The Vegas Vipers ended the home portion of their 2023 schedule with a 26-12 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas on Saturday at Cashman Field. It was the Vipers second victory of the season.
The San Antonio Brahmas couldn’t have asked for a better start, driving 73-yards down the field on six plays, which was capped off when quarterback Kurt Benkert threw a back shoulder fade to wide receiver Fred Brown for a one-yard touchdown, putting San
Antonio on the board with an early 6-0 lead. Vegas answered with a hot start of its own when quarterback Jalan McClendon completed a short pass to tight end Sean Price, who then stiff-armed his way past defenders for a 33-yard touchdown. After the score, McClendon connected with tight end Cam Sutton for a successful two-point conversion giving Vegas an 8-6 lead.
About four minutes into the second quarter, Vipers Bailey Giffen knocked in a 39-yard field goal extending their lead to 11-6. On the ensuing kickoff, San Antonio’s Brown sliced his way through tacklers en route to a 96-yard kick return touchdown, which was
the first kickoff returned for a score this year in the XFL, giving the Brahmas a 12-11 lead. Vegas answered seven plays later when running back Rod Smith caught a short pass and hurdled over a defender into the endzone for a touchdown. McClendon’s two-point conversion pass to Price gave Vegas a 19-12 lead going into halftime.
Vegas continued to step on the gas to start the second half as McClendon produced a surgical 10-play drive capped off with running back John Lovett punching it in from one- yard out before McClendon hit Mathew Sexton for a successful one-point conversion
elevating the Vegas lead to 26-12. The Vipers defense would stand tall for the remainder of the game as Vegas pitched its first second-half shut out of season. Vegas only allowed 67 yards in the fourth quarter leading to it’s second win of the season.
McClendon finished 21-of-31 for 264 yards and two touchdowns and added 25 yards on eight carries. Rod Smith led the rushing attack for the Vipers, finishing with 39 yards on seven carries. Smith also caught three passes for 36 yards and one touchdown. Matt Sexton led all Vegas receivers with four catches to yards. Defensively, CJ Avery led the Vipers with 10 tackles. Deontay Anderson recorded his first interception of the season and also came up with a timely pass breakup late in the game.
Vegas will continue its 2023 slate with a game at St. Louis on April 8 at 10 a.m. PT on ESPN.
