The Dallas Renegades moved to 2-1 on the XFL season, winning their second straight game 24-12
After a lackluster season opener, the Dallas Renegades won their second straight game Saturday. Head coach Bob Stoops took on Jim Zorn’s Seattle Dragons in an NFL stadium, bringing together a familiar cast of players in an unfamiliar setting.
The Renegades mounted a second-half comeback thanks to player of the game TE Donald Parham, who hauled in 101 yards on five catches, and scored two touchdowns. On the strength of his connection with QB Landry Jones, who tossed three touchdown passes on the day, the Renegades scored the final 18 points of the game to win, 24-12.
The Dragons got on the board first, driving 57 yards on their first possession. QB Brandon Silvers found WR Austin Proehl to score from 21-yards out, putting Seattle ahead 6-0.
It wasn’t a perfect day, but Jones looked more comfortable than he did last week. The Renegades offense played at a much quicker pace, and Landry was able to find a nice rhythm at times. On Dallas’s second drive, he completed seven passes for 60 yards, and tied the game on a 12-yard strike to WR Flynn Nagel.
His most impressive feat however, was showing off another distinguishing XFL rule: the double-forward pass. In the second quarter, Jones had his initial pass attempt batted back to him to him at the line of scrimmage. Somehow, he kept his eyes down the field and threw the ball a second time, this time completing it to RB Lance Dunbar for 15 yards.
It was wizardry only the XFL can provide.
Unfortunately, the Renegades couldn’t capitalize on that drive, and Jones was eventually picked. He again tried to find Nagel streaking over the middle, but the ball was tipped and picked off by DB Godwin Igwebuike. It was a tight window, and Jones tried to force it but paid the price.
Seattle then seized the momentum, and drove 88-yards in eight plays to re-take the lead 12-6. A 29-yard completion to Prohel on third down kept their drive alive, and then Kenneth Farrow found the end zone off a beautiful route and pass from Silvers.
Coming out of halftime, the Dragons had a chance to extend their lead and take control of their game, but instead the tide turned in Dallas’s favor. Reaching the Renegade 35, Zorn elected to go for it on 4th and 3. However, Hau’oli Kikaha dragged down Silvers for a sack, turning the ball over on downs to Dallas.
From there, the Renegades scored 18 unanswered points. It was a familiar strategy, as Dallas clamped down on defense and leaned on their running backs. But the big fireworks came the big tight end, 22-year-old Donald Parham. His second touchdown reception of the season tied the game at 12, but his 65-yard catch-and-run TD busted the game open in the fourth quarter.
After only running the ball four times for nine total yards in the first half, the Renegades finished with 103 rushing yards and 21 carries, turning to Cameron Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar close out the game. This 31-yard rush by Artis-Payne iced the game, and was set up by Dunbar again making a key block.
Dallas would go on to kick a field goal, officially putting the game out of reach. Austin MacGinnis is 7-7 on Renegades field goal attempts so far this season. Undefeated in the Landry Jones era, the 2-1 Dallas Renegades next face the undefeated in the XFL Houston Roughnecks in Week 4.
Odds and Ends
Is Johnny Football XFL bound? Johnny Manziel made a brief cameo in the AAF before it shut down, but has yet to take part in the relaunched XFL. However, he recently sent a tweet directed at XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck, stating his (ratings related) case for a contract. But soon after, Manziel deleted his Twitter account entirely, casting an ominous shadow over the public exchange. The pairing between Manziel and XFL has always made sense in theory, but who knows what other factors are at play.
Things got testy during the early slot Saturday game between the Tampa Bay Vipers and Roughnecks, The hits were hard, but so was the pettiness. (Former Cowboy) Marqueston Huff interrupted a Tampa Bay touchdown celebration, and stomped out their campfire.
Other Week 3 Results
Houston Roughnecks 34 – Tampa Bay Vipers 27
Sunday, February 23rd
St. Louis Battlehawks @ New York Guardians | 3pm ET, ESPN
DC Defenders @ Los Angeles Wildcats | 6pm ET, FS1
Week 4 Schedule
Saturday, February 29th
New York Guardians (1-1) @ Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2)
St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) @ Seattle Dragons (1-2)
Sunday, March 1st
Houston Roughnecks (3-0) @ Dallas Renegades (2-1)
Tampa Bay Vipers (0-3) @ DC Defenders (2-0)
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