St. Louis Battlehawks punter Sterling Hofrichter lines up a pass to the right that found a wide-open Gary Jennings who ran the rest of the way for much needed St. Louis touchdown.
Up: Overtimes
After experiencing no overtimes in the first 48 games of the revitalized XFL, the league and its fans were blessed with two such games in week eight. It was the first time the XFL’s unique overtime rules were put to use on the big stage. The early returns seem to be positive, as they were able to work through the process quickly and not add a lot of time to the games, which was one of the goals. It took four plays for St. Louis to best Vegas in the extra period, while Houston needed a few more to put away San Antonio. Credit to Sam Schwartzstein and his team for developing and testing these rules in preparation for 2020. For what its worth, there was only one overtime game in the 2001 version of the XFL; at the time, it was played more similarly to the college overtime rules.
Down: Dormady stock
Following last week’s upset victory by the winless Orlando Guardians over the undefeated DC Defenders, Guardians QB Quinten Dormady was the toast of the XFL fanbase, and rightly so: He had the game of his pro career, accounting for all six of Orlando’s touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) in the one-point triumph. Sometimes you’re the winshield, sometimes you’re the bug, and in week eight, Dormady was the bug: He lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions, accounting for five turnovers in Orlando’s two-point loss. The back-breaking play came with under a minute to go and the Guardians driving, just a few yards from field goal range. Dormady was sacked and lost his third fumble of the day. To pour salt into the wound, the loss eliminated Orlando from playoff contention. This was game tape to burn for Dormady and his teammates, a disappointing follow-up to a promising win over DC.
Up: Playing time for backup QBs
There are just two quarterbacks left standing who have started all eight games for their respective teams: Jordan Ta’amu for DC and Ben DiNucci for Seattle. AJ McCarron was a part of that list until he was surprisingly made inactive due to a shoulder injury in week eight. He suffered the injury in week seven, but was able to finish the game. The injury bug bit Brandon Silvers of Houston in week seven, as he missed the game and Cole McDonald started in his place. Ta’amu might be the next to miss some time: His shoulder took a beating courtesy of Seattle’s defense on Sunday, and with the team already having clinched a playoff berth, DC may choose to sit him if they secure the division before week ten’s matchup with an aggressive San Antonio defense. The XFL is the league of opportunity after all, and lately, that opportunity has extended to backup quarterbacks as well.
Down: Healthy players
It’s not just quarterbacks that are dropping in the XFL. As we reach the dog days of the regular season, a number of players are struggling to stay healthy. Many players are on tired legs having come right off of a full NFL season, even if just on a practice squad. It’s a lot of pressure to put on the human body. St. Louis lost safeties Nate Meadors and Jonathan Alexander during their game against Vegas. LB Mike Rose and WR Darrius Shepherd, key cogs on defense and offense respectively, also missed some time due to injury. On the other sideline, RBs John Lovett (illness) and Rod Smith (back) were sidelined during the game, as was defensive star Pita Taumoepenu. Like St. Louis, Orlando’s defensive backfield depth was tested when safeties Matt Elam and Marcus Murphy were both downed. WR Caleb Vander Esch, LB Donald Payne, LB Willie Taylor, and RB De’Veon Smith were among those for Arlington that were banged up throughout the game.
In San Antonio, S Jack Koerner got his leg twisted up on an interception return before the half and missed the entirety of the second half. CB Ryan Lewis and DE Delontae Scott also needed medical attention. Among Houston’s walking wounded in the same game: DT Glen Logan, LB Deandre Johnson, LB Caliph Brice, and DE Trevon Mason. Both Ta’amu and RB Abram Smith were nicked up for DC while CB Nydair Rouse, playing in lieu of an inactive Anthoula Kelly, had to be helped off the field. Only Seattle seemed to skirt the in-game injury bug. Many of the players listed above returned to action, but these injuries could linger in the final few weeks.
Up: St. Louis’s fake punt
With 5:07 to go in the game and down by nine, the Battlehawks executed a fake punt to perfection: On 4th-and-6 from their own 36 yard-line, punter Sterling Hofrichter received the snap from Alex Matheson and threw it to a wide-open Gary Jennings over the middle. Jennings scampered 64 yards for the touchdown, bringing St. Louis to within a field goal. Donny Hageman pushed the game into overtime with a 34-yard field goal with 15 seconds to go, and St. Louis was able to wrest the game away in OT. It was the key play and turning point in the game, and combined with Seattle’s loss on Sunday, the win allowed St. Louis to take a one game lead for the final playoff spot in the XFL North.
The Vipers called a fake field goal earlier in the game, and it was as ugly as their opponent’s fake punt was pretty. As the first half was coming to a close, Vegas set up for a 37-yard field goal. Holder Michael Carrizosa took the snap and flipped it to tight end Cam Sutton, who, from the end of the line of scrimmage, had curled behind the kicker at the snap. Sutton continued running the width of the field, looking for somewhere to throw it. Everybody was covered, and his eventual toss fell harmlessly incomplete. A made field goal by new kicker Sam Sloman would’ve put Vegas up by six points heading into the half. It also would’ve given the team a three-point cushion for when St. Louis came back late in the game, allowing the Vipers to win rather than face overtime.
