Monarchs Acquire Veteran Quarterback Ryan Mallett
April 27, 2023
Montreal, QUEBEC, CANADA - The Montreal Monarchs announced that the team has acquired veteran QB Ryan Mallett from the Oakland Panthers in exchange for undisclosed draft picks. Mallett had lost the starting quarterback job in Oakland to rookie QB Carson Strong earlier this season.
"Ryan is a veteran who knows the league well and what it takes to win", said Montreal Monarchs General Manager Danny Maciocia. "We are pleased to have been able to complete this transaction. We are confident that Ryan will work well with our quarterbacks."
XFL Week 11: Field goal Carries Mountain Lions to Dramatic Victory
April 27, 2023
Salt Lake City, UT - K Jake Verity’s 48-yard field goal on the final play of the game carried the Mountain Lions to a dramatic come-from-behind 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Bandits before 41,024 spectators. That kick came after K Ernesto Lacayo thought he had carried the visitors to a victory with a 51-yard field goal. They thought they had the game won after QB Josh Rosen connected with WR Justyn Ross for a 45-yard touchdown with fewer than three minutes remaining in regulation time. QB Colin Kaepernick connected with WR Lil' Jordan Humphrey for two touchdowns while RB Karlos Williams scored on a short run. Lacayo added an earlier field goal. The Mountain Lions started quickly on offense, thanks to a 23-yard pass to Ross on the opening play. But on the next play, Rosen’s pass for WR Kaelin Clay was intercepted by DB Vernon Hargreaves, who returned it 45 yards, squandering a glorious opportunity for the Mountain Lions to take the lead. Kaepernick then connected with Humphrey for 12 yards, WR Rashad Greene for 14 and a huge 25-yard gain to TE Orson Charles. Inexplicably, the visitors gambled on fourth and goal from the 7, Kaepernick’s pass falling incomplete. But the Mountain Lions failed to generate a first down from deep in their own zone. Three plays later, Kaepernick connected for the 10-yard touchdown. The Mountain Lions generated a 10-play drive that consumed nearly six minutes early in the second period, but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal. Following Lacayo being wide left on a 43-yard field goal attempt, the Mountain Lions generated a six-play, 70-yard drive. The drive culminated with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Clay giving the Mountain Lions an 11-8 lead. Tampa tied the score with Lacayo’s 43-yard field goal just before halftime.
Salt Lake was held to 10 first downs and 148 net yards in the half, limited to 23 offensive plays. The Mountain Lions took the lead four minutes into the third quarter on JJ Arcega-Whiteside’s touchdown, capping a four-play, 93-yard drive. But the Bandits answered immediately, thanks to a second roughing-the-kicker penalty and a pass interference infraction. The drive was capped by Williams’ one-yard touchdown run. A 64-yard touchdown by Humphrey with one minute remaining in the quarter provided Tampa with a 25-18 lead heading into the final period.
