Sports stats



XFL Vegas Vipers

Vegas Vipers Game Notes for Week 1 vs Arlington Renegades

February 15, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Vegas Vipers News Release


ARLINGTON RENEGADES VS VEGAS VIPERS

SATURDAY - FEB 18 - 12 PM PT

CHOCTAW STADIUM

ARLINGTON, TEXAS

GAME ONE

Head Coach .............................................................. Bob Stoops

XFL Record, Experience.................................2-3 (.400), 2nd Year

Career Coaching Exp. .............................193-51 (.791), 20th Year (Head Coach at Oklahoma)

Head Coach .......................................................... Rod Woodson

XFL Record, Experience.......................................... 0-0, First Year

NFL Record, Experience ....................................................6 years

(Asst coach at Raiders, Bengals and Broncos)

Series Notes:

- First meeting between Vegas and Arlington in XFL play, including 2001 and 2020, as Arlington was not part of the 2001 season and Vegas was not part of the 2020 season

- This will also be the first meeting between Rod Woodson and Bob Stoops

- Vegas defensive coordinator Cris Dishman does have history with Bob Stoops in the XFL, as Dishman served as the DC for the New York Guardians during the 2020 season. The Guardians defeated the Stoops led Dallas Renegades 30-12 on March 7, 2020, in what was the final game of the season

ABC BROADCAST - GAME 1

PLAY-BY-PLAY - Tom Hart

ANALYST - Greg McElroy

SIDELINE ANALYST - Cole Cubelic

SIDELNE REPORTER - Katie George

ARLINGTON RENEGADES AT CHOCTAW STADIUM Saturday, February 18, 2023 12 PM PT

D.C. DEFENDERS AT CASHMAN FIELD Saturday, February 25, 2023 4 PM PT

SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS AT CASHMAN FIELD Sunday, March 12, 2023 4 PM PT

D.C. DEFENDERS AT AUDI FIELD Sunday, March 12, 2023 4 PM PT

ORLANDO GUARDIANS AT CASHMAN FIELD Saturday, March 18, 2023 7 PM PT

ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS AT CASHMAN FIELD Saturday, March 25, 2023 4 PM PT

SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS AT CASHMAN FIELD Saturday, April 1, 2023 3 PM PT

ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS AT THE DOME AT AMERICA'S CENTER Saturday, April 8, 2023 10 AM PT

HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS AT TDECU STADIUM Saturday, April 15, 2023 9:30 AM PT

SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS AT LUMEN FIELD Sunday, April 23, 2023 6 PM PT

VIPERS WITH NFL, XFL EXPERIENCE

The Vegas Vipers have a combined 428 games of NFL experience on their roster. 17 of the Vipers' 51 players (33.3 percent) have played in at least one NFL game. Leading the charge for the Vipers is Vic Beasley, who has appeared in 88 NFL games (78 for the Atlanta Falcons, five for the Tennessee Titans and five for the Las Vegas Raiders) and in 2016 led the league with 15.5 sacks. He also has appeared in five playoff games. Nine Vipers have also seen action in XFL play in 2020, with a combined 40 games of XFL experience. Three Vegas players (Jeff Badet, Kahlil McKenzie and Isaiah Williams) have experience in both the NFL and the 2020 version of the XFL.

Vegas Vipers with NFL Experience

No. Name .............................. Games .....Notes

44 Vic Beasley...................... 88 .............78 games with Falcons, 5 games with Titans, 5 games with Raiders; 5 playoff games

15 Rod Smith ....................... 55 .............48 games with Cowboys, 3 games with Raiders, 3 games with Titans, 1 game with Seahawks; 2 playoff games

19 Geronimo Allison ............. 49 .............46 games with Packers, 3 games with Lions; 5 playoff games

4 Martavis Bryant ............... 44 .............36 games with Steelers, 8 games with Raiders; 4 playoff games

45 Martrell Spaight ............... 37 .............30 games with Washington, 4 games with Miami, 3 games with Jacksonville

