch of the XFL season.

https://twitter.com/xflboard/status/1640095473326514176

While Arlington's one-point try was unsuccessful, the Renegades' ability to turn a nine-point deficit into a tied ballgame less than halfway through the quarter was huge and helped energize the home crowd.

The two teams traded punts to finish out the third quarter, maintaining the 9-9 tie and helping to set up a potentially thrilling finish.

San Antonio had a very promising fourth-quarter drive, aided by a 41-yard pass interference penalty, stall at the Arlington 27-yard line. However, the Brahmas were able to claim the lead when Romo's 45-yard attempt split the uprights.

Arlington responded with a great drive of its own, pounding the ball with running back Leddie Brown and getting a chunk play on a 47-yard pass from Plitt to JaVonta Payton.

Unfortunately for the Renegades, Russolino's 36-yard field-goal attempt was wide right, allowing San Antonio to keep its slim lead. The Brahmas added to it after driving into Arlington territory and getting a 56-yard field goal from Romo.

Arlington made it into San Antonio territory but had a mere 14 seconds remaining when it clocked the ball at the 46-yard line. Plitt was scrambling to beat the play clock on the ensuing play and was picked off by Tenny Adewusi to seal the win for the Brahmas.

Plitt led the four quarterbacks with 163 yards and a touchdown but also had the game-sealing pick. Brahmas running back Jacques Patrick led all running backs with 82 rushing yards, while Smith led all players with 49 receiving yards.

Fans on social media seemed to enjoy another tight contest, though several seemed frustrated with Arlington's disappointing finish.

https://twitter.com/StaleyHater/status/1640101983343484933
https://twitter.com/JMJHYPM/status/1640103120029220864

Week 6 will conclude on Monday night with one of the most anticipated games of the season. The undefeated Defenders will host the Roughnecks with kickoff scheduled for 7 a.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

XFL's Josh Gordon Held to 0 Catches as Ben DiNucci, Sea Dragons Win vs. Guardians

Mar 25, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Josh Gordon #0 of the Seattle Sea Dragons in action before the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Josh Gordon #0 of the Seattle Sea Dragons in action before the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Quarterback Ben DiNucci led the Seattle Sea Dragons to a 26-19 road win against the Orlando Guardians on Saturday afternoon in Week 6 of the XFL season, but he did it without any contributions from wide receiver Josh Gordon.

The former Cleveland Browns star was held without a catch Saturday, and he was targeted only twice by DiNucci.

Gordon, who led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards in 2013 and was named both a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, got off to a hot start this season before seemingly falling out of favor.

From Weeks 1 through 4, Gordon had 18 receptions for 282 yards and three touchdowns, making him one of the XFL's most productive wideouts.

He had just two grabs for 15 yards in last week's 21-14 win over the Houston Roughnecks, though, and appeared to get on DiNucci's bad side.

As seen at the 12-minute mark of the following video, DiNucci took exception to Gordon stopping in the middle of a go route, resulting in an interception:

After the events of last week's game, Greg Parks of XFLBoard.com noted that this week's depth chart saw Gordon get dropped from the No. 1 receiver role to a backup:

That demotion held true during the win over Orlando, as DiNucci leaned heavily on his other pass-catchers and rarely looked in Gordon's direction.

Four Sea Dragons receivers were targeted at least seven times in the game, and Gordon finished tied for fifth on the team in targets with two.

Blake Jackson led the way with six receptions for 79 yards and one touchdown, while Juwan Green had five grabs for 50 yards and a score, Jahcour Pearson made four catches for 18 yards and Jordan Veasy reeled in two passes for 22 yards.

DiNucci, who previously played for the Dallas Cowboys, had an up-and-down game, but finished with 177 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 18-of-35 passing, while also rushing for 43 yards.

With the win, the Sea Dragons have now reeled off four consecutive victories, putting them at 4-2 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Guardians continued to scuffle and remain the XFL's only winless team at 0-6.

The Sea Dragons will look to continue their ascent next week when they go on the road to face the Arlington Renegades, while the Guardians will once again go for their first win when they host the undefeated D.C. Defenders.

XFL 2023 Results: Week 6 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Saturday

Kristopher Knox
Mar 25, 2023
Sea Dragons QB Ben DiNucci
Sea Dragons QB Ben DiNucci

Week 6 of the 2023 XFL season got underway on Saturday afternoon, with the Seattle Sea Dragons visiting the Orlando Guardians.