-- (7-3)Bandits 28 - 29 Mountain Lions(8-2)
(TB): QB Kaepernick - 27/39 303 yards, 2 TDs, RB Gardner - 10 carries, 41 yards, WR Humphrey - 11 catches, 145 yards, 2 TDs, WR Greene - 6 catches, 50 yards
(SLC): QB Rosen - 24/31 382 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Booker - 12 carries, 43 yards, WR Ross - 7 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD, WR Arcega-Whiteside - 3 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD, WR Clay - 3 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD
-- (3-7)Showboats 19 - 27 Valor(4-6)
(MEM): QB Guarantano - 17/26 157 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Collins - 18 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD, WR Treadwell - 6 catches, 62 yards, 1 TD, WR Mitchell - 4 catches, 40 yards, 1 TD
(DC): QB Bortles - 20/25 200 yards, 2 TDs, RB Allen - 21 carries, 52 yards, RB Pumphrey - 13 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD, WR Daniels - 3 catches, 52 yards, WR Richardson - 3 catches, 46 yards, TE Hodges - 3 catches, 15 yards, 2 TDs
XFL Week 11: Offense Finds Footing as Dragons Stop Calgary
April 28, 2023
Calgary, ALBERTA, CANADA - After playing three straight home games at Lumen Field, the Seattle Dragons traveled to Calgary to take on the winless Calgary Greys in this Week 11 matchup. In the first quarter, PR Kelvin McKnight registered a 49-yard punt return, his longest return of the season. After McKnight secured great field position for the Dragons offense, K Dominik Eberle knocked in a 37-yard field goal, giving Seattle an early 3-0 lead. As the game transitioned into the second quarter, Greys K Jose Borregales evened the score at 3-3 after a successful 26-yard field goal attempt. Shortly after, McKnight returned a kickoff for 45-yards and the drive resulted in another Eberle field goal, this time for 27-yards, securing a 6-3 Seattle lead. Greys RB Devin Darrington scored the first touchdown of the game on the following drive, punching it in from the 3-yard line. Darrington followed it up with a successful 1-point conversion giving Calgary their first lead of the game (10-6). Eberle closed out the first half by banking a 54 yard field goal, his third of the game and the second longest in the entire XFL this season. The Greys led 10-9 heading into halftime.
The Dragons re-grouped during halftime and came out firing in the second half with QB Ben DiNucci finding WR Blake Jackson in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown reception. WR Jahcour Pearson earned Seattle a 17-10 lead after pulling in a successful 2-point conversion. The Greys offense answered with a 43-yard run by Darrington that resulted in a touchdown to cut the score to 17-16. Calgary's 1-point conversion proved unsuccessful thanks to a DL Niko Lalos interception. The fourth quarter opened with a 27-yard Eberle field goal, his fourth of the game, which widened the Dragons lead to 20-16. Soon after, Borregales matched the Dragons with a 50-yard field goal, his season high. Late in the game, the Dragons special teams unit came up big, DB Alijah Holder blocking P Mac Brown's punt, placing the ball on the 6. The Dragons capitalized on the turnover and expanded the score to 26-19 after DiNucci spotted WR Juwan Green in the endzone and completed a 4-yard touchdown pass. The Greys looked to drive the ball down field on their next series but fell short after Darrington fumbled on a catch and run that was enforced by DB Antoine Brooks and recovered by DB Rojesterman Farris. Calgary's defense took a final stand forcing the Dragons to punt on their ensuing possession, but Seattle's defense turned on the pressure. In the final moments of the game, the Greys turned the ball over on downs, continuing their winless season.
-- (7-3)Dragons 26 - 19 Greys(0-10)
(SEA): QB DiNucci - 18/35 177 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 6 carries, 43 yards, RB Bradwell - 12 carries, 32 yards, WR Jackson - 6 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD, WR Green - 5 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD
(CAL): QB Dormady - 24/44 243 yards, RB Darrington - 7 carries, 82 yards, 2 TDs, WR Latimer - 5 catches, 59 yards, WR Rambo - 6 catches, 54 yards
-- (6-4)Enforcers 24 - 25 Fleet(3-7)
(CHI): QB Johnson - 7/12 103 yards, 2 TDs, 10 carries, 32 yards, 1 TD, RB Victor - 13 carries, 44 yards, RB Rawls - 13 carries, 55 yards, WR Pierson-El - 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
(SD): QB Johnson - 19/24 196 yards, 3 TDs, RB Smallwood - 20 carries, 92 yards, RB Thomas - 14 carries, 75 yards, WR Ross - 5 catches, 64 yards, WR Spruce - 3 catches, 47 yards, WR Posey - 5 catches, 36 yards, 2 TDs
XFL Week 11: BattleHawks Dominate Vipers in Mexico City
April 29, 2023
Mexico City, MEXICO - The Mexico City Vipers fell, 29-6, against the Charlotte Battlehawks. Both team's offenses struggled to start the game, going four straight drives without scoring. At start of the second quarter, BattleHawks QB AJ McCarron's 4-yard passing touchdown to WR Gary Jennings would put Charlotte on the board. After the score McCarron would connect with WR Darrius Shepherd for a successful two-point conversion giving them an 8-0 lead. With just two minutes remaining in the first half, Charlotte moved down the field but settled for a K Donny Hageman 40-yard field goal, extending their lead 11-0. Shortly after that, Charlotte would force Mexico City to a three-and-out and got the ball back with 55 seconds remaining. Three plays later, McCarron dialed up a deep ball to Shepherd for a 30-yard passing touchdown giving the BattleHawks a commanding 17-0 lead going into half time.