99 Destiny Vaeao ................. 33 .............33 games with Philadelphia; 1 playoff game

25 Marwin Evans .................. 32 .............32 games with Green Bay; 3 playoff games

3 Brett Hundley .................. 18 .............15 games with Green Bay, 3 games with Arizona

11 P.J. Dawson..................... 16 .............13 games with Cincinnati, 3 games with Seattle; 1 playoff game

26 Maurice Smith ................. 15 .............13 games with Miami, 2 games with Washington

69 Kahlil McKenzie ............... 12 .............7 games with Cincinnati, 5 games with Baltimore

0 Pita Taumoepenu ............ 9 ...............6 games with San Francisco, 4 games with Denver, 1 game with Atlanta

65 Jamil Demby.................... 6 ...............6 games with Los Angeles Rams

86 Brandon Dillon ................. 5 ...............5 games with Minnesota

71 Isaiah Williams ................ 4 ...............4 games with New York Jets

13 Jeff Badet ........................ 3 ...............3 games with Washington

88 Robert Windsor ............... 2 ...............2 games with Indianapolis

VEGAS VIPERS

GAME ONE VS. ARLINGTON RENEGADES

Vegas Vipers with 2020 XFL Experience No. Name .....................................Games (Team)

13 Jeff Badet ...............................5 (Dallas Renegades)

77 Quinterrius Eatmon ................5 (Seattle Dragons)

20 Jawaun Johnson ....................5 (New York Guardians)

2 Jalan McClendon ...................5 (Los Angeles Wildcats)

64 Michael Miller .........................5 (St. Louis Battlehawks)

12 Luis Perez ..............................5 (New York Guardians)

71 Isaiah Williams .......................4 (Tampa Bay Vipers)

80 Sean Price ..............................4 (Dallas Renegades)

69 Kahlil McKenzie ......................2 (Los Angeles Wildcats)

RETURN OF THE XFL

The XFL returns to the field in 2023 led by the new ownership group of Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners. Featuring both new and returning team names, each market has a dynamic logo and distinct team identity that aligns with its community's culture and history. Taking the field for the XFL: Arlington Renegades, D.C.

Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, San Antonio Brahmas, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis Battlehawks, and Vegas Vipers. The eight XFL teams are split into two divisions: XFL North (D.C. Defenders, Seattle Sea Dragons, St. Louis Battlehawks, Vegas Vipers) and XFL South (Arlington Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, San Antonio Brahmas). This is the second time that Las Vegas has boasted an XFL team.

HISTORY OF THE XFL IN VEGAS

In 2001, the XFL began and one of its eight teams was the Las Vegas Outlaws. They played the season opening game at Sam Boyd Stadium against the the New York/New Jersey Hitmen, which ended up being a 19-0 victory for the Outlaws. The game was televised nationally on NBC less then one week after the Super Bowl that season. Las Vegas played in the Western Division with the Los Angeles Xtreme, Memphis Maniax and San Francisco Demons. After the Week 1 victory for the Outlaws, Las Vegas fell to Los Angeles in Week 3 but bounced back with a win over San Fransisco in Week 4, giving the team a 3-1 record to start the year. Unfortunately five of their final six games and finished with a 4-6 record. One of the most notable players on the Outlaws was Rod "He Hate Me" Smart, who would go on to become the first former XFL player to appear in a Super Bowl: Super Bowl XXXVIII.

ALL GAMES NATIONALLY TELEVISED

On May 17, 2022, the XFL announced a multi-year broadcast agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN. This season, all 43 games (40 regular season games, two playoffs, one championship) will be featured on a combination of ABC, ESPN networks, and FX. All XFL games will be streamed on ESPN+ and simulcasted in 142 countries around the world. This week's game will air on ABC with the announcing team of Tom Hart (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline analyst), and Katie George (sideline reporter). The entire Week 1 schedule is listed below:

Saturday, February 18 - Vegas Vipers @ Arlington Renegades at 12 p.m. PT on ABC

Saturday, February 18 - Orlando Guardians @ Houston Roughnecks at 5:30 p.m. PT on ESPN/FX