The Sea Dragons, winners of three straight, came into the week as one of the hottest teams in the league and looking to challenge the undefeated D.C. Defenders in the XFL North. The Guardians, meanwhile, were simply searching for their first win.

While Orlando had one of its better performances of the season, too many Guardians mistakes allowed Seattle to escape with the victory.

Sea Dragons 26, Guardians 19

Seattle got on the board first with a 37-yard Dominik Eberle field goal. In a first quarter largely dominated by defense, the Sea Dragons took advantage of a 49-yard Kelvin McKnight punt return to provide the early lead.

The Sea Dragons began the drive at Orlando's 43-yard line, but the Guardians defense managed to keep Seattle out of the end zone.

The Guardians and Sea Dragons traded field goals in the early second quarter, with each team getting a huge play in the process.

Orlando running back Devin Darrington ripped off a 31-yard run that set up the Guardians in scoring position. McKnight returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to give Seattle another short field.

The Guardians took the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the half after a lengthy 65-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Darrington came up big again, finding the end zone on a three-yard rush and adding the point after from a yard out.

The Sea Dragons had a promising drive just before the half, but quarterback Ben DiNucci was picked off by Najeem Hosein in the end zone. Orlando had come close to snagging a couple of DiNucci's passes and finally got one with Seattle threatening to take the lead.

The turnover gave the Guardians an opportunity to add to their lead, but their drive stalled in Seattle territory. Their punt then went into the end zone, giving the Sea Dragons a chance with the ball at their 35-yard line—because of the XFL's unique touchback rules—with 21 seconds to go.

Seattle cashed in with a 54-yard Eberle field goal, but Orlando still carried a 10-9 lead into the intermission.

The Guardians stalled in Seattle territory again in the third quarter, and once again, their punt resulted in a touchback. This time, the Sea Dragons capitalized fully, capping the ensuing drive with a 20-yard touchdown strike from DiNucci to Blake Jackson.

Jahcour Pearson caught DiNucci's two-point pass, giving Seattle a seven-point lead late in the third.

The Guardians responded quickly, though, with Darrington finding paydirt on a 43-yard touchdown run.

However, Orlando's two-point try was unsuccessful, and the Sea Dragons maintained a slim lead.

The two teams traded field goals again in the early fourth quarter, and Seattle later capitalized on another Orlando special teams miscue. A blocked punt handed the Sea Dragons the ball on the Orlando 6-yard line and an opportunity to extend their lead.

Seattle did extend its lead with a four-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to Juwan Green. The two-point attempt was no good, which left the door cracked for Orlando.

However, the Sea Dragons were able to put the game away after a costly Darrington fumble. The turnover gave Seattle the ball with less than two minutes remaining, and it gave it back to Orlando with only 40 seconds to go.

The Guardians made it into Seattle territory, but quarterback Quinten Dormady was heavily pressured on fourth down, and Orlando couldn't convert. Seattle picked up its fourth consecutive victory, while the Guardians suffered another frustrating defeat.

DiNucci finished the game with 177 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Dormandy had 243 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Darrington had 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while DiNucci led Seattle with 43 rushing yards.

Jackson led all receivers with 79 receiving yards, while teammate and former NFL standout Josh Gordon was left without a catch.

The close contest served as a great way to kick off the week, and fans on social media genuinely seemed to enjoy both the competition and the presentation.

Seattle will open Week 7 with a Friday night visit to the Arlington Renegades. The Guardians will next host the Defenders.

Battlehawks 29, Vipers 6

In Saturday's nightcap, the Vegas Vipers hosted the St. Louis Battlehawks. The Vipers came in seeking only their second win of the season, their first coming last week against the winless Guardians.

The Battlehawks, meanwhile, were looking to rebound from a Week 5 loss to the D.C. Defenders and to keep pace with the Sea Dragons in the XFL North.

This one was all St. Louis from start to finish.

The late game got off to a slow start and a scoreless first quarter. However, St. Louis scored immediately at the start of the second quarter on a nifty 4-yard toss-sweep by Gary Jennings.

The Battlehawks added to their lead in the second quarter with a 40-yard Donny Hageman field goal. They extended it even further with a 30-yard touchdown pass from AJ McCarron to wideout Darrius Shepherd.

