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Football season continues this weekend, because the XFL debuted with Saturday’s sport between the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This 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 sport, scoring on 4 straight possessions within the first half to beat an early deficit in a 33-12 victory.

Sunday will see the St. Louis BattleHawks journey to play the San Antonio Brahmas, who’re coached by Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward, at 3 p.m. ET. Week 1 concludes at 8 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C., because the D.C. Defenders host the Seattle Sea Dragons.

All XFL video games shall be streamed dwell on ESPN+ and can be found on the ESPN household of networks (ABC, ESPN and FX).

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LV-ARL | ORL-HOU

Saturday’s video games

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 sequence of the sport.

But the Roughnecks (1-0) dominated from there, because of 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.

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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 operating 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 became a 5-yard landing run by Houston backup quarterback Cole McDonald.

Silvers led the way in which 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.


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 massive with eight seconds left, as T.J. Barnes sacked Perez on a possible game-tying 2-point conversion try.

Bausby’s decide got here after the Vipers (0-1) stopped the Renegades quick on a fourth-and-goal scenario from the 1. Vegas stored Arlington’s offense out of the top zone, because the Renegades settled for 3 Taylor Russolino area objectives, the third placing the Renegades forward to remain late within the third quarter.

The first 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.

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Jeff Badet snags first XFL TD of the season

Luis Perez avoids the stress 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.

Sunday’s video games

St. Louis BattleHawks at San Antonio Brahmas

3 p.m. ET, Alamodome, San Antonio
Television: ABC/ESPN+
Spread: STL -3.0 (36.5)


Seattle Sea Dragons at D.C. Defenders

8 p.m. ET, Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
Television: ABC/ESPN+
Spread: SEA -2.5 (37)

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