Sea Dragons Fall Just Short at D.C.
February 20, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Seattle Sea Dragons News Release
For the season opener of the 2023 XFL season, the Seattle Sea Dragons journeyed to Washington D.C. to take on the D.C. Defenders, the first XFL game for both teams since 2020. Seattle received the opening kickoff and scored on their first series of the season when QB Ben DiNucci scrambled and flipped a 6-yard touchdown pass to WR Josh Gordon to put the Sea Dragons up 6-0 and to cap off a 11-play, 71-yard drive following the missed three-point conversion. On the next offensive possession for the Sea Dragons, DiNucci helped extend the drive after converting a fourth down conversion to WR Jahcour Pearson, setting up a 36-yard field goal for K Dominik Eberle to increase the Sea Dragons lead to 9-0.
Heading into the second quarter, D.C. Defenders QB, Jordan Ta'amu, rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run and completed a 2-point conversion to WR, Lucky Jackson, to trim the lead to 9-8. With time winding down in the first half, the Sea Dragons failed to tack on three more points after a missed 40-yard field goal by Eberle.
As the second half rolled around, the Sea Dragons marched down the field on their first possession where RB, Brendan Knox, finished off the series with a 13-yard touchdown run. Soon after, DiNucci helped his offense convert a 3-point conversion and expand the lead to 18-8 with the help of an offsides penalty by the Defenders. On the ensuing possession for the Sea Dragons, DiNucci was picked off by DB Michael Joseph where he returned it back for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 18-16 after a successful 2-point conversion rushing attempt by Kyle Murphy.
Both teams went into the fourth quarter neck and neck, but the Defenders were able to gain the early momentum in the fourth quarter after Joseph intercepted DiNucci for the second time this game. The Defenders capitalized off the turnover when QB Deriq King rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to put the Defenders up 22-18, their first lead of the game following the failed 2-point conversion attempt. The Sea Dragons looked to regain the momentum back after CB Bryce Thompson intercepted Ta'amu, giving the ball right back to the Sea Dragons. After a series of turnover on downs committed by both teams, the Sea Dragons looked to retake the lead on the final drive but fell short after DiNucci coughed up the ball on the Defenders' four-yard line and was scooped up by LB Jamal Brooks, sealing the first victory of the XFL season to the D.C. Defenders
The Seattle Sea Dragons will have a short turnaround and will face the St. Louis Battlehawks on Thursday, February 23 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
Post-Game Notes: Seattle Sea Dragons vs D.C. Defenders
Week 1- February 19, 2023
The Seattle Sea Dragons competed in their first XFL game since March 7, 2020 against the Houston Roughnecks (32-23 loss) ever since the XFL was suspended due to COVID-19.
QB Ben DiNucci completed his first touchdown pass of his XFL career on the opening series of the first quarter.
Former NFL WR standout, Josh Gordon, recorded his first touchdown reception of the season on the first drive of the first quarter.
WR Jahcour Pearson registered 10+ receptions in his XFL debut (12 receptions for 95 yards).
LB Emmanuel Smith led the Sea Dragons defense with 7 tackles.
CB Bryce Thompson recorded his first interception of his XFL career.
The Sea Dragons defense held the Defenders to 177 total yards (93 passing yards and 84 rushing yards).
The Sea Dragons defense kept the Defenders to 3.3 yards per play, 2.5 yards per rush.
The Sea Dragons offense had 66.7% efficiency on fourth-down conversions (2-3).
• Discuss this story on the XFL message board...
XFL Stories from February 20, 2023
- Sights and Sounds from the Season Opener Between the Renegades and Vipers - Arlington Renegades
- Sea Dragons Fall Just Short at D.C. - Seattle Sea Dragons
- McCarron, Harris and Proehl Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- McCarron, Harris and Proehl Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- McCarron, Harris and Proehl Named OurSports Central XFL Players of the Week - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
