XFL Week 7: Tampa Defense Shuts Down ChicagoApril 10, 2006
Tampa, FL - QB Shaun King led Tampa to 22 straight points, and the Bandits used a stingy defense to beat the Chicago Enforcers 34-12 Thursday night. The Tampa defense allowed just 139 passing yards in front of an announced crowd of 33,558. King passed for 367 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 19 of 25 passes. The Bandits created three turnovers, had seven quarterback sacks and immobilized Chicago after it tied the game at 12 with 9:06 left in the third quarter. Tampa went ahead for good when TE Erron Kinney caught a 10-yard pass from King with 5:26 left in the third quarter. Moments later, Chicago’s QB Kurt Kittner fumbled the ball away at the Bandits’ 22-yard line, and two plays later it was King once again, this time finding WR Triandos Luke for a 2-yard touchdown strike.
-- (3-3)Enforcers 12 - 34 Bandits(3-2)
(CHI): QB Kittner - 8/17 139 yards, 2 TDs, RB Galloway - 14 carries, 80 yards, WR Martin - 4 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD
(TB): QB King - 19/25 367 yards, 2 TDs, 9 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD, RB Cobourne - 20 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD, WR Haddad - 4 catches, 126 yards, WR Sam - 4 catches, 61 yards, TE Kinney - 5 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
XFL Week 7: Sea Devils Impressive but Huard InjuredApril 11, 2006
Seattle, WA - The Sea Devils put on a show for a crowd of 31,678 on Saturday afternoon as they defeated the Road Warriors 45-15. The Sea Devils defense turned in their best effort of the year recording a season-high three interceptions, six sacks and also returning a missed field goal for a touchdown in the third quarter. The game wasn't all positive for the Sea Devils as they lost QB Brock Huard in the third quarter with a fractured tibia. Backup QB Akili Smith did an admirable job filling in, finishing the day 8-12 for 70 yards and one touchdown. "We came out a played like a team today," said Smith. "Everyone stepped up and played with their hearts on their sleeves. We're glad to send our fans home happy."
"We were opportunistic today," said Sea Devils head coach Rick Neuheisel. "We have to carry over our effort into next week and come out strong again. We need to build on this victory."
-- (1-5)Road Warriors 15 - 45 Sea Devils(1-4)
(XFL): QB Davey - 19/27 185 yards, RB Ferguson - 13 carries, 45 yards, WR Bellamy - 7 catches, 72 yards
(SEA): QB Huard - 17/25 166 yards, 2 TDs, RB Simonton - 24 carries, 108 yards, 2 TDs, WR Looker - 10 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD
-- (1-4)Stars 14 - 3 Desperados(2-3)
(LA): QB McNown - 24/31 234 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Cloud - 13 carries, 51 yards, WR Copeland - 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD, WR McDonald - 5 catches, 67 yards
(DAL): QB Stoerner - 17/34 180 yards, 2 INTs, RB Hambrick - 8 carries, 19 yards, WR Burks - 7 catches, 98 yards
-- (4-1)Steel 19 - 28 Commanders(4-2)
(BIRM): QB Carter - 23/39 280 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Keaton - 16 carries, 57 yards, WR Williams - 9 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Lucas - 6 catches, 115 yards
(SA): QB Bishop - 9/16 136 yards, 3 TDs, RB Carter - 17 carries, 89 yards, WR Woods - 4 catches, 55 yards, 2 TDs, WR Merritt - 3 catches, 58 yards, 1 TD
XFL Week 7: Protection NeededApril 12, 2006
Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento Mountain Lions lost their third consecutive home game, 31-23, in front of a crowd of 16,395 fans. The Mountain Lions started the fourth quarter down 30 points, but cut the lead down to eight with less than a minute in the game. The onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and denied the Mountain Lions their first home win of the season. "I saw positive things even though we lost the game," said WR Troy Edwards. "We had five turnovers and we were still in the game. That shows a lot for our character."
"On paper, it's a game of turnovers. Three fumbles lost and two interceptions, you don't win many games in this league, or any league," Sacramento head coach Dennis Erickson said. "The real root of the problem is up front. We are not protecting the quarterback and we are not getting pressure on their quarterback."
"We want to win here very much. We really appreciate our fans coming out to support us, more than anything," Sacramento QB JT O'Sullivan. "We want to win at home for these guys. We want to feel that we have the best home field in the league."
