By Michael Heilman
Week 5 of the XFL season kicked off with two games as the Seattle Dragons took on the Houston Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium that finished with controversy, and the New York Guardians dominated the Dallas Renegades from Globe Life Park.
Seattle Dragons 26, Houston Roughnecks 32
The Dragons put the first points on the board with 3:29 left in the first quarter as quarterback B.J Daniels rushed for a one-yard touchdown run to put the Dragons up 6-0.
After a 56-yard missed field goal by Roughnecks kicker Sergio Castillo, the Dragons marched down the field for running back Trey Williams to finish the drive on a 17-yard touchdown run to increase the Dragons lead 12-0 with 9:22 left in the second quarter. The Dragons converted the two-point play to go up 14-0.
Houston started to march back into the game as quarterback Phillip Walker threw a short pass to Nick Holley that went for a 50-yard touchdown to cut the Dragons lead 14-6 with 6:18 left in the second quarter. The Roughnecks went for a three-point convert but couldn’t convert and the game remained 14-6.
With sixteen seconds left in the second quarter, the Roughnecks cut the Dragons lead 14-12 as James Butler rushed for a one-yard touchdown run. The Roughnecks were successful with the two-point conversion to tie the game at fourteen apiece. Dragons quarterback B.J Daniels took a knee to halftime.
Seattle would retake the lead with 10:51 left in the third quarter on a 47-yard field goal by Ernesto Lacayo to put the Dragons back up 17-14. After the Dragons defense intercepted Phillip Walker’s pass to Sam Mobley, quarterback B.J Daniels rushed for a one-yard touchdown run to add to the Dragons lead 23-14 with 8:56 left in the third quarter. The Dragons could not get the two-point conversion, and the score remained 23-14.
On Houston’s next possession, the Roughnecks marched down to the Dragons end zone as James Butler rushed for his second touchdown of the game with an eight-yard run cut the Dragons lead 23-20 6:58 left in the third quarter. The Roughnecks tried the three-point conversion but didn’t get it, and the game remained 23-20 for the Dragons.
The Roughnecks were able to take the lead with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter as Phillip Walker connected to Cam Phillips for a five-yard touchdown pass to give Houston their first lead of the game 26-23. The Roughnecks tried the two-point play but couldn’t add to their lead.
Seattle’s offense stalled, and the Roughnecks got the ball back to march down the field as Phillip Walker connected to Cam Phillips for the second time on an eleven-yard touchdown pass with 3:28 left in the fourth quarter to extend the Roughnecks lead 32-26. Houston went for a one-point convert and didn’t get it.
An error on the officiating officer with two seconds left cost the Dragons an opportunity for one play as the Roughnecks escaped with a 32-26 win to improve to 5-0 on the season while the Dragons fell to 1-4.
Houston Roughnecks quarterback Phillip Walker finished the afternoon 27 of 38 for 351-yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and minus five rushing yards. Running back James Butler had twelve carries for 52-yards and two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Cam Phillips led the Roughnecks in receiving yards with ten receptions for 52-yards and two touchdowns. Running back Nick Holley had four receptions for 72-yards and one touchdown. The Roughnecks defense recorded four sacks, and two forced fumbles and recovered one of them.
Seattle Dragons quarterback B.J Daniels finished the afternoon 14 of 22 for 114-yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and two rushing touchdowns. Running back Trey Williams had seven carries for 28-yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Austin Proehl led the Dragons in receiving with three receptions for 28-yards.
The Roughnecks will head to MetLife Stadium next Saturday against the New York Guardians at 2 pm on ABC while the Dragons will return home to host the Los Angeles Wildcats next Sunday at 7 pm on ESPN 2.
Dallas Renegades 12, New York Guardians 30
Dallas put the first points on the board with 9:28 left in the first quarter on a 23-yard field goal by Austin MacGinnis to put the Renegades up 3-0. On the next possession, the Guardians marched to Dallas territory to tie the game up 3-3 on a 46-yard field goal from Matthew McCrane with 6:37 left in the first quarter.
Both teams’ offenses stalled for the rest of the first quarter and early into the second quarter until the Guardians took a 6-3 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Matthew McCrane with 8:37 left in the second quarter. With six seconds left in the second quarter, the Renegades tied the game 6-6 on a 36-yard field goal by Austin MacGinnis heading into halftime.
The game began to favor the Guardians in the second half as they marched to Dallas territory as backup quarterback Marquise Williams rushed for a one-yard touchdown run to extend the Guardians lead 12-6. The Guardians attempted a two-point convert, and it was no good. A couple of possession’s later, the Guardians added another touchdown as Luis Perez connected an 80-yard touchdown pass to Colby Pearson for an 18-6 lead. The Guardians were able to get the two-point conversion for a 20-6 lead with 3:17 left in the third quarter.
The Guardians defense came up with a huge interception as linebacker Ryan Mueller picked off Philip Nelson’s pass for a 33-yard touchdown run for a 26-6 lead. The Guardians converted the one-point play for a 27-6 lead with 2:38 left in the third quarter.
On the kickoff, Dallas running back Austin Walker returned a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to cut the Guardians lead 27-12. The Renegades attempted a three-point convert and didn’t get it. With 8:41 left in the fourth quarter, the Guardians put the game away as Matthew McCrane made his third field goal for 26-yards for a 30-12 lead. The Guardians defeated the Dallas Renegades 30-12 to move to 3-2 while Dallas drops to 2-3.
New York Guardians quarterback Luis Perez finished the afternoon 16 of 30 for 229-yards, one touchdown, one interception, and 18 rushing yards. Running back Darius Victor led the team in rushing with fifteen carriers for fifty-eight-yards. Wide receiver Colby Pearson led the team in receiving with five receptions for 95-yards and one touchdown. The Guardians defense had three sacks, two of them from Cavon Walker, and two interceptions.
Dallas Renegades quarterback Philip Nelson finished the afternoon 28 of 49 for 210-yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Running back Cameron Artis-Payne led the Renegades in rushing with six carries for twenty-five-yards. Wide receiver Flynn Nagel led the team in receiving with seven receptions for 46-yards. The defense did not get to Perez all game nor intercept him. Their lone touchdown came from special teams.
The Guardians will return home next Saturday against the Houston Roughnecks at 2 pm on ABC while the Renegades will head to Audi Field next Sunday against the DC Defenders at 4 pm on FS1.
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