XFL Week 5 action continued on Saturday with two games featuring teams in very different circumstances.
The first duel of the evening carried a lot of weight as the DC Defenders took on the St. Louis Battlehawks to decide who would sit at the head of the North Division. The defenders went into the game as the only undefeated team in the league.
Meanwhile, the second game of the doubleheader was a battle of the worst teams in the XFL in the Orlando Guardians and Vegas Vipers, with each team trying to finally get into the Victory Column.
Here are the results and best reactions from Saturday’s games.
DC defender def. St Louis Battlehawks, 28-20
The perfect season for the defenders continued as they rode a hot offense to victory and now solidify themselves as the team to beat in the North as they extend their lead at the top of the division to two games.
After a scoreless first quarter, DC exploded for 14 points in the second and never took their foot off the gas. He scored a touchdown in each of the last two quarters to keep St. Louis at bay.
Abram Smith was hands down the team’s best player as he finished with a touchdown hat trick. The XFL’s lead rusher had two results that went for 65 yards in a dominant display.
The defenders’ defense did their job as well, forcing St. Louis to two turnovers, including an interception 55 seconds from time that sealed the game for DC.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier as the Houston Renegades, the South Division’s top team, come to town.
Vegas Vipers defeated. Orlando Guardians, 35-32
For a battle between two winless teams, this was a pretty good game. Ultimately, it was the Vipers who finally managed to catapult themselves into the victory column thanks to a great performance from quarterback Luis Perez.
Perez had perhaps his best game of the season so far, throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, which is key as he’s struggled with turnovers at times this year.
He was able to outlast Orlando’s Quinten Dormandy, who had a good game of his own as he passed for 256 yards, two points and a fumble after stepping in for starter Paxton Lynch.
Dormandy even led two long hits in the fourth quarter to reduce the Vipers’ lead, but ultimately it wasn’t enough.
Both teams will face much tougher competition next week when the Vipers welcome the St. Louis Battlehawks to town and the Guardians welcome the red-hot Seattle Sea Dragons and their dynamic offense.
