Roughnecks Roll Over Guardians, 44-16
March 11, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Orlando Guardians News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Houston Roughnecks defeated the Orlando Guardians 44-16 Saturday night at Camping World Stadium. Houston grabbed a big lead early, withstood a charge from Orlando and then pulled away in the fourth quarter.
The Roughnecks found the end zone first with a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Silvers to wide receiver Travell Harris to go up 6-0 on the game's opening drive. Houston followed up its touchdown with a scoop-and-score defensive touchdown by cornerback William Likely. A two-point conversion put the Roughnecks up 14-0 with 9:53 left in the first quarter. The Roughnecks scored a third time in the first quarter with a 49-yard double-forward pass for a touchdown from wide receiver Jontre Kirklin to wide receiver Deontay Burnett to go up 20-0.
After a 35-yard drive put together by the Guardians' offense, a 33-yard field goal by kicker Jose Borregales got the Guardians on the board, trailing 20-3 with 9:16 left in the first half. With 1:01 left in the second quarter, the Roughnecks struck with a Silvers to Kirklin 42-yard touchdown pass to make it 26-3.
A special teams miscue helped the Guardians get on the board. Houston's kickoff didn't reach the 20-yard line in the air, giving Orlando possession at the Roughnecks' 45-yard line. With 39 seconds left in the first half, Paxton Lynch hit tight end Jaylen Smith for a 31-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown grab in the back end of the end zone. A one-point conversion, the first after-touchdown conversion of the season by the Guardians, made it 26-10 at halftime.
The Guardians struck fast early in the third quarter. An 81-yard touchdown pass from Lynch to Charleston Rambo pulled the Guardians within 10, 26-16, and it seemed as though momentum had shifted. But with 2:08 left in the third quarter, a one-yard rush by running back Dejuon Lee put the Roughnecks up 32-13.
To open up the fourth quarter, Houston extended its lead to 38-16 after a 59-yard touchdown pass from Silvers to Harris.
A one-yard rushing touchdown by Lee for the Roughnecks accounted for the game's final score.
ORLANDO GUARDIANS POSTGAME NOTES
- Paxton Lynch's 81-yard touchdown pass to Charleston Rambo is the longest play in the XFL this season
- The Guardians converted their first extra point of the year after a one-point conversion pass from Deondre Francois to Charleston Rambo
- Jaylen Smith's 31-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter is the longest catch by a tight end in the XFL this season
- Paxton Lynch had a season-high 267 passing yards
- Linebacker Tegray Scales recorded his first sack of the season in the first quarter of the game
- Linebacker Terrance Plummer tallied a season-high seven tackles
- Trumaine Washington recorded a season-high five tackles
QUOTES
- Charleston Rambo on 81-yard reception, longest play in the XFL this season
"Just a great play call and great execution. It was a great throw and a great catch. It was executed on all points, not much left to say. We just need to connect more like that and put it on tape because we've got the guys to do it. Paxton's got the arm, I got the legs and the hands for him. It was just a great throw by him."
- Jaylen Smith on having the longest reception by a tight end this season (31 yards)
"It just comes from watching Cody. Cody is a fantastic player. Everybody knows what he did in the NFL and it translates over. His work ethic and what he puts on tape, it just motivates me to want to match that or go beyond that. I knew we needed a spark and I just like making plays."
- Terrance Plummer on having a season-high seven tackles
"That was actually my goal and my gameplan this week, to get seven tackles. I'm glad I got seven, I'm glad I got seven, I'm glad I got my season high."
XFL Stories from March 11, 2023
- Roughnecks Cruise to Win at Orlando, Remain Undefeated - Houston Roughnecks
- Roughnecks Roll Over Guardians, 44-16 - Orlando Guardians
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