Tag: Cameron Artis-Payne

Dallas Renegades earn 2nd-straight win, clip Dragons’ wings 24-12

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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XFL Week 2 Recap: Dallas Renegades earn first franchise win

Making his XFL debut, Landry Jones led the Dallas Renegades with help from Cameron Artis-Payne to their first win of the season.

The Dallas Renegades rallied in the fourth quarter of their Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, claiming the first victory (and scoring their first touchdowns) of the 2020 XFL season. While the new league is working to find its footing, their North Texas representative is making similar progress.

Running back Cameron Artis-Payne scored twice, taking 14 carries for 99 yards and adding 32 receiving yards on five receptions as the player of the game.

The matchup featured a pair of quarterbacks making debuts for their respective teams: Los Angeles QB Josh Johnson and QB Landry Jones for the Renegades. For Jones, it was his first game action in nearly three years. He was noticeably rusty, but also flashed moments that showed why he was the first player to join the XFL, and why the league had to block the Pittsburgh Steelers from signing Jones after Ben Roethlisberger was injured early in the 2019 NFL season.

His Renegades debut was much anticipated, reuniting him with his Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. A knee injury suffered on his first pass attempt in his first practice in early January forced the Renegades to start (ex-San Diego Fleet QB) Philip Nelson last week in their 15-9 loss in Week 1.

Similarly, a thigh injury sidelined Johnson for the first game of Los Angeles’ season. The epitome of a journeyman QB, Johnson has been a member of 13 NFL teams in 12 seasons, yet has started only eight NFL games (1-7) over that time. He was most recently with the Detriot Lions, and appeared in four games for Washington in 2018.

It was a slow start, with the game’s first points not coming until only 2:54 remained in the first half. Turnovers plagued both teams, changing possession five times, three coming on back-to-back-to-back drives stretching from the the end of the first quarter through the start of the second.

The first occurred via Jones interception on the Renegades’ second drive of the game. He nearly threw one on the first Dallas drive, but Wildcats CB Harlan Miller didn’t miss this one, stepping in the passing lane for the easy takeaway.

Los Angeles then drove all the way to the Dallas eight yard line before RB Elijah Wood was stripped by former Saints second round pick Hau’oli Kikaha. The play was initially whistled dead due to offensive holding, but Dallas still able to gain possession thanks to the XFL’s unique rule wrinkles. Video review confirmed there was a fumble with a “clear and immediate recovery”.

The fumble party continued however, as the Renegades gave it right back to Los Angeles via Sean Price fumble.

It wasn’t a half to remember, as the teams could only trade field goals before entering halftime. Clearly rusty, Jones settled mostly for short passes underneath the coverage, and showcased his (lack of) athleticism.

Jones threw his second interception on the Renegades’ first drive of the second half. It was similarly ugly, with Jones not picking up the defender lurking underneath.

A field-flipping pass interference penalty committed by 2018 Cowboys practice squad member Treston Decoud immediately set up Los Angeles, but their own bungle dashed their scoring chances. A sloppy handoff from the Renegades three yard line led to the second fumble from within their opponent’s 10-yard line. LB Greer Martini recovered the ball for Dallas.

From there, the game really started. Jones immediately got out from the shadow of the Renegades’ end zone with a 39-yard shot to WR Joshua Crockett.

The play kicked off what had then been the Renegades’ best drive (12-plays, 69-yards), but they were forced to settle for yet another another Austin MacGinnis field goal (45-yards). Trailing for the first time, Johnson was able to get his Wildcats to respond, re-taking the lead with the first touchdown of the game, connecting with WR Nelson Spruce in the back of the end zone.

That score was just the first of five fourth-quarter touchdowns, however. After a key 3rd and 16 conversion by Donald Parham, Artis-Payne got the Renegades back in front on a 21-yard scamper, scoring the first touchdown in franchise history. Former Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar helped spring Artis-Payne for a key block that helped him reach the end zone.

Dallas would add another six points on a three-yard Parham reception, the lone touchdown Jones would throw in the game. However, their 19-9 lead quickly evaporated, as Johnson followed a 62-yard Wildcat kick return with a 44-yard bomb to Spruce. Los Angeles then converted the first three point attempt in XFL history, suddenly making it a one-point game, 19-18 with 4:37 left.

The Renegades were able to hold them off through, thanks to Artis-Payne’s second touchdown, and the defense eventually forcing Los Angeles off the field late in the game. The offense woke up just in time, helping the Renegades win 25-18, evening their record at 1-1. Bud Lite Seltzer for everyone.

Odds and Ends

The Wildcats were playing just days after seemingly drastic changes were made to their defense. Los Angeles abruptly traded DL Anthony Johnson to the DC Defenders for DB Bradley Sylve just two days ago. The Wildcats quickly parted ways with their former team captain after he reportedly expressed displeasure over the firing of the Los Angeles defensive coordinator, after they lost 37-17 to the Houston Roughnecks in Week 1.

Seemingly very opinionated and eager to share. Johnson recorded 1.5 sacks in his Defenders debut, and also let his stance be known in the punching-vs-reclining seat debate:

NFL stars Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon attended the game, supporting their friends in the XFL and taking part in the festivities.

Other Week 2 Results

DC Defenders 27 – New York Guardians 0

Seattle Dragons 17 – Tampa Bay Vipers 9

Houston Roughnecks 21 – St. Louis Battlehawks 12

Week 3 Schedule

Saturday, February 22nd

Houston Roughnecks (1-0) @ Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2) | 2pm ET, ABC

Dallas Renegades (1-1) @ Seattle Dragons (1-1) | 5pm ET, FOX

Sunday, February 23rd

New York Guardians (1-1) @ St. Louis Battlehawks (1-0) | 3pm ET, ESPN

DC Defenders (2-0) @ Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2) | 6pm ET, FS1

Bob Stoops avoids 0-2 start as Renegades rush past Wildcats

The Dallas Renegades’ offense got in gear in the second half and downed the Los Angeles Wildcats.

It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was pretty ugly. The Dallas Renegades’ offense found itself in the second half Sunday and they downed the Los Angeles Wildcats, 25-18.

The victory was the first for Dallas and dropped LA to 0-2. Renegades coach Bob Stoops was never 0-2 in his 18 years at Oklahoma. He was 1-2 with the Sooners in 2005 and ’16. The Renegades will look to avoid that happen in the XFL when they visit Seattle in Week 3.

Dallas outgained LA, 444-256. A big chunk of the yardage came from Cameron Artis-Payne, who rushed for 99 yards on 14 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. The second TD run was a 17-yarder that gave Dallas a 25-18 lead with 3:31 left, the final score in the contest.

Landry Jones showed some rust in the first half but rebound after the break and finished 28-of-40 for 305 yards with a TD pass and two picks. Jones becomes the first XFL QB to crack the 300-yard mark.

Thirty-four of the game’s points came in the fourth quarter.