The second two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but the Battlehawks still took a 17-0 lead into halftime.

McCarron was virtually flawless in the first half, going 17-of-20 for 166 yards and two touchdowns. McCarron, who spent six seasons in the NFL, is quickly becoming one of the XFL's top signal-callers.

The Battlehawks continued to build momentum in the second half. Vegas got the ball to start the third quarter, but quarterback Luis Perez was picked off by Lavert Hill, which gave St. Louis the ball just over midfield.

St. Louis cashed in on the turnover with a one-yard Kareem Walker touchdown run. Again, the two-point try failed, but with a 23-point lead and Vegas doing very little offensively, the Battlehawks were in complete control.

On the Vipers' ensuing drive, Perez was picked off by Hill for the second time. This time, St. Louis didn't capitalize with points, but it did bleed a bit more time off the clock. Vegas then made a quarterback switch to Brett Hundley, but it faced a huge deficit entering the fourth quarter.

The Vipers moved into St. Louis territory with Hundley at the helm, but they couldn't convert a 4th-and-12 to sustain the early fourth-quarter drive. They finally gained a little momentum of their own, though, when McCarron was sacked on a 4th-and-1 attempt on the Vegas 42-yard line.

With seven minutes remaining in the game, the Vipers finally got on the board. Hundley found John Lovett on a short pass that Lovett took through the St. Louis defense and into the end zone.

With a failed two-point try, the Vipers still faced a 17-point deficit, though in the XFL, that's only two touchdowns. Unfortunately or Vipers fans, Vegas kicked the ball short of the 20-yard line, which handed St. Louis the ball at the Vipers' 45-yard line.

A heavy does of running back Brian Hill put the Battlehawks in scoring position, and McCarron found Shepard for a six-year touchdown and a 29-6 lead.

Vegas' final desperation drive stalled, and St. Louis walked out with its fourth win of the season.

McCarron finished the game 23-of-29 for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Hill logged 71 yards on 15 carries, while Shepherd had seven catches for 79 yards and two scores.

Hundley finished 9-of-18 with a touchdown for the Vipers.

The second game drew more of a mixed reaction on social media, with some fans loving St. Louis' potential as a playoff team and others lamenting Vegas' poor play.

Week 6 will continue Sunday afternoon when the Renegades host the San Antonio Brahmas in a rematch of Week 5. That game is slated for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff and will air on ABC and ESPN+

XFL 2023 Results: Week 5 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Sunday

Kristopher Knox
Mar 20, 2023
Renegades DB Joe Powell
Renegades DB Joe Powell

XFL Week 5 concluded Sunday night, with the San Antonio Brahmas hosting the Arlington Renegades.

The week kicked off on Thursday night with a thriller. The white-hot Seattle Sea Dragons knocked off the previously undefeated Houston Roughnecks 21-14. On Saturday, D.C. Defenders outlasted the St. Louis Battlehawks 28-20, while the Vegas Vipers defeated the Orlando Guardians 35-32.

D.C. remains the XFL's lone undefeated team, while Orlando is its only winless squad.

The Renegades and Brahmas engaged in a fun, back-and-forth defensive battle that served as a fitting way to cap the week.

Renegades 12, Brahmas 10

Arlington came in searching for its third win of the season and to remain in the thick of the XFL South race. San Antonio was seeking its second win and to avoid falling out of contention by midseason.

San Antonio made some changes during the week to try to find a spark. Sunday marked the first game for running backs coach Jimmie Johnson in his new role as offensive coordinator. It also marked the first start for quarterback Reid Sinnett, who replaced Jack Coan.

Though Arlington jumped out to a 3-0 lead, the Brahmas quickly gained the momentum with a turnover. Tenny Adewusi picked off Kyle Sloter, and Sinnett capitalized on the short field with a six-yard touchdown strike to T.J. Vasher.

The pick marked Sloter's fifth in four appearances.

Arlington responded with a promising drive, but it stalled near the goal line and resulted in Taylor Russolino's second field goal of the game.

The two teams traded punts following Arlington's second score, and Coan returned to the Brahmas' offense just before the two-minute warning. He led San Antonio to a three-and-out, and some on social media were left wondering why there was a quarterback switch.

