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XFL Arlington Renegades

Arlington Renegades Game Notes

April 12, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Arlington Renegades News Release


SERIES NOTES: Sunday will mark the first-ever matchup between the Renegades and Defenders. The teams were scheduled to meet at Audi Field during Week 6 of the 2020 XFL season, but that campaign was halted after Week 5 due to the pandemic.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

Vegas Vipers at Houston Roughnecks - 11:30 am CT (ABC / ESPN+)

Orlando Guardians at San Antonio Brahmas - 6 pm CT (ESPN2 / ESPN+)

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Arlington Renegades at D.C. Defenders - 11 am CT (ESPN / ESPN+)

Seattle Sea Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks - 2 pm CT (ESPN / ESPN+)

BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN

The Arlington Renegades (4-4) forced a season-high 5 turnovers en route to an 18-16 victory over the Orlando Guardians (1-7) on Saturday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Renegades bounced back from 2 straight losses to put themselves in a strong position for the postseason heading into Week 9.

- Game highlights:

‚¬Â¢ DB De'Vante Bausby picked up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter to give the team a 9-3 lead heading into the second stanza.

‚¬Â¢ RB De'Veon Smith continued his stretch of strong play by scoring his 5th rushing TD of the season.

‚¬Â¢ QB Luis Perez made his Renegades debut and played a clean game, going 16-for-25 for 190 yards.

‚¬Â¢ DL Will Clarke had a huge game on defense, finishing with 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His fumble recovery on the Guardians' last possession sealed the win.

- Additional notes:

‚¬Â¢ With 18 points on Saturday, the Renegades posted their 2nd-highest scoring output of the season and highest since Week 1 vs. Vegas Vipers (22-20 win).

‚¬Â¢ Each of the Renegades' 4 wins have come by either one (1) or two (3) points.

‚¬Â¢ Seven of Arlington's 8 games have been decided by one possession (9 points or less).

POSTSEASON PICTURE

The XFL postseason picture is taking shape with just two regular-season games to play, as D.C. (7-1) and Houston (5-3) both clinched spots in their respective Division Championship games with their Week 8 wins.

The South Division Championship game will be played on Saturday, April 29 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The North Division Championship will be played on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. Division championship games will be played at the home stadium of the team that finishes at the top of each division.

‚¬Â¢ Arlington (4-4) holds a two-game lead over San Antonio (2-6) for the final South Division postseason spot.

The Renegades can clinch a postseason berth with a win this week OR a San Antonio loss (vs. Orlando).

- Current XFL standings: ‚¬Â¢ XFL South: 1) Houston (5-3)...2) Arlington (4-4)...3) San Antonio (2-6)...4) Orlando (1-7)

‚¬Â¢ XFL North: 1) D.C. (7-1)...2) St. Louis (6-2)...3) Seattle (5-3)...4) Vegas (2-6)

PUTTING THE 'D' IN DEFENSE

The Renegades defense, which has consistently been one of the top units in the XFL this season, had one of its best showings of the campaign on Saturday at Orlando by forcing a season-high 5 turnovers.

‚¬Â¢ Arlington has forced an XFL-best 19 turnovers this season, edging out STL (17), D.C. (16), and HOU (16).

‚¬Â¢ The Renegades have forced a turnover in all 8 games this season.

‚¬Â¢ Arlington has 10 INT, 2nd-most in XFL behind HOU (11), and 9 fumble recoveries, 2nd-most behind STL (10).

‚¬Â¢ The Renegades have scored 63 of their 111 points (57 percent) off turnovers this season.

‚¬Â¢ The Renegades are allowing 17.6 points per game, the 2nd-best mark in XFL behind San Antonio (16.4 ppg).

THE WORLDWIDE LEADER

On May 17, 2022, the XFL announced a multi-year broadcast agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN. This season, all 43 games (40 regular season games, two playoffs, one championship) will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks, and FX. All XFL games will be streamed on ESPN+.

‚¬Â¢ Sunday's game will air on ESPN with the announcing team of John Schriffen (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (booth analyst), Harry Douglas and Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporters).

