Sea Dragons See Season End in Playoff Loss at D.C.
April 30, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Seattle Sea Dragons News Release
The Sea Dragons journeyed to Washington D.C. to take on the D.C. Defenders in the North Division Championship, the first appearance in Seattle's franchise history. This was the third time that the Sea Dragons and the Defenders have met this season where D.C. has defeated Seattle in the first two matchups in Week 1 and Week 8.
The Sea Dragons received the opening kickoff and K Dominik Eberle tacked on the first three points of the game with a 33-yard field goal to give Seattle an early 3-0 lead. The Defenders responded with a 24-yard field goal by K Matt McCrane on the next series, tying the game at 3-3. After forcing the Sea Dragons to punt, QB Jordan Ta'amu found WR Lucky Jackson streaking down field for a 44-yard touchdown pass, giving the Defenders their first 9-3 lead following the missed 2-point conversion attempt.
To begin the second quarter, the Sea Dragons answered with their own touchdown when QB Ben DiNucci spotted WR Jahcour Pearson in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown completion to even the score at 9-9 after a failed 2-point conversion try.
Shortly after, the Sea Dragons defense came up with their first big defensive stand of the game after LB Shareef Miller intercepted Ta'amu. With just under a minute left in the first half, the Defenders looked to take the lead, but it was shortly interrupted after S Antoine Brooks made an acrobatted interception on Ta'amu to keep the game tied going into halftime.
Going into the second half, the Defenders came out of the locker room aggressive and immediately took a 15-9 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by RB Abram Smith, capping off a 11-play, 78-yard drive following the missed 2-point conversion attempt.
On the ensuing offensive series for the Defenders, Ta'amu linked up with TE Ethan Wolf for a 26-yard touchdown pass to increase the score to 23-9 after the successful 2-point conversion attempt to TE Alex Ellis.
In the final quarter, the Defenders took a commanding lead when RB Cam'Ron Harris punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to widen the score to 30-9 following the successful 1-point conversion run by Smith. On the ensuing series, the Sea Dragons cut the score in half to 30-15 after DiNucci completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to
WR Juwan Green, but failed to convert the 2-point conversion try. Soon after, the Defenders chewed up some game clock and Harris cleaned up the drive with a 11-yard touchdown run and a 1-point conversion attempt, (his second rushing touchdown of the game) bringing the score back up to 37-15. On the final series for Seattle, DiNucci found Green in the end zone for an 8 yard-touchdown pass (his second touchdown reception of the game) to shed the score to 37-21 following the missed 3-point conversion try. After the touchdown, the Sea Dragons went for the desperate 4th & 15 conversion try, but the Defenders defense came up with the final defensive stand of the game and ended Seattle's playoff run and season.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Sea Dragons could not get it done against the D.C. Defenders, falling 37-21 in the North Division Championship.
- This was the third meeting of these teams this season, all ending in wins for D.C.
- 37 is the highest point total Seattle has allowed this season.
- Seattle got on the board first, overcoming a few drops to score on a 33 yard field goal.
- After giving up a long completion to Briley Moore-Mckinney to set the Defenders up inside the Seattle 10, the Sea Dragons stood up with an impressive goal line stand to force a field goal attempt.
- This is the first opening drive score that Seattle has allowed to the Defenders in their three matchups this season.
- QB Ben DiNucci had six incompletions over his first two drives, but five of those passes were dropped.
- DiNucci was impressive on his third drive, pushing past even more drops to get a 15 yard score on the books and tie the game. This was WR Jahcour Pearson's 5th touchdown of the year.
- The defense showed their thanks for this by getting the ball right back. LB Shareef Miller made the interception, his first of the season.
- It looked like the Defenders would have a back to back opportunity as they held the ball for the last 7 ý minutes of the second quarter and would get the ball first after halftime. The drive went 20 plays with four penalties and six 3rd downs.
- The Seattle defense bent but did not break. S Bryce Thompson got the jump on a run play to earn a huge TFL and force a 3rd and 16. This was his 5th TFL of the season.
- LB Antoine Brooks capitalized on this opening, and notched an impressive INT on the very next play, his first of the year. This was Seattle's third pick of the year against D.C.
- KR/PR Kelvin McKnight surpassed 1000 return yards on the season midway through the 3rd quarter.
- Penalties harangued Seattle all game- the team garnered a season high 13 penalties that translated to 116 yards.
- Things looked dire for Seattle down the stretch, down three possessions as the 4th quarter ticked past its halfway point. DiNucci and the offense managed to chip away with a 34 yard touchdown pass to WR Juwan Green. Green would score again with 12 seconds remaining.
- These were his 7th and 8th receiving scores of the season, leading the team in that category. DiNucci also reached 22 touchdown passes on the season (2nd in XFL).
'--ÃÂ QB Ben DiNucci finished the game with 31 completions for 295 yards and two touchdowns. His cleanliness was a bright spot in the loss. DiNucci did not throw an interception, ending an 8 game streak.
'--Ãâ¹ Regardless of the way it ended, this game leaves room for a bright future in Seattle for the XFL. With one of the most productive and talented rosters in the league, the sky's the limit in 2024.
XFL Stories from April 30, 2023
- Sea Dragons See Season End in Playoff Loss at D.C. - Seattle Sea Dragons
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