Mexico City would open the second half looking to answer back but QB Luis Perez would throw an interception to Charlotte DB Lavert Hill and he returned it to Vipers territory. About four minutes later Charlotte would capitalize on the turnover when RB Kareem Walker bulldozed his way in for a one-yard score extending their lead to 23-0. Late in the third quarter Mexico City would make a quarterback change putting in QB Brett Hundley. The Vipers would finally get on the board when Hundley threw a short pass to RB John Lovett, and he took it the rest of the way en route to a 17-yard passing touchdown cutting the deficit to 23-6 with six minutes remaining. Just when Mexico City seemed to have found some life, the BattleHawks would answer back on the following drive going 51 yards on five plays, capping it off with Shepherd on the receiving end of a six-yard touchdown pass, sealing the win for Charlotte, 29-6.
-- (6-4)BattleHawks 29 - 6 Vipers(2-8)
(CHA): QB McCarron - 23/29 236 yards, 3 TDs, RB Hill - 14 carries, 71 yards, WR Shepherd - 7 catches, 79 yards, 2 TDs, WR Campbell - 3 catches, 54 yards
(MEX): QB Hundley - 9/18 120 yards, 1 TD, RB Lovett - 6 carries, 19 yards, 3 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD, WR Badet - 4 catches, 34 yards
-- (4-6)Stampede 30 - 24 Panthers(4-6)
(OKC): QB Petty - 20/28 236 yards, 2 TDs, RB Artis-Payne - 19 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD, RB Brooks - 13 carries, 84 yards, WR Davis - 6 catches, 64 yards, WR Westbrook - 4 catches, 53 yards
(OAK): QB Love - 14/27 162 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Corbin - 16 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs, WR Quinn - 6 catches, 53 yards, WR Hamilton - 2 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD
XFL Week 11: Jousters Squeak Past Breakers
April 29, 2023
Los Angeles, CA - The Toronto Jousters were down by nine points late in the third quarter and they were struggling to sustain drives and keep the offense on the field. Mitchell had been pulled at halftime after completing 9-of 16 passes for 149 yards and two interceptions with 80 of those yards came on the opening play of the game. There had been a couple moments to feel excited about in the first half, but not enough. Mitchell had connected with the WR Keyarris Garrett on the opening play of the game for 80 yards, but the Jousters had to settle for a field goal and the Breakers responded with three points of their own on the ensuing drive. Early in the second, the Jousters run-game got hot for a drive that finished with RB Chandler Cox scampering for 29 yards into the end zone for a genuinely spectacular touchdown, but again, the Breakers responded with a touchdown of their own a few minutes later. It was 10-10 at that point, although three field goals put the Breakers up 19-10 by the midway point of the third quarter. Then, the game seemed to change on a dime.
As it has been so many times this season, it was the Jousters defense that stepped up when DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste intercepted a pass from QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and somewhat incredibly ran it back for a 62 yard touchdown. “It’s amazing how one play can change a game,” said DL Cordarro Law. “Before, you look at the sideline and we were all looking all sad and mad and then Baptiste makes a play that changes the entire game and the team starts to believe, and man, belief is a hell of a thing. It can take you from nothing to something.”
Two field goals later and the Jousters suddenly found themselves ahead. It wasn’t the most spectacular showing and it would have been a lot better had Arbuckle not thrown an end zone interception that gave the Breakers life late, but a win is a win. And this was a win the Stampeders definitely needed. Defensively, Law was his usual dominant self, DL Ja'Gared Davis had a sack and forced a fumble that essentially ended the game with 30 seconds left and LB Hardy Nickerson looked like he might be a player.
-- (4-6)Jousters 22 - 19 Breakers(7-3)
(TOR): QB Arbuckle - 14/18 156 yards, 1 INT, RB Cox - 15 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs, WR Wright - 6 catches, 55 yards, WR Garrett - 4 catches, 129 yards, WR Rogers - 3 catches, 57 yards
(LA): QB Bethel-Thompson - 27/43 276 yards, 1 INT, RB Hills - 13 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD, WR Dixon - 7 catches, 92 yards, WR Adams - 5 catches, 70 yards, WR Lee - 8 catches, 55 yards
-- (2-8)Mammoths 19 - 27 Maulers(5-5)
(OMA): QB Wolford - 13/25 199 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB West - 19 carries, 64 yards, WR Callaway - 3 catches, 67 yards, WR Dunbar - 3 catches, 54 yards
(PIT): QB Haskins - 19/22 211 yards, 3 TDs, RB Groshek - 20 carries, 79 yards, WR Thomas - 6 catches, 99 yards, WR Gaither - 7 catches, 60 yards, 2 TDs
-- (8-2)Stallions 20 - 23 Bolts(5-5)
(STL): QB McGough - 16/25 176 yards, RB Marable - 14 carries, 65 yards, 2 TDs, RB White - 13 carries, 76 yards, WR Davis - 4 catches, 56 yards
(BER): QB Kaaya - 21/29 217 yards, 3 TDs, RB Hunt - 21 carries, 75 yards, WR Huff - 6 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD, TE Escobar - 7 catches, 63 yards
XFL Week 11: Renegades Edged in Rematch with Vancouver
April 30, 2023
Dallas, TX - Facing each other for the second time in three weeks, the Vancouver Otters avenged a loss twelve days prior to the Dallas Renegades with a 15-9 win at Choctaw Stadium. Vancouver built a 9-0 halftime lead after holding Dallas to just 46 1st-half yards. The Otters took a 3-0 advantage on a 28-yard field goal from K Parker Romo at the 1:48 mark of the 1st quarter and added a defensive touchdown on a strip sack by LB Delontae Scott and 44-yard fumble recovery by LB Jordan Williams with 6:34 remaining in the 2nd quarter. After rushing for only 18 yards in the 1st half, the Renegades clipped off 28 on the ground in their opening possession of the 2nd half to set up a season-long 53-yard field goal by K Taylor Russolino.
On Vancouver's second play from scrimmage following Russolino's field goal, Dallas LB Donald Payne intercepted QB Kurt Benkert who was just traded from Houston on Wednesday. That set up a Renegades' 16-yard touchdown pass from QB Drew Plitt to WR LuJuan Winningham, who acrobatically stretched back across his body to pull in his team-leading second receiving TD of the season at 8:39 of the 3rd quarter. The teams remained tied into the 4th quarter, when aided by a Dallas 41-yard pass interference penalty, Vancouver re-gained a three-point edge, 12-9, on a 45-yard field goal from Romo with 8:56 to play. A 48-yard connection through the air by Plitt to WR JaVonta Payton on Dallas' next possession positioned the Renegades inside Vancouver's 15-yard line. However, Russolino's right-footed kick from the right hash sailed right of the goal post from 36 yards which would have re-knotted the game with 4:05 showing. A 46-yard field goal by Romo with 1:46 left put the Otters up six, and an interception with 14 seconds left by DB Tenny Adewusi with Dallas driving in Vancouver territory iced the contest.
-- (2-8)Otters 15 - 9 Renegades(5-5)
(VAN): QB Pass - 8/14 57 yards, RB Patrick - 15 carries, 82 yards, WR Akers - 2 catches, 24 yards
(DAL): QB Sloter - 16/29 185 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Smith - 10 carries, 42 yards, 4 catches, 49 yards, WR Payton - 2 catches, 43 yards
-- (7-3)Crusaders 30 - 12 Monarchs(2-8)
(LON): QB Heinicke - 16/27 208 yards, 2 TDs, RB Michael - 17 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD, WR Henry - 5 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD
(MON): QB Mallett - 10/16 111 yards, RB Richard - 16 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD, WR Cunningham - 5 catches, 50 yards, WR Roosevelt - 2 catches, 68 yards
XFL Week 11: Commanders Face Quandary after Being Bounced
April 30, 2023
San Antonio, TX - The Philadelphia Brawlers emerged with a 28-10 victory before an announced crowd of 38,442 at Alamodome. San Antonio QB Logan Woodside left the game late in the second quarter after struggling in the first half. He was replaced by QB Mason Fine, who outperformed Woodside. “That’s a big decision that we have to make this week about what we’re going to do at that position,” Commanders head coach Marvin Lewis said. “We still believe in Logan and we still believe in our team. We do have to find a way to play better. That means we’ve got to look at every position and we’ve got to make the right decision at every position. I don’t know off the top of my head what that is, but that’s what we have ahead of us for the next few days.”
Woodside completed only eight of 13 passes for 41 yards and being intercepted twice. He was also sacked twice before being replaced by Fine, who was sacked three times. “We weren’t clicking it all on offense and I just felt like ‘Let’s do it,’” Lewis said. “I was going to do it at the half and then we got the ball back with a couple minutes left so I said ‘Let’s do it now.’
The Brawlers got off to a fast start with an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive after taking the opening kickoff. QB Phillip Walker completed five passes for 79 yards during the drive, which was capped when he scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. The Commanders registered a field goal, but that was as close as San Antonio would get. RB James Butler scored on a two-yard run. WR Cam Phillips broke free for a 80-yard touchdown reception. WR Travis Fulgham added a one-handed, 11-yard touchdown catch. WR Greg Ward scored the lone Commanders touchdown, on a four-yard pass from Fine late in the second quarter to trail 21-10 after the first half.
-- (9-1)Brawlers 28 - 10 Commanders(3-7)
(PHI): QB Walker - 22/31 375 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 3 carries, 63 yards, RB Butler - 17 carries, 30 yards, 2 TDs, WR Phillips - 9 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD, WR Fulgham - 6 catches, 127 yards, WR Miller - 5 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD
(SA): QB Fine - 16/26 210 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Ervin - 13 carries, 61 yards, WR Ward - 6 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD, WR Doctson - 8 catches, 56 yards
-- (5-5)Alphas 16 - 40 Apollos(7-3)
(ATL): QB Barrett - 18/31 262 yards, 1 TD, RB Barber - 11 carries, 76 yards, RB Smith - 15 carries, 57 yards, WR Evans - 3 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD, WR Jones - 6 catches, 62 yards, WR Hardy - 3 catches, 51 yards
(ORL): QB Gilbert - 20/24 301 yards, 1 TD, RB Johnson - 17 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD, WR Marshall - 7 catches, 95 yards, WR Moncrief - 4 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Whitehead - 3 catches, 52 yards
-- (3-7)Ghosts 34 - 31 Guardians(5-5)
(COL): QB Cookus - 19/36 300 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Colburn - 15 carries, 64 yards, RB Williams - 19 carries, 37 yards, WR Coleman - 4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Suell - 6 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD, WR Overton - 3 catches, 68 yards
(NY): QB Dolegala - 9/17 169 yards, 1 TD, RB Perkins - 17 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD, RB Darkwa - 23 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs, WR White - 3 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD
XFL Week 11: Promising Start Goes Awry in Second Loss
May 1, 2023
Cologne, GERMANY - The Houston Roughnecks found themselves on the losing end in two of the last three games as they fell to the Cologne Defenders by a score of 37-26. Houston got on the board first in this one, as RB Max Borghi punched in a 4-yard touchdown, set up by a facemask penalty against the Defenders' defense. A successful two-point try pass attempt from QB Nathan Rourke to WR Cedric Byrd put the Roughnecks up eight. On the other end, after a defensive pass interference penalty put the ball at the 1-yard line for Cologne, the Houston defense stood tall, holding them to a 33-yard field goal. After one quarter of play, the Roughnecks led 8-3. The first points of the second quarter came just after the two-minute warning, as Cologne punched in a 1-yard touchdown. On the ensuing drive, down 9-8, Houston found themselves on the wrong end of a pick six. A successful two-point try pass made the score 17-8 going into halftime, in favor of the home team.