Coan's second drive of the half went better, and San Antonio added to its lead with a Parkerr Romo field goal just before intermission. The Brahmas had the lead, the momentum and the backing of a notably energized crowd.

San Antonio got the ball after the break, and Sinnett was back in at quarterback. The Brahmas picked up a critical 4th-and-1 on the drive thanks to a strong run by Jacques Patrick.

Unfortunately for the Brahmas, Sinnett was picked off by Joe Powell at the goal line.

To make matter worse for San Antonio, Sinnett hobbled off after the play and was taken to the medical tent. He did not return.

Despite being backed up near its own goal line, Arlington managed to drive into the red zone—thanks, in part, to a pair of defensive penalties. The Renegades capped a 14-play, 98-yard drive with a De'Veon Smith touchdown plunge from a yard out.

Sloter was picked on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving Arlington with a slim 12-10 lead.

https://twitter.com/sersisins/status/1637648923220230145

That two-point margin held into the fourth quarter and set up a potentially exciting finish.

San Antonio's attempt to respond went nowhere. The Brahmas picked up a holding penalty, had to burn a timeout, picked up four yards on 3rd-and-19 and promptly punted the ball back to Arlington.

The Brahmas defense did its job on the ensuing drive, though, forcing a punt after one first down. However, Coan and the San Antonio offense stalled again, and Powell returned the punt into Brahmas territory.

Arlington had a prime opportunity to extend its lead and chew up the game clock, but San Antonio's defense held yet again.

A big 11-yard sack by Jack Koerner took the Renegades out of field-goal range and forced a punt. Marquette King's kick went into the end zone, and Arlington netted just three yards on the punt.

Just a few plays later, Arlington got the ball back with Coan's first interception—and San Antonio's second—of the day.

This time, Arlington bled the clock to under 30 seconds before opting to punt and defend the field. The Renegades did exactly that, picking off Coan on his final desperation pass of the night.

Sloter had the one interception but finished a solid 14-of-26 for 148 yards. Smith led both teams with 44 yards rushing and the touchdown, while Brahmas running back Kalen Ballage led all players with 42 receiving yards.

San Antonio fans were naturally disappointed with the finish, but fans on social media seemed to enjoy the game overall.

These two teams will meet again in Week 6, with Arlington playing host in the rematch. That game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. Week 6 will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday when the Guardians host the Sea Dragons.

XFL 2023 Results: Week 5 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Saturday

Mar 19, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Jordan Ta'amu #10 of the DC Defenders attempts a pass against the Vegas Vipers during the first half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Jordan Ta'amu #10 of the DC Defenders attempts a pass against the Vegas Vipers during the first half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

XFL Week 5 action continued Saturday with two games featuring teams in very different circumstances.

The first matchup of the night carried a lot of weight as the DC Defenders took on the St. Louis Battlehawks to decide who would sit atop the North Division. The Defenders entered the game as the lone undefeated team in the league.

Meanwhile, the second game of the doubleheader was a battle of the worst teams in the XFL in the Orlando Guardians and Vegas Vipers, with each team looking to finally get in the win column.

Here are the results and best reactions from Saturday's games.

DC Defenders def. St. Louis Battlehawks, 28-20

The perfect season for the Defenders continued as they rode a hot offense to the win and now solidify themselves as the team to beat in the North as they extend their lead atop the division to two games.

After a scoreless first quarter, DC exploded for 14 points in the second and never took their foot off the gas, scoring a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to keep St. Louis at bay.

Abram Smith was unquestionably the team's best player as he finished with a hat trick of touchdowns. The XFL's leading rusher had two scores that went for over 65 yards in what was a dominant display.

The Defenders' defense also did their job as they forced St. Louis into two turnovers, including an interception with 55 seconds left that sealed the game for DC.

The schedule won't get any easier as the Houston Renegades, who are the top team in the South Division will come to town.

Vegas Vipers def. Orlando Guardians, 35-32

For a battle between two winless teams, this was a pretty good game. Ultimately it was the Vipers who managed to finally get themselves in the win column thanks to a great performance by quarterback Luis Perez.

Perez had perhaps his best game of the season thus far as he threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, which is key as he's struggled with turnovers at times this year.

He was able to outlast Orlando's Quinten Dormandy, who had a good game in his own right as he passed for 256 yards, two scores and a fumble after stepping in for starter Paxton Lynch.

