XFL Week 10: Sea Dragons, Renegades join Defenders, Roughnecks in playoff field
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ESPN staff
We’re at the end of the regular season of the XFL and Week 10 brought exciting matchups from both the North and the South divisions as we gear up for the playoffs next week.
The Arlington Renegades clinched the final playoff spot in the South division after the San Antonio Brahmas lost to the D.C. Defenders on Saturday.
In the North division, the Seattle Sea Dragons claimed the final spot in the playoffs after defeating the Vegas Vipers on Sunday.
The tiebreaker came down to the combined rank of points for and points allowed among all XFL teams in which the Sea Dragons are ranked fifth as opposed to the Battlehawks’ 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 D.C. on April 30.
All highlights from Week 10 are below.
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Recaps | Best Plays
Tweets | Quotes
This weekend’s games
The Sea Dragons claimed the last spot in the XFL postseason after defeating the Vipers.
The remaining playoff spot in the South was between the Sea Dragons and the Battlehawks. Because both teams won this weekend the tiebreaker was determined by the combined rank of points for and points allowed among all XFL teams. The Sea Dragons were fifth as compared to the Battlehawks, who were seventh in the league, awarding Seattle with the postseason berth.
Seattle started off strong, holding the Vipers scoreless throughout the first half. The Sea Dragons got their first score of the game at the end of the second quarter when quarterback Ben DiNucci rushed for a 14-yard touchdown. He finished with three passing touchdowns and 339 passing yards, his third 300-plus yard game this season — the most in the XFL.
The Vipers struggled to find their rhythm throughout the matchup and were held to one field goal and one touchdown. Quarterback Jalan McClendon threw for 201 yards and had one interception and running back Shai Mckenzie had the Vipers’ lone touchdown of the game.
1:58
Ben DiNucci tallies 4 TDs to lift Sea Dragons to XFL playoffs
The Sea Dragons beat the Vipers 28-9 thanks to Ben DiNucci’s four touchdowns.
The Battlehawks left no doubt in 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, most in a game this season.
Guardians’ quarterback Quinten Dormady had 188 yards and threw for two touchdowns, but his offense was held scoreless in the third quarter allowing the Battlehawks to break away with the lead.
0:37
Hakeem Butler scores second TD of the game for Battlehawks
AJ McCarron passes to Hakeem Butler for a 66-yard Battlehawks touchdown.
The Brahmas are eliminated from the postseason after a disappointing one-point loss to the Defenders.
D.C. started off strong, leading going into the half 19-11. But the Brahmas began to make a comeback in the fourth quarter taking their first and only lead with 5:16 left in the game. Running back Jacques Patrick had a two-yard run into the endzone and quarterback Jack Coan threw a pass to receiver Jonathan Hilliman for an extra two-points putting San Antonio ahead 28-22.
But the Defenders reclaimed that lead with under three minutes left in the game when quarterback Jordan Ta’amu ran in for a four-yard touchdown and the extra point.
Down by one with 32 seconds left in the game, Brahmas kicker John Parker Romo attempted a 53-yard field goal which ended up being no good. The Defenders eliminated the Bahamas from the postseason, improved their record to 9-1 and will face the Sea Dragons in the North division Championship next weekend which they will host in D.C.
0:52
Brahmas’ postseason hopes end after miss on late 53-yard FG
The Brahmas’ postseason hopes come to an end following Parker Romo’s 53-yard field goal miss vs. the Defenders.
The Roughnecks finish the regular season 6-0 in the South division after defeating the Renegades 25-9.
The Renegades scored three field goals in the first half but were held scoreless throughout the rest of the game by Houston who extended their lead in the second half with two field goals and a pick-six from linebacker Tavante Beckett.
Roughnecks running back Jeremy Cox had one rushing touchdown and a season-high 120 rushing yards, the most for a Roughnecks player this season.
Despite the loss, the Renegades have clinched second place in the South division because of the Brahmas loss on Saturday. They will face the Roughnecks again next weekend in the South division Championship hosted by Houston.
0:25
Jeremy Cox rushes in for TD
Jeremy Cox extends Houston’s lead with a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
Best plays
Gotcha!
Guardians punter Mac Brown passes to Jordan Thomas, who goes 84 yards for a touchdown.
0:46
Orlando scores stunning 84-yard TD on fake punt
On 4th-and-21, Mac Brown passes to 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
Gimme that!
Tavante Beckett picks off Luis Perez and returns it 45 yards for a touchdown.
0:44
Pick-six! Tavante Beckett goes 45 yards the other way for TD
Tavante Beckett picks off Luis Perez and returns it 45 yards for a touchdown.
Tip-toeing in my Jordans
Josh Gordon shows the hands on a 38-yard Reception.
0:33
Josh Gordon shows the hands on a 38-yard Reception
Josh Gordon shows the hands on a 38-yard Reception
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
D.C. Defenders have no mercy.
Horns forward? Nah. 🤘⬇️#DefendDC | @_got11reasons pic.twitter.com/42waeX66iu
— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) April 22, 2023
Denim on denim on denim
Caleb Vander Esch with the denim drip.
Caleb Vander Esch w/ the all denim fit 💧 pic.twitter.com/7jkMprA0yY
— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) April 23, 2023
Picture perfect
Seattle celebrates their win over Vegas and clinching a postseason berth.
POV: Admin chasing the interception celebration #XFL2023 | #BreatheFire pic.twitter.com/gngDpoBHlM
— Seattle Sea Dragons (@XFLSeaDragons) April 24, 2023
Quotes
“We got a really good team”
Coach Anthony Becht has much love for his team.
Lotta heart. Lotta hustle. Lotta points.
We’re grateful for it all 💙 pic.twitter.com/jQyVn01t2G
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 23, 2023
“I think we’re going to win the whole thing”
Jordan Ta’amu feels 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
“SIUUUUUUU”
Cole McDonald or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cole McDonald hit the Siuuuu after this TD for the @XFLRoughnecks 👀 pic.twitter.com/FASrY1xgc9
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 23, 2023
“There’s nobody in this league that can mess with us”
Josh Gordan on his confidence heading into the second half.
Josh Gordon is confident heading into the second half 👀
The @XFLSeaDragons are currently up 6-0 at half. pic.twitter.com/g4eTEpt6dp
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 24, 2023
