Orlando Guardians Game Notes
February 24, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Orlando Guardians News Release
SPREADING IT AROUND
Orlando quarterbacks spread the wealth when it comes to passing and receptions in the season-opener. The Guardians led the league in number of players to record a reception with 10.
Every Guardian with at least one target in the game recorded at least one reception.
Seattle and San Antonio tied for runner-up honors in this category, with the Sea Dragons and Brahmas each completing passes to 9 different receivers.
Here's a look at Orlando's pass catchers in Game One:
- #18 Andrew Jamiel (WR) - 3 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
- #11 Cody Latimer (TE) - 5 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
- #10 Deddrick Thomas (WR) - 2 receptions, 42 yards
- #17 Eli Rogers (WR) - 4 receptions, 40 yards
- #14 Charleston Rambo (WR) - 4 receptions, 22 yards
- #15 Dontez Byrd (WR) - 2 receptions, 11 yards
- #80 Ryan Becker (TE) - 2 receptions, 9 yards
- #87 Logan Carter (TE) - 2 receptions, 3 yards
- #5 Stephen Guidry (WR) - 2 receptions, 2 yards
- #30 Jah-Maine Martin (RB) - 1 reception, 1 yard
GETTING OVER 300
The Guardians were one four teams (half the league) to post more than 300 yards of total offense in Week One. Orlando racked up 314 yards, with 236 coming through the air and 78 on the ground.
The following is a look at the four XFL squads to hit the 300-yard mark last week:
- Houston Roughnecks - 337 yards vs. Orlando Guardians
- Seattle Sea Dragons - 331 yards vs. DC Defenders
- San Antonio Brahmas - 324 yards vs. St. Louis Battlehawks
- Orlando Guardians - 314 yards vs. Houston Roughnecks
TOP TIGHT ENDS
Orlando made liberal use of its tight ends in Week One. The Guardians completed 9 passes to 3 different tight ends. The 9 receptions by tight ends were the most in the XFL in the first week of the season. Cody Latimer pulled in 5 balls, while Ryan Becker and Logan Carter snagged 2 catches apiece. Arlington completed 8 passes to their TEs (seven going to Sal Canella), while San Antonio utilized theirs for five receptions.
QUARTERBACK NOTEBOOK
- Orlando played its two active quarterbacks in Week One at Houston. Paxton Lynch got the start and played the first three quarters, while Quinten Dormady saw action in the fourth quarter.
- Lynch started the contest red hot, completing 5-of-6 on the Guardians' opening possession, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to Cody Latimer for the first touchdown in franchise history.
- Lynch was 8-of-10 for 103 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.
- Dormady's 51-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Jamiel in the fourth quarter was the longest play from scrimmage in the XFL in Week One.
RUNNING BACK NOTEBOOK
- Jah-Maine Martin led the way on the ground for Orlando, rushing 9 times for 41 yards.
- Martin tallied 31 of his 41 yards rushing in the first quarter.
- Kelvin Taylor rejoined the Guardians three days before the season-opener, after being waived on Feb. 6. Taylor made the most of his return, averaging 5.6 yards per carry (5 carries, 28 yards) vs. Houston.
WIDE RECEIVER NOTEBOOK
- Andrew Jamiel emerged as a big-play threat for the Guardians in Week One. The Stonehill College product hauled in receptions of 25 yards (first quarter) and 51 yards (4th quarter). His 51-yarder for a touchdown was the longest play from scrimmage in the league last week.
- Jamiel's 80 yards receiving were third best in the XFL in Week One as well.
- Charleston Rambo and Eli Rogers were tied for most receptions amongst the Orlando wideouts vs. Houston with 4 each.
- Six different Guardians wide receivers tallied receptions in Week One. In addition to Jamiel, Rambo and Rogers, Dontez Byrd, Stephen Guidry and Deddrick Thomas also reached the box score.
TIGHT END NOTEBOOK
- Cody Latimer is proving to be a matchup nightmare for defenses. The former NFL wide receiver is now playing tight end and became a favorite target for former Bronco teammate Paxton Lynch. The duo hooked up 5 times for 68 yards and the Orlando Guardians' first-ever touchdown.
- Ryan Becker lassoed 2 balls for 9 yards. He's a rodeo cowboy ... get it, lassoed? No, for real, Becker paid his bills in between football gigs by competing in professional rodeo events as a calf roper.
- Logan Carter also grabbed 2 receptions last week, but for just 3 yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE NOTEBOOK
- The offensive line starters for Week One were LT Ja'Chai Baker, LG David Moore, C Ze'Veyon Furcron, RG Fred Lauina and RT Abdul Beecham.
- The Guardians offensive line will look to shore up its pass protection this week, after giving up 7 sacks to Houston in Week One. San Antonio will pose a similar test to Houston. The Brahmas sacked St. Louis QB A.J. McCarron 5 times last week.
FLYING SOLO
DL Nick Coe and CB Shaq Wiggins each recorded 6 solo tackles Saturday night at Houston.
Only four other XFL players had more solo stops. DeJuan Neal (DC) led the league with 8, while Emmanuel Elarbee (HOU), Emmanuel Smith (SEA) and Chris Cooper (STL) each had 7.
DEFENSIVE LINE NOTEBOOK
- Jacoby Jones recorded the Guardians' first-ever sack late in the first quarter. He eventually finished with 2 sacks on the evening. Jones was one of just 4 XFL players with 2+ sacks in Week One, joining Houston's Trent Harris (4), Houston's Tim Ward (2) and San Antonio's Mike Scott (2) on that list.
- Nick Coe was tied for the team lead with 6 tackles, all of the solo variety, vs. Houston.
- Stansly Maponga also recorded a sack for the Guardians vs. the Roughnecks.
LINEBACKER NOTEBOOK
- Tegray Scales posted the best tackle numbers for the linebacker group, recording 5 stops vs. Houston last week.
- Terrance Plummer recorded 4 tackles from his inside linebacker position vs. the Roughnecks. This week's game will be a homecoming of sorts for Plummer. He last played in Orlando in 2014 as a member of the UCF Knights.
- Terrance Smith and Erroll Thompson both hit the stat sheet vs. Houston, recording 3 and 2 tackles, respectively.
DEFENSIVE BACK NOTEBOOK
- Veteran Matt Elam snagged the first interception in the history of the Orlando Guardians, picking off Houston QB Brandon Silvers on the first possession of the second half.
- Marcus Murphy Jr. joined the pick party later in the third quarter, returning his INT 22 yards to the Roughnecks' 41-yard line.
- Shaq Wiggins tied for the team lead with 6 tackles, all solo stops.
- Baylen Buchanan made 4 stops, including half a tackle for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTEBOOK
- Punter Johnny Townsend spent Sunday, Feb. 12 in Arizona watching his brother Tommy win a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, then flew back to practice with the Guardians Monday.
- Townsend punted 5 times for an average of 40.4 yards per boot with a long of 48 yards.
- Placekicker Jose Borregales struggled in the seasonopener. His first kickoff, following Orlando's first touchdown did not travel past the 20-yard line in the air. By rule, that's a penalty enforced 15 yards from the spot of the kick, giving Houston possession at the Orlando 45-yard line. Borregales later missed his lone field goal attempt, a 40-yard attempt, early in the second quarter.
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