Dormandy even led two long scoring drives in the fourth quarter to cut into the Vipers' lead but it ultimately wasn't enough.

Both teams will face much stiffer competition next week as the Vipers welcome the St. Louis Battlehawks to town and the Guardians host the red-hot Seattle Sea Dragons and their dynamic offense.

XFL Fans Clown Josh Gordon, Ben DiNucci for Seattle QB Appearing to Want WR Benched

Mar 17, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Josh Gordon #0 of the Seattle Sea Dragons in action before the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Josh Gordon #0 of the Seattle Sea Dragons in action before the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Although the Seattle Sea Dragons hung on to hand the Houston Roughnecks their first loss of the 2023 XFL season on Thursday night, there was a clear disconnect between Seattle quarterback Ben DiNucci and wide receiver Josh Gordon.

With Seattle leading 15-6 in the fourth quarter, DiNucci targeted Gordon on a go route, but Gordon appeared to stop running on the play, resulting in an interception by Ajene Harris (beginning at the 12-minute mark of the video):

The turnover gave the Roughnecks new life with about five minutes remaining, and it seemingly led to DiNucci calling for Gordon to be benched, which yielded no shortage of reaction on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MoomentOSRS/status/1636591678524911618

Neither DiNucci nor Gordon had particularly strong games in the 21-14 win, leading to some differing opinions regarding who was at fault for the fourth-quarter interception.

Some felt DiNucci, who completed just 17 of 32 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, was being too careless with the football in a late-game situation:

Gordon finished with just two catches for 15 yards in the contest, and he faced his fair share of criticism on social media as well for a perceived lack of awareness or effort:

https://twitter.com/LukeBraunNFL/status/1636592214460764161

The Sea Dragons were able to force the Roughnecks to turn the ball over on downs after DiNucci's third interception of the game, and Seattle's offense would make Houston pay.

DiNucci led a six-play, 38-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by Darius Bradwell with just over two minutes left, essentially putting the game away.

While the Sea Dragons improved to 3-2 with the win and put themselves firmly back in championship contention, it is fair to wonder where things stand between their two highest-profile players.

DiNucci is a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who started one game in 2020, while Gordon was once among the NFL's top wideouts, leading the league with 1,646 receiving yards as a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2013 en route to a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection.

Both figures to be key to Seattle's success moving forward, which is why it will be paramount for head coach Jim Haslett to get them back on the same page.

Haslett will have over a week to sort things out, as the Sea Dragons do not return to action until Saturday, March 25 against the Orlando Guardians.

XFL 2023 Results: Week 4 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Sunday

Kristopher Knox
Mar 12, 2023
Battlehawks QB AJ McCarron
Battlehawks QB AJ McCarron

We're now into Week 4 of the 2023 XFL season, and the latest incarnation of the spring league is proving to be a lot of fun.

The Orlando Guardians didn't have much fun in Saturday's opener, as they got lambasted by the Houston Roughnecks 44-16. Orlando remains winless on the year. The Seattle Sea Dragons picked up their second win of the season on Saturday night, outlasting the San Antonio Brahmas 15-6.

The action picked back up Sunday afternoon with the Arlington Renegades and St. Louis Battlehawks. It concluded with the D.C. Defenders and Vegas Vipers on Sunday night.

Battlehawks 24, Roughnecks 11

There was a fair bit of back-and-forth in the early game, though the home team largely controlled the momentum and the tempo en route to a 24-11 St. Louis victory.

The Battlehawks jumped out to an early 3-0 first-quarter lead, and the home St. Louis crowd immediately made its presence felt. This was easily the most energized XFL crowd we've seen through the first four weeks, and it didn't go unnoticed.

While the first half was largely a defensive struggle, St. Louis broke a 3-3 tie with only 11 seconds remaining before the break. Quarterback AJ McCarron found Darrius Shepherd for a 27-yard touchdown strike. He then found running back Brian Hill for a two-point conversion and an 11-3 halftime lead.

Hill opened things up on the opening drive of the second half. He rushed for a 15-yard touchdown that gave the Battlehawks a two-score lead.

The Renegades answered early in the fourth quarter with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but St. Louis answered right back with a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

McCarron's second touchdown pass of the game helped open a 24-11 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining. The Battlehawks managed to close things out, and Arlington's late desperation drive ended with a Kyle Sloter interception.

