The Arlington Renegades (5-6) defeated the Houston Roughnecks (7-4), 26-11, in the XFL South Division Championship Game on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium in Houston.
The Renegades advance to the XFL Championship Game on Saturday, May 13 at The Alamodome in San Antonio (7 p.m. CT on ABC). The team will play the winner of tomorrow’s XFL North Division Championship Game featuring the D.C. Defenders and the Seattle Sea Dragons (2 p.m. CT on ESPN / ESPN+).
The Renegades erupted for 23 points and three touchdowns in the first half, matching their highest single-game touchdown total in the game’s first 30 minutes.
Arlington opened the scoring with a touchdown on their first drive, as QB Luis Perez connected with WR JaVonta Payton for a 14-yard score. The team built a 14-0 lead when Payton hauled in a 59-yard bomb from Perez early in the second quarter, and Payton would also convert on the ensuing two-point try. WR Brandon Arconado hauled in a 14-yard touchdown with just under 5 minutes left in the first half to give the Renegades a 12-point advantage.
Arlington’s defense held stout in the second half and earned a takeaway for an 11th straight game, as CB De’Vante Bausby picked off Houston QB Cole McDonald late in the 4th quarter as the Roughnecks attempted to press down the field.
Perez finished 19-for-27 passing with 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. His leading receiver was Payton with 5 catches for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, the most receiving yards by a Renegade this season. RB De’Veon Smith had 24 carries for 94 yards on the ground, also the most for an Arlington player in 2023.