Sunday, February 19 - St. Louis Battlehawks @ San Antonio Brahmas at 12 p.m. PT on ABC

Sunday, February 19 - Seattle Sea Dragons @ DC Defenders at 5 p.m. PT on ESPN

PLAYER 54: CHASING THE XFL DREAM

During the season, a nine-part docuseries, Player 54: Chasing The XFL Dream, will air chronicling different players and teams in the XFL, in partnership with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN. Directed by Peter Berg, the series follows the creation of the League under new ownership and highlights the unique stories and development of its players and coaches throughout the entire season. Player 54 will have its linear debut on Thursday, February 16 at 5pm ET on ESPN2. It will also air on ABC on Saturday, February 18 at 2pm ET leading into the XFL's opening game between the Vegas Vipers and Arlington Renegades. Episodes will be available to stream exclusively on ESPN+ immediately after each debuts on ESPN2. With eight teams, 400 players, 40 coaches, and a new ownership group, Player 54 is a visual manifestation of the League's motto: where dreams meet opportunity. The original series takes fans behind the scenes of what it takes to build a League and its eight teams from the ground-up, showcasing the human stories that exist within the XFL on and off the field. It is a character-driven look at the inspiring, unconventional, and even heartbreaking journeys of the players and head coaches whose professional aspirations are just beginning - or getting a second chance. Filming takes place primarily at the XFL Hub in Arlington, capturing unprecedented access into the day-to-day lives of the players and coaches - from the Draft and roster cuts to season kickoff and the Championship - immersing viewers in the competitive environment as players prove that they deserve a chance to win with the XFL.

HOW THE TEAMS WERE MADE

XFL Draft Week was held from Nov. 15-17 at the UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The events began with a live-streamed Quarterback Selection Show and continued with two days of Draft action, where Head Coaches made selections alongside Directors of Player Personnel.

Day One was broken into four positional groupings featuring 11 rounds of selections for each skill: Offensive Skill positions (WR, RB, TE, FB), Defensive Backs (CB, Safety, Nickel), Defensive Front Seven (ILB, Edge, DE, DT), and Offensive Line (LT, LG, C, RG, RT). Day Two featured three rounds of Specialists selections (kicker, punter, long snapper), followed by open rounds for all positions. Of the 442 non-quarterbacks selected in the XFL Draft, 285 came with NFL experience (signed an NFL active roster and/or practice squad contract). The XFL also held a Supplemental Draft on Jan. 1, 2023, selecting 90 total players over 17 rounds.

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE

The Vegas Vipers, as every team in the XFL this season, will play 10 regular season games during the 2023 XFL season. The Vipers will play six games against division foes - Seattle, St.

Louis and D.C. (one home, one road) - and four games against non-division opponents - at Arlington, vs. Orlando, vs. San Antonio and at Houston. Below are some notes regarding the schedule:

- Vegas will kickoff the XFL season at Arlington on February 18

- From Week 2 through Week 7, Vegas will play only one road game (at D.C. during Week 4), the rest of the games will be at Cashman Field in Las Vegas

- The Vipers will be road warriors to end the season, finishing the 2023 regular season with three straight road games

UNDER ARMOUR THREADS

Under Armour is the exclusive provider of all on-field uniforms, including jerseys, base layer, sideline and training apparel, for all XFL teams. The unique home and away sets are designed with an authentic execution of the individual team identities. The design process was a collaboration between XFL ownership, marketing, and Under Armour teams. Each jersey features a "Blood, Sweat, Respect" mantra - a personal message from ownership to players, which is sublimated on the interior collars of all team uniforms. Additional design details include embroidered team wordmarks and branding at the base of the neckline, UA's ArmourGrid nameplates with twill lettering, and all uniforms are branded with XFL, Under Armour, and Project Rock Brahma Bull patches.

VEGAS VIPERS GAME ONE VS. ARLINGTON RENEGADES INJURY REPORT

Monday, February 13

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE WR Martavis Bryