Highlights, game recaps, top players, news
-
ESPN staff
We’ve come to the end of the XFL regular season and Week 10 brought exciting matchups from both the North and South divisions as we prepare for the playoffs next week.
The Arlington Renegades secured the last playoff spot in the South Division after the San Antonio Brahmas lost to the DC Defenders on Saturday.
In the North Division, the Seattle Sea Dragons claimed last place in the North Division after defeating the Vegas Vipers on Sunday.
The tiebreaker resulted from the combined ranking of points and points allowed of all XFL teams in which the Sea Dragons place fifth versus the Battlehawks who place seventh.
The South Division Championship between the Renegades and the Roughnecks will be played on April 29 in Houston. The North Division Championship between the Defenders and the Sea Dragons will be played in DC on April 30th.
All the highlights from week 10 are below.
Jump to:
Summaries | Best Games
Tweet | quotes
This weekend’s games
The Battlehawks left no doubt about their dominant win over the Guardians after scoring 53 points, the most in an XFL game this season.
They were led by quarterback AJ McCarron, who had a season-high 420 yards and six touchdown passes. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler had two touchdowns and 164 receiving yards, the most in a game this season.
Guardians quarterback Quinten Dormady had 188 yards and threw for two touchdowns, but his offense remained scoreless in the third quarter, allowing the Battlehawks to move away with the lead.
0:37
Hakeem Butler scores the second TD of the game for the Battlehawks
AJ McCarron passed Hakeem Butler for a Battlehawks 66-yard touchdown.
The Brahmas are eliminated from the postseason after a disappointing one-point loss to the defenders.
DC started strong and led 19-11 at halftime. But the Brahmas started a comeback in the fourth quarter, taking their first and only lead at 5:16 in the game. Running back Jacques Patrick had a two-yard run into the end zone and quarterback Jack Coan threw a pass to receiver Jonathan Hilliman for two extra points, giving San Antonio a 28-22 lead.
But the defenders reclaimed that lead with less than three minutes into the game when quarterback Jordan Ta’amu broke in for a four-yard touchdown and the extra point.
With 32 seconds left, Brahmas’ kicker John Parker Romo attempted a 53-yard field goal that ended up not being good. The Defenders eliminated the Bahamas from the postseason, improved their record to 9-1 and will face the Sea Dragons next weekend in the North Division Championship, which they will host in DC
0:52
Brahmas’s postseason hopes end after he misses the late 53-yard FG
The Brahmas’ postseason hopes end after Parker Romo’s 53-yard field goal miss against the Defenders.
The Roughnecks finish the regular season 6-0 in the South Division after defeating the Renegades 25-9.
The Renegades hit three field goals in the first half but remained scoreless the rest of the game from Houston, who extended their second-half lead with two field goals and a pick-six from linebacker Tavante Beckett.
Roughnecks running back Jeremy Cox had a rushing touchdown and a season-high 120 rushing yards, the most for a Roughnecks player this season.
Despite the loss, the Renegades earned second place in the South League as a result of Saturday’s Brahmas loss. They will face the Roughnecks again next weekend in the South Division Championship hosted by Houston.
0:25
Jeremy Cox rushes to TD
Jeremy Cox extends Houston’s lead with a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
best plays
Caught!
Guardian punter Mac Brown passes Jordan Thomas, who goes 84 yards for a touchdown.
0:46
Orlando hits a stunning 84-yard TD on a fake punt
On the 4th and 21st, Mac Brown passes Jordan Thomas who goes 84 yards for a touchdown.
can’t touch me
Chris Blair hauls in a 70-yard reception
0:30
Chris Blair hauls in a 70-yard reception
Chris Blair hauls in a 70-yard reception
Give me that!
Tavante Beckett unwraps Luis Perez and puts him back 45 yards for a touchdown.
0:44
Choose six! Tavante Beckett goes 45 yards the other way for TD
Tavante Beckett unwraps Luis Perez and puts him back 45 yards for a touchdown.
top tweets
*queue the Family Feud music*
Hakeem Butler now leads the XFL in touchdown receptions
Name the XFL’s leader in touchdown receptions 🤔 pic.twitter.com/dktv2rEE5B
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 22, 2023
horns down
DC defenders show no mercy
horns forward? nope 🤘⬇️#DefendDC | @_got11reasons pic.twitter.com/42waeX66iu
— DC Defenders (@XFLDefenders) April 22, 2023
Denim on denim on denim
Caleb Vander Esch with the denim drip
Caleb Vander Esch with the all denim fit 💧 pic.twitter.com/7jkMprA0yY
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) April 23, 2023
quotes
“We have a really good team”
Coach Anthony Becht loves his team very much
Lotta Herz. Lotta rush. Lotta points.
We are grateful for everything 💙 pic.twitter.com/jQyVn01t2G
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 23, 2023
“I think we’re going to win the whole thing”
Jordan Ta’amu is confident about the postseason
“I think we’re going to win the whole thing.”@JTaamu10 | @XFLDefenders #XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/vnp0V46oLG
— XFL (@XFL2023) April 22, 2023
“SIUUUUUU”
Cole McDonald or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cole McDonald hit the Siuuuu after that TD for the @XFLRoughnecks 👀 pic.twitter.com/FASrY1xgc9
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 23, 2023