Hill finished with 89 rushing yards and a touchdown, while McCarron finished 20-of-27 for 214 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Shepherd led both teams with 91 receiving yards and a touchdown. Fellow Battlehawks receiver Hakeem Butler chipped in 52 yards and a score.

Sloter finished 23-of-39 for 205 yards and three interceptions.

While Sunday's early game might not have had the thrilling finish that some XFL contests have had this season, it was an entertaining battle that fans in person and on social media seemed to genuinely enjoy.

https://twitter.com/nmzcoop/status/1635042954430783490

The Renegades will look to regroup next week against the Brahmas. St. Louis is scheduled for a highly anticipated matchup with the Defenders, who moved to 4-0 on Sunday evening.

Defenders 32, Vipers 18

The Defenders grabbed the early momentum after Vipers quarterback Brett Hundley mishandled the first snap of the game and handed the ball to the D.C. defense. The ensuing drive ended with a D'Eriq King touchdown run.

The Vipers cut the deficit to three points with a Bailey Giffen field goal just before the end of the first quarter. However, a second rushing touchdown by King and a successful two-point conversion opened up a 14-3 Defenders lead.

Vegas came close to potentially tying the game at the break, but quarterback Luis Perez was stopped short of the goal line—as deemed by official review—and a 10-second runoff following the review sent the game into intermission.

https://twitter.com/xflboard/status/1635072626539503617

D.C. extended its lead midway through the third quarter with a Matt McCrane field goal. That lead spread to 20-6 by the start of the fourth.

The Vipers cut that lead to 20-12 in the early fourth, though. Perez's 26-touchdown strike to Cinque Sweeting made it a one-score game and set the stage for some potential late-game drama.

Another McCrane field goal returned it to a two-score game, and Santos Ramirez's interception of Perez essentially sealed it for D.C. A late touchdown pass from King to Jequez Ezzard put the cap on it.

Vegas scored a late touchdown, but the three-point try was unsuccessful, as was the ensuring 4th-and-15 attempt.

King finished 2-of-2 for 38 yards and a touchdown, while fellow D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta'amu went 14-of-19 for 177 yards. Ta'amu rushed for 89 yards, while King rushed for two touchdowns. Abram Smith added 58 yards on the ground, as the Defenders powered their way to victory.

While D.C. ran away with the game late, fans seemed to enjoy the late XFL action and the atmosphere at Audi Field.

https://twitter.com/xflboard/status/1635082776935546880
https://twitter.com/ericeager_/status/1635070960964599816

Next week's rematch between the Defenders and the Battlehawks will be a fight for XFL North supremacy.

D.C, won the Week 3 meeting 34-28, but Round 2 will take place in St. Louis. This should be the early favorite for the Week 5 game of the week. This one's scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Roughnecks and Sea Dragons will open Week 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night.

Ben DiNucci, Josh Gordon Praised by Twitter for XFL Milestone in Sea Dragons' Win

Mar 12, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Ben DiNucci #6 of the Seattle Sea Dragons flips a pass for a touchdown to Josh Gordon #0 during the first half of the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Ben DiNucci #6 of the Seattle Sea Dragons flips a pass for a touchdown to Josh Gordon #0 during the first half of the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Ben DiNucci-Josh Gordon connection keeps making waves in the XFL.

DiNucci threw for 264 yards and a touchdown while Gordon added 57 yards on five catches, helping lead the Seattle Sea Dragons to a 15-6 win over the San Antonio Brahmas on Saturday.

The 264-yard effort from DiNucci pushed the former Dallas Cowboys reserve to the top of the XFL with over 1,000 yards passing.

Gordon and DiNucci also connected on a clutch play late in the fourth quarter that set up the Sea Dragons' final touchdown, which put the game away.

Seattle now sits 2-2 on the season, with DiNucci impressing with his accuracy and ability to spread the ball around. The James Madison product completed passes to seven receivers, five of whom had at least three catches.

Gordon, who led the NFL in receiving during the 2013 season before multiple suspensions for failed drug tests cost him the bulk of his prime, has seemingly found a second career in Seattle. He's been a favorite target of DiNucci while also occasionally flashing the game-breaking speed that made him so difficult to defend in his peak with the Cleveland Browns.

At the very least, the play of DiNucci and Gordon will likely get them a call from NFL teams looking to add training camp bodies.

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