The Arlington Renegades (4-5) overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit before suffering a 28-26 overtime loss to the XFL-best D.C. Defenders (8-1) on Sunday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Renegades had a chance to secure a postseason spot with a win today, but their postseason hopes will extend into the regular-season finale next weekend.
Arlington battled back and cut the deficit to 3 points with 1:20 left in the contest, when RB De’Veon Smith rumbled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. That drive was continued on a timely challenge by head coach Bob Stoops, which resulted in a Defenders penalty and allowed the drive to continue. The Renegades then converted a miraculous 4th-and-15 attempt to keep the ball, with QB Luis Perez fighting through multiple Defenders to complete a pass to TE Sal Cannella.
In overtime, the Renegades went 0-for-2 on their conversion attempts, with Perez missing TE Sal Cannella on both attempts. The Renegades trailed 20-9 at halftime and 26-9 after 3 quarters, with the team’s only touchdown to that point coming on a 25-yard connection from QB Luis Perez to WR Caleb Vander Esch in the second quarter.
Arlington’s defense earned a pair of takeaways on interceptions to extend their XFL lead in that category to a league-best 21 takeaways. The team has at least one takeaway in all 9 games this season.
The Defenders’ first score of the second half came off a 36-yard pick-six from DB D.J. Swearinger. The Arlington defense managed to hold D.C. scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing the offense to even the score. The Renegades offense in turn scored 17
unanswered points in the fourth to force overtime.
Arlington returns home to close out the regular season against the Houston Roughnecks (6-3). Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at Choctaw Stadium.
WEEK 10 POSTSEASON SCENARIOS:
The Renegades need a win vs. Houston (Sunday, April 23 at Choctaw Stadium) or a San Antonio loss vs. D.C. (Saturday, April 22 at The Alamodome) to secure a spot in the XFL South Division championship game at Houston (Saturday, April 29 at TDECU Stadium).
POSTGAME NOTES
QB Luis Perez completed 31 of 41 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown, by far the highest marks by an Arlington QB this season.
Arlington leads the XFL with 21 takeaways this season.
The Renegades have now forced a turnover in all nine games this season.
RB De’Veon Smith notched his seventh rushing touchdown of the season to tie for most in the XFL this season.
DE Joe Powell tallied his fourth interception to tie for second most in the league this season (one behind league leader).
TE Sal Canella was the Renegades’ leading receiver today, catching 7 passes for 92 yards.
K Taylor Russolino was 1-for-2 and improved to 12-for-15 on field goal attempts this year.
18,684 fans packed Audi Field, making today the largest crowd for a D.C. game in their eight home games dating back to 2020.
