Offense Sputters as Vipers Fall to St. Louis, 29-6
March 26, 2023 - XFL (XFL) News Release
The Vegas Vipers fell, 29-6, against the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday at Cashman Field. Both team's offenses struggled to start the game, going four straight drives without scoring. At start of the second quarter, Battlehawks A.J. McCarron's 4-yard passing touchdown to Gary Jennings would put St. Louis on the board. After the score McCarron would connect with Darrius Shepherd for a successful two-point conversion giving them an 8-0 lead.
With just two minutes remaining in the first half, St. Louis moved down the field but settled for a Donny Hageman 40-yard field goal, extending their lead 11-0. Shortly after that, St. Louis would force Vegas to a three-and-out and got the ball back with 55 seconds remaining. Three plays later, McCarron dialed up a deep ball to Darrius Shepherd for a 30-yard passing touchdown giving the Battlehawks a commanding 17-0 lead going into half time.
Vegas would open the second half looking to answer back but Luis Perez would throw an interception to St. Louis' Lavert Hill and he returned it to Vipers territory. About four minutes later St. Louis would capitalize on the turnover when Kareem Walker bulldozed his way in for a one-yard score extending their lead to 23-0. Late in the third quarter Vegas would make a quarterback change putting in Brett Hundley.
The Vipers would finally get on the board when Hundley threw a short pass to John Lovett, and he took it the rest of the way en route to a 17-yard passing touchdown cutting the deficit to 23-6 with six minutes remaining. Just when Vegas seemed to have found some life, the Battlehawks would answer back on the following drive going 51 yards on five plays, capping it off with Shepherd on the receiving end of a six-yard touchdown pass, sealing the win for St. Louis, 29-6.
Vegas will return to Cashman Field next week on Saturday, April 1 to host the San Antonio Brahmas at 12 p.m. PT.
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- Offense Sputters as Vipers Fall to St. Louis, 29-6 - XFL
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