XFL Week 6: Culpepper Pulls Another Houdini ActApril 5, 2011
Orlando, FL - Memphis started strong, scoring on a RB Trung Canidate six yard reception after the Rage had opened the game with a field goal. Canidate’s touchdown would be the lone six pointer of the first half as both defenses limited opportunities for the opposition. At the half, the game would be a very tense 10-3 in favor of the visiting Express and this was increased to 13-3 after another field goal on the 2nd half opening drive. Orlando responded with a long drive of their own. Thirteen plays and 5 minutes later, QB Daunte Culpepper, the ageless wonder, ran off the right side for 4 yards to pull the Rage back to within 3 at 13-10. Memphis answered with a score of their own, with QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson hitting TE Brad Cottam on a huge play as the Rage safeties were badly out of position on a play action play, leading Cottam to the 21-yard score. Orlando would end the third quarter with a field goal and the Express took a 20-13 lead into the final period.
The Express grew their advantage to 14 points after Bethel-Thompson found his other receiving TE, Jake Nordin on a short scoring toss. With just over 13 minutes left to play, Orlando needed to get serious. They started by quickly moving the ball down the field against Memphis’ 2-deep zone. When Culpepper hit WR Ashley Lelie for a 13-yard scoring toss, the Rage were back within one score. They would get a chance to get that score thanks to their defense. On a 3rd and 6 the Express went for a seam play over the middle, but this time safety Atari Bigby was in position, stepping in front of WR Tyrone Calico and snatching the ball. Orlando would waste no time evening the score with Culpepper finding WR Glenn Holt for the game tying touchdown only four plays later. Memphis was unable to get the ball into field goal range so the game headed to overtime. The Rage won the toss and all the momentum was theirs as they drove down the field and RB Marcel Shipp broke free from an initial bottleneck at the line and raced 27 yards for the game winning score.
-- (2-3)Express 27 - 33 Rage(3-2)
(MEM): QB Bethel-Thompson - 24/35 266 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Canidate - 22 carries, 71 yards, 4 catches, 23 yards, 1 TD, WR Clayton - 5 catches, 78 yards, WR Calico - 6 catches, 58 yards
(ORL): QB Culpepper - 15/23 233 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Shipp - 11 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD, WR Holt - 6 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD, WR Lelie - 3 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD
-- (3-2)Force 16 - 37 Brawlers(1-4)
(OTT): QB White - 20/39 215 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Fargas - 14 carries, 38 yards, RB Devine - 8 carries, 63 yards, WR Looker - 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD
(PHI): QB Rattay - 21/31 292 yards, 3 TDs, RB Hart - 16 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD, WR Brown - 5 catches, 90 yards, WR Williams - 3 catches, 61 yards, 2 TDs
*Philadelphia acquired QB Tim Rattay from Dallas earlier this week
-- (3-2)Mountain Lions 42 - 49 Conquerors(3-2)
(SLC): QB O'Sullivan - 20/32 277 yards, 3 TDs, RB Smith - 10 carries, 166 yards, 1 TD, RB Humes - 12 carries, 161 yards, 1 TD, WR Merritt - 6 catches, 126 yards, 2 TDs, WR Warren - 4 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD
(LV): QB Losman - 18/25 264 yards, 4 TDs, RB Dorsey - 20 carries, 222 yards, 2 TDs, WR Robinson - 5 catches, 88 yards, 3 TDs, WR Davis - 3 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD
-- (4-1)Stampede 31 - 21 Desperados(2-3)
(HOU): QB McCown - 27/37 305 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Scobey - 10 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD, WR Moss - 9 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD, WR Ferguson - 5 catches, 89 yards, 1 TD
(DAL): QB Johnson - 24/34 243 yards, 3 TDs, RB Redmond - 17 carries, 19 yards, WR McNeal - 4 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD, WR Johnson - 4 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
-- (3-2)Commanders 10 - 21 Enforcers(3-2)
(SA): QB Bishop - 18/30 216 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Ross - 8 carries, 11 yards, WR Morgan - 7 catches, 71 yards, WR Woods - 6 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD
(CHI): QB Harrington - 24/30 331 yards, 3 TDs, RB Toefield - 9 carries, 23 yards, WR Russell - 4 catches, 90 yards, 1 TD, WR Martin - 6 catches, 60 yards, 2 TDs
-- (5-0)Bandits 31 - 12 Ghosts(5-0)
(TB): QB Hamdan - 17/28 235 yards, 2 TDs, RB Herron - 11 carries, 43 yards, RB Cobourne - 9 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD, WR Jackson - 4 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Haddad - 3 catches, 64 yards
(COL): QB Hill - 22/33 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Pittman - 15 carries, 44 yards, WR Moore - 6 catches, 53 yards
-- (2-3)Dragons 28 - 32 Guardians(0-5)
(SEA): QB Bollinger - 30/38 280 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Dixon - 15 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD, WR Biddle - 8 catches, 95 yards, 2 TDs, WR Burton - 7 catches, 70 yards, 1 TD
(NY): QB Garcia - 22/30 319 yards, 3 TDs, RB Rhodes - 17 carries, 58 yards, Clowney - 7 catches, 82 yards, 2 TDs, WR Sweed - 6 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD
-- (1-4)Stars 21 - 17 Mammoths(2-3)
(LA): QB Masoli - 27/46 261 yards, 2 TDs, RB Barlow - 12 carries, 27 yards, WR Williams - 8 catches, 83 yards, WR Jarrett - 5 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD
(OMA): QB Banks - 22/42 228 yards, 2 TDs, RB Perry - 25 carries, 73 yards, WR Murphy - 5 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
-- (1-4)Aztecs 27 - 22 Roughnecks(3-2)
(MEX): QB Gray - 18/24 167 yards, RB Booker - 16 carries, 115 yards, RB Galloway - 13 carries, 32 yards, 3 TDs, WR Nash - 4 catches, 54 yards
(OKC): QB Nall - 23/38 217 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Anderson - 12 carries, 75 yards, WR Bowman - 8 catches, 82 yards, WR Kelly - 5 catches, 66 yards, 2 TDs
-- (2-3)Valor 28 - 31 Steel(2-3)
(DC): QB McPherson - 22/40 233 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Suggs - 10 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD, WR Gardner - 7 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD, WR Gessner - 5 catches, 60 yards
(BIRM): QB Davey - 24/33 152 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, RB Arrington - 12 carries, 108 yards, 2 TDs, WR Mathis - 8 catches, 54 yards
*Birmingham acquired QB Rohan Davey from Oklahoma City earlier this week
XFL to Hold Veterans Bowl in Las VegasApril 7, 2011
New York, NY - The XFL will stage its championship game, the Veterans Bowl, in Las Vegas. Under a two-year deal, the 2012 championship will also be decided at Sam Boyd Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Bowl and the UNLV football team.
"Las Vegas has a proven track record of success hosting large-scale sporting events, making it an ideal destination for our championship games," said Dick Ebersol, XFL co-founder.