Los Angeles Wildcats Week Five Game Notes
March 4, 2020 - XFL (XFL)
Los Angeles Wildcats News Release
WILDCATS STRUGGLE IN CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP
The Los Angeles Wildcats lost 17-14 to the New York Guardians in Week Four at MetLife Stadium in their lone cross-country matchup. Despite coming off a 39-9 defeat of the D.C. Defenders in Week Three, which stands as the most points scored in a single game by any XFL team, the Wildcats were held to six-points, 19 yards rushing and 84 yards passing in the first half. Their second score of the game did not come until four minutes remaining in the third. WR Jordan Smallwood, who finished the night five of seven for 75 yards and a two-point conversion, drew a crucial pass interference call that kept a fourth and two drive alive. On the following play, WR Saeed Blacknall found the endzone on his first reception for LA and score tied the game 14-14. On the next two drives, QB Josh John- son threw his first interception of the season. The following drive, K Nick Novak's kick pushed wide right with the New Jersey wind. Those two failed drives would seal Los Angeles' loss at the Meadowlands. QB Josh Johnson finished the night 25-for-40 with 330 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. WR Tre McBride led the team in receiving for the second straight game and went eight-for-12 with 127 yards and a score. Defensively, Ahmad Dixon led with 14 combined tackles. The Wildcats are not alone in their cross country-woes. XFL teams that have traveled cross country are currently 0-4 -' Dragons vs. Defenders (31-19), Vipers to Dragons (17-9) and Defenders to Wildcats (39-9).
A FLURRY OF WEEK FIVE MOVES
Following the Week Four loss in the Meadowlands, the Los Angeles Wildcats made a series of ros- ter transactions between March 2 and March 4, beginning with three additions from Team 9. DT An- drew Stelter (Minnesota), DE Victor Ochi (Stony Brook) and DE Alex Jenkins (Incarnate Word) were all placed on the active roster from Team 9. Stelter was drafted by Los Angeles in the fifth round of the XFL Draft before being traded to New York. He was waived during the final round of roster cuts on January 22 and signed to Team 9. By joining the Wildcats active roster, he will be reunited with DL Coach Vince Amey, who coached him at the San Diego Fleet in the AAF last year. On March 3, LA placed K Nick Novak and DT Trevon Sanders on IR. As a result, the Wildcats signed K Giorgio Ta- vecchio (California), who is known for his stint with the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. They also waived WR Kermit Whitfield. The Wildcats roster is currently at 51, leaving one spot open.
NOTES FROM WEEK FOUR
- After Week Four, the Wildcats are 2nd in points per game and the Wildcats are 2nd in turnover margin.
- WR Tre McBride once again eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark with 127 yards off of 8 receptions and one touchdown. This is the most receiving yards by a Wildcat in a single game
SERIES NOTES: Week Five's matchup in Southern California is a battle of the one-win teams. Despite the match- ing record, Los Angeles has scored 88 total points in the season. That is third to the undefeated Houston Rough- necks (126) and the St. Louis Battlehawks (91), who are atop the Eastern Conference. The last time the Wildcats were at home on Feb. 23, they defeated D.C. by 30 points. They return to LA hoping that home-field advantage and their second-ranked points per game once again propels them to a win in Southern California.
- The Wildcats struggled on field goals - the first attempt from the NY 30 was blocked and the second attempt from the NY 26 went wide right.
- The Wildcats offense recorded it's the lowest third-down conversion percentage of the season. They only converted two of 12 for 17%.
WILDCATS STUN PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED D.C. DEFENDERS
The Los Angeles Wildcats lost 17-14 to the New York Guardians in Week Four at MetLife Stadium in their lone cross-country matchup. Despite com- ing off a 39-9 defeat of the D.C. Defenders in Week Three, which stands as the most points scored in a single game by any XFL team, the Wildcats were held to six-points, 19 yards rushing and 84 yards passing in the first half. Their second score of the game did not come until four minutes remaining in the third. WR Jordan Smallwood, who finished the night five of seven for 75 yards and a two-point conversion, drew a crucial pass interference call that kept a fourth and two drive alive. On the following play, WR Saeed Blacknall found the endzone on his first reception for LA and score tied the game 14-14. On the next two drives, QB Josh Johnson threw his first inter- ception of the season. The following drive, K Nick Novak's kick pushed wide right with the New Jersey wind. Those two failed drives would seal Los An- geles' loss at the Meadowlands. QB Josh Johnson finished the night 25-for- 40 with 330 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. WR Tre McBride led the team in receiving for the second straight game and went eight-for-12 with 127 yards and a score. Defensively, Ahmad Dixon led with 14 com- bined tackles. The Wildcats are not alone in their cross country-woes. XFL teams that have traveled cross country are currently 0-4 -' Dragons vs. De- fenders (31-19), Vipers to Dragons (17-9) and Defenders to Wildcats (39-9).
THE WILDCAT WAY IS GIVING BACK
On March 2, seven LA Wildcats players took time to speak to and meet with students from Carson High School and Carnegie Middle School in Carson, both of which are part of Los Angeles Unified. The players offered words of wisdom and inspiration to the youth, encouraging them to fol- low their dreams and not give up. "You can achieve anything you want to be," said linebacker Quentin Gause. "You can be an artist, a lawyer, a doc- tor. Put your mind to it. I challenge you to go home and write 10 goals for your life. Put them up in your room knowing that you can achieve them." RB Larry Rose III, LB Quentin Gause, TE Brandon Barnes, OL Dwayne Wallace, SAF Ladarius Wiley, CB Roman Tatum and SAF Jerome Couplin III were ea- ger to give back to the community as both schools are just down the road from the team's home of Dignity Health Sports Park. All of the players took photos, signed autographs and even tossed a football with many of the kids.
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