-- (1-5)Aztecs 31 - 23 Mountain Lions(1-4)
(MEX): QB Gray - 15/22 165 yards, 2 TDs, RB Jackson - 22 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD, RB Croom - 12 carries, 120 yards, WR Nash - 6 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD
(SAC): QB O'Sullivan - 15/33 134 yards, 2 INTs, RB Smart - 7 carries, 21 yards, 1 TD, WR Edwards - 5 catches, 62 yards
-- (5-1)Ghosts 17 - 21 Guardians(4-1)
(COL): QB Germaine - 21/29 219 yards, 1 TD, RB Clarett - 23 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD, WR Rambo - 9 catches, 83 yards, WR Germany - 6 catches, 48 yards
(NY): QB Redman - 17/26 248 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Jackson - 12 carries, 48 yards, WR Green - 4 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD, WR Smith - 4 catches, 83 yards
-- (1-4)Rage 31 - 20 Valor(4-1)
(ORL): QB Hamilton - 15/23 235 yards, 2 TDs, RB Smith - 23 carries, 129 yards, WR Swayne - 4 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD
(DC): QB Hill - 28/40 280 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Avery - 11 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD, WR Simon - 7 catches, 87 yards, WR Watts - 7 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD
XFL Week 7: Last Minute Express DeliveryApril 13, 2006
Memphis, TN - Memphis Express QB Jonathon Quinn found WR Tyrone Calico for a 12-yard touchdown as time expired to give the Express a 28-26 victory over the Omaha Mammoths in front of 22,314 fans. After Omaha RB Brock Forsey scored with 15 seconds remaining to give the Mammoths a 26-22 lead, Quinn completed three passes, two to Calico and one to WR Eddie Berlin for 35 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass as the clock hit zeros. "We took it to another level tonight," Quinn said. "We were able to execute in the final minute and got over the hump in a close game. We'll need to carry this over for next week."
"We didn't miss any assignments. It was a good job by them," said Mammoths head coach Frank Solich. "That last play was kind of a back yard play. We got some pressure on him and we made him scramble out of the pocket. It was a just good play by the quarterback."
-- (6-0)Mammoths 26 - 28 Express(2-3)
(OMA): QB Banks - 22/32 228 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Salaam - 14 carries, 50 yards, WR Bergeron - 6 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD, WR Hatchette - 5 catches, 67 yards
(MEM): QB Quinn - 20/26 231 yards, 2 TDs, RB Canidate - 26 carries, 123 yards, WR Calico - 7 catches, 122 yards
Smith to Start at QB for Sea DevilsApril 14, 2006
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Sea Devils have announced that former starter Akili Smith will start at quarterback this Friday night. The team has also signed Arena Football veteran QB Aaron Garcia to the roster. Starting QB Brock Huard is out for the season with a fractured tibia. "This is what I'm here to do. The number one guy goes down and I'm ready to step in," said Smith. "Friday is an important game for us and nothing has changed in what we're trying to accomplish."
"Aaron is an arena experienced quarterback who has enjoyed success in that league and is familiar with our system and our quarterbacks coach Kimbrough," said Sea Devils head coach Rick Neuheisel.
USA Football and XFL Team Up to Produce "Values of the Game" PSAsApril 15, 2006
Vienna, VA - USA Football, non-profit organization leading the development and growth of youth football, has teamed with the XFL to produce four public service announcements that focus on the life lessons learned through playing football. "Football teaches infinite life lessons," said Commissioner Oliver Luck. "We cannot be more thrilled to partner with USA Football, who shares the philosophies of the XFL when it comes to the value of youth sports. We are grateful to be given the opportunity to communicate these invaluable messages." Each of the four value vignettes - Teamwork, Perseverance, Sportsmanship and Community - will feature a message from Luck along with supporting video from XFL and youth football action.
"We're excited about our partnership with the XFL and share their same mission to strengthen the game of football," said Scott Hallenbeck, Executive Director of USA Football. "Youth football is fertile ground to teach and nurture these important values and life lessons that will help create productive and responsible young adults."
The CFL Ottawa Renegades are now the XFL Ottawa ForceApril 16, 2006
Ottawa, ONTARIO, CANADA - The Canadian Football League held their Ottawa Dispersal Draft over the weekend and the XFL countered by introducing the Ottawa Force to their fans. Former Renegades' QB Kerry Joseph went #1 overall to Saskatchewan Roughriders and forty-five former Renegades' players were selected in the draft, with the remainder of the players becoming free agents. However, a few of the former Renegades will actually follow over to the XFL, those players include S Kyries Hebert, K Shaun Suisham and P Pat Fleming, who will join the current league traveling team, the Road Warriors roster, as the newest members of the Ottawa Force.
The new XFL franchise has started to take shape, with owner Bernie Gleiberman hiring John Jenkins as head coach, the former Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders offensive coordinator, and Joe Paopao and David Catapano as the new offensive and defensive coordinators, the former coordinators of the XFL's Minneapolis Wild. Former Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers' head coach Forrest Gregg was also introduced as the new general manager and vice president.
“That community deserves a football team. They’re a tremendous fan base,” said XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck. “Walking around that city, being a part of that franchise –tremendously proud moments. Our league is better with the Ottawa franchise in place.”