HOUSE OF PAYNE

Despite exiting Saturday's game early due to an ankle injury, Arlington Renegades LB Donald Payne (61 tackles) remains the XFL's second-leading tackler through 8 weeks behind only San Antonio LB Jordan Williams (71). Payne racked up 12 tackles on March 12 at St. Louis, most by any Renegade in a single game this season.

‚¬Â¢ Payne's 61 tackles are far clear of the next-closest Renegade, S Will Hill (38 tackles).

‚¬Â¢ Payne continues to be one of the top tacklers in spring football of late, as he came to the XFL after leading the USFL with 117 tackles for the Houston Gamblers in 2022.

‚¬Â¢ A three-time All-American at Stetson, Payne finished his college career as the third-leading tackler in Division I (FCS/FBS) history with 538 tackles.

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL

The Renegades have seen a lot of movement at the quarterback position in recent weeks, highlighted by the acquisition of QB Luis Perez in a trade with the Vegas Vipers on March 28. Perez made his team debut as the starting signal-caller last week at Orlando and led the team to victory. A spring football veteran, Perez played locally at Division II Texas A&M- Commerce, where he won a Division II national title and Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II MVP in 2017. Additionally, QB Kelly Bryant was signed to the active roster on April 3.

‚¬Â¢ The Renegades top 2 quarterbacks from the start of the season are no longer on the active roster. QB Drew Plitt was placed on the Reserve/Injured List with a knee injury on April 3, and QB Kyle Sloter was released on March 27.

FINDING PAYDIRT

Arlington RB De'Veon Smith continued his stretch of strong play by scoring his 5th rushing TD of the season on Saturday at Orlando, with all 5 scores coming in the last 5 games. Smith has been responsible for 5 of the team's 9 offensive touchdowns in 2023. After averaging under 3 yards per carry through the season's first 5 weeks, Smith has carried the ball 35 times for 147 yards (4.2 yards per carry) over the last 3 games. He ranks among XFL ball carriers in attempts (2nd, 103), TDs (T2nd, 5), and yards (T3rd, 322).

CANNELLA LEADS THE WAY

Arlington TE Sal Cannella has been the team's top target during the 2023 season. Despite being held without a catch or target on Saturday at Orlando, he leads the team with 32 catches and 282 receiving yards in 2023. Cannella ranks 2nd among XFL tight ends to Orlando's Cody Latimer in most categories.

‚¬Â¢ Cannella joined the XFL this season after playing for the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL. He was named to the All-USFL team after leading all tight ends in receiving yards.

BIG WILLIE STYLE

Arlington LB Willie Taylor continued his strong campaign with a huge game on Saturday at Orlando, recording an interception, forced fumble, and 3 tackles (one for loss). Taylor is among Arlington's team leaders in tackles for loss (7) and sacks (3 - tied with LB Will Clarke). One of the youngest players in the league at just 23 years old, Taylor is one of just two XFL players that are eligible for the NFL Draft (along with Seattle QB Harrison Frost). He played in college at Washington State and Eastern Kentucky, and finished up his college career last Fall before jumping straight to the XFL.

THE KICK IS GOOD

After going 2-for-2 on Saturday at Orlando, Arlington K Taylor Russolino is 11-for-13 on field goal attempts this season, ranking 3rd in the XFL in successful field goals behind San Antonio's Parker Romo (13) and Seattle's Dominik Eberle (13). Including his time spent with St. Louis in 2020 - when he went 9-for-10 in FG attempts - Russolino has now converted 20 of 23 (87.0%) of his FG attempts in the XFL.

ALL HAIL THE KING

In addition to Russolino on the kicking side, Arlington P Marquette King has found plenty of success in the punting game for the Renegades. The former NFL All-Pro has had 36 punts (3rd in XFL) for 1,651 yards (2nd in XFL) through 8 games, good for an average of 45.9 yards/punt. That average ranks 2nd in the league behind San Antonio's Brad Wing (47.9 yds/ punt). In addition to his punting prowess, King continues to pursue his musical interests off the field. His newest single, "Grind, ‚¬Â was recently released.

