Defenders Lose First Game Of The Year, Guardians Win In A Thriller 37-36 (4-2-23)

By: Darrell Owens 

Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network

ORLANDO-The seventh week of the 2023 XFL finished up this past weekend. In the first game of the week, we saw The Seattle Sea Dragons win their 5th straight game after defeating the Arlington Renegades 24-15. The Vegas Vipers won their second game of the season with a 26-12 win over San Antonio. The Vegas Vipers grabbed their first win of the year 35-32 over The Orlando Guardians With the loss, the Guardians remain the only team to be winless so far this season. The St. Louis Battlehawks took down the Houston Roughnecks 24-15. Lastly, the DC Defenders took on the Guardians in Orlando. 

Defenders & Guardians would battle in a slugfest. The Guardians were winless coming into the game but that would all change after this one. The Guardians held a 37-36 lead in the final seconds. The Defenders Kicker Matt McCrane had a chance to put this one away in the final seconds with a 63-yard field goal but his attempt would go just a little right of the upright giving the Guardians their first XFL win!

Quinten Dormady led Orlando to the win throwing for 328 yards and going 27-of-34 with 3 passing touchdowns. For DC, Jordan Ta’amu went 21-for-29 with 3 passing touchdowns and 285 yards passing. The XFL’s leading rushing impressed again with 18 rushes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Chris Blair and Lucky Jackson combined for 199 yards receiving and three touchdowns in the loss.

The DC Defenders (6-1) will hit the road to take on the Seattle Sea Dragons (5-2) on Sunday, April 9th at 7 pm from Lumen Field!