The Roughnecks' defense gave up a 1-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, making the deficit 23-8. After another Houston punt, Cologne would tack on a 32-yard field goal, pushing their lead to 26-8. Houston's offense responded accordingly, as Rourke connected with WR Deontay Burnett for an 85-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 26-14. Cologne responded with a 30-yard touchdown pass of their own, pushing the lead back up to twenty. The following drive, RB Max Borghi punched it in for a 1-yard touchdown, his second of the game. Another field goal by the Defenders made the score 37-20. Rourke left the game early in the fourth quarter after being sacked by DL Jesse Aniebonam. QB Cole McDonald finished the game behind center. Rourke reportedly suffered a high ankle sprain and didn’t return. He did have a boot on his right leg after the game. “We’re just not going to know until some more tests are done,” Roughnecks head coach Wade Phillips said. “The doctor says you just can’t know until you get it checked out so there’s a wide range of outcomes and we’ll find that out as soon as we can. We’ll evaluate after we see what’s going on, but we’ll be smart with it. Hopefully we’re talking that he’s coming back really soon.”
A 1-yard touchdown rush by QB Cole McDonald made it 37-26 with just under two minutes remaining. After a failed 4th & 15 onside attempt, the game would end with Cologne in victory formation.
-- (9-1)Roughnecks 26 - 37 Defenders(10-0)
(HOU): QB Rourke - 18/28 305 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Borghi - 12 carries, 35 yards, 2 TDs, WR Burnett - 4 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD, WR Harris - 5 catches, 60 yards
(COL): QB Ta'amu - 19/31 245 yards, 2 TDs, RB Smith - 19 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD, WR Jackson - 5 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD, WR Hammond - 5 catches, 65 yards
-- (7-3)Brigade 14 - 10 Steel(2-8)
(BAL): QB Wilson - 13/26 182 yards, 1 TD, RB Thompson - 19 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD, RB Crowell - 13 carries, 42 yards, WR Ratliff-Williams - 4 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD
(BIRM): QB Glennon - 14/26 164 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Yeldon - 10 carries, 46 yards, RB Richardson - 13 carries, 22 yards, WR Foster - 5 catches, 56 yards, WR Benjamin - 3 catches, 41 yards, 1 TD
Vipers Trade QB Luis Perez To Renegades
May 2, 2023
Dallas, TX - The Vipers traded QB Luis Perez to the Dallas Renegades for LB Ryan Mueller. This move comes after Luis was benched for Brett Hundley after the loss against the BattleHawks in Week 11. With this in mind Hundley will be the starter with QB Jalan McClendon backing him up for the rest of the season. The Renegades gave the Vipers, Mueller who hasn’t recorded any sort of stat all season which means Mexico City gets a fresh new linebacker and could be a sneaky steal. Ryan has played in the XFL since 2020 where he played for the New York Guardians and won Defensive Play Of The Year. Dallas made this trade after they released starting QB Kyle Sloter after he had a terrible time trying to make something happen for the team.
Roughnecks' Rourke to Undergo Surgery for Lisfranc Sprain
May 3, 2023
Houston, TX - The Houston Roughnecks has issued the following statement on Nathan Rourke: "After extensive consultation with team doctors and foot specialists, Nathan was diagnosed with a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot. It has been determined that the best course of action is for Nathan to undergo surgery, which will happen very soon. The club remains hopeful that the surgery and subsequent rehab will open the door for a return late in the season. Cole McDonald will start at quarterback moving forward."