DALLAS HONORED BY SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Dallas was recently honored by the Sports Business Journal in the publication's first annual ranking of the best cities for sports business. Dallas took the top spot among the top 50 cities that were ranked by the Sports Business Journal, which analyzed 377 markets that are home to at least one professional or Division I college athletic program, or a permanent event. The rankings are based on a combination of more than 400,000 data points and input from nearly 100 executives from across sports business through the end of 2022. Rounding out the top 5 were New York, Charlotte, Minneapolis, and Atlanta.

ST. LOUIS SOUTH

The 2023 Arlington Renegades have a number of connections to the 2020 St. Louis Battlehawks from XFL 2.0. Members of the current coaching staff that worked for St. Louis in 2020, with their former role listed in parenthesis: co-offensive coordinator Jonathan Hayes (head coach), co-offensive coordinator Chuck Long (offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach), co-defensive coordinator Jay Hayes (defensive coordinator), co- defensive coordinator Tim Lewis (defensive backs coach), quality control coach Michael George (asst. to head coach / asst. defensive line coach). Current Renegades players that played for St. Louis in 2020: DL Will Clarke, OL Brian Folkerts (St. Louis-area native & graduate of Hazelwood Central HS), DB Will Hill, P Marquette King, DL Davonte Lambert, DB Joe Powell, and K Taylor Russolino.

SOME EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

As with all XFL teams, the Arlington Renegades roster consists of players with extensive professional experience, including time spent at the sport's highest level in the NFL. Of the 51 players on the team's season-opening roster, 25 had appeared in at least one NFL game. Those 25 players have a total of 506 games of NFL experience. Leading the way for Arlington is former All-Pro P Marquette King with 84 games of NFL experience, while LB Will Clarke (53), CB Cre'von LeBlanc (52), and DB Will Hill (50) have each eclipsed the half-century mark in games played at the NFL level.

THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER

Arlington Renegades head coach Bob Stoops and co-offensive coordinators Jonathan Hayes and Chuck Long all played college football together in 1982 at the University of Iowa under legendary head coach Hayden Fry. The trio were teammates on the Hawkeyes' 1982 Rose Bowl team, and Stoops was later part of the Iowa coaching staff while Hayes concluded his playing career. Hayes served as the tight ends/special teams coach for Stoops at OU from 1999-2002. Long was a coach for the Sooners from 2000-05, as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

RENEGADES IN THE COMMUNITY

The Renegades are committed to being a positive force and constant presence in the community. Below are some of the recent community events and appearances that the team has taken part in:

‚¬Â¢ Jan. 14: Girl Scouts of Texas and Oklahoma - Cookie Distribution Event

‚¬Â¢ Jan. 16: MLK Day / National Day of Service - Volunteering at Mission Arlington (players), meal delivery to needy families in partnership with Prince Lebanese Grill and Park Place Mercedes (Bob Stoops)

‚¬Â¢ Jan. 28: Renegades Open Practice / Bob Stoops Q&A / Player Autograph Session - 1,000+ fans in attendance

‚¬Â¢ Feb. 11: "Meet the Team ‚¬Â fan event at The Parks Mall in Arlington

‚¬Â¢ Feb. 17: Scottish Rite for Children hospital visit; Bob Stoops Ticketstock appearance

‚¬Â¢ March 4: Player Engagement Event at Main Event Entertainment in Grand Prairie, TX

‚¬Â¢ March 25: Player Appearance at Athletes Unlimited Women's Basketball Game

‚¬Â¢ March 30: Player Appearance at Texas Rangers Opening Day Tailgate

WELCOME TO ARLINGTON - THE HUB CITY

On July 25, 2022, the XFL announced the selection of the City of Arlington, Texas as its new football operations Hub, signing a three-year agreement that provides a centralized performance facility and multiple practice venues for preseason and in-week training for the League's eight teams. This hybrid Hub model provides players access to full-time, on- site support from coaches and athletic training staff, while still developing team affinity and community relations within their local markets. The Hub also serve as a content creation center, giving the league, its teams and its players an opportunity to build personal brands and engage with fans through social media, in-person events and other media platforms, tapping into the worldwide expertise and reach of XFL Owners, Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and RedBird Capital Partners.

Check out the Arlington Renegades Statistics



XFL Stories from April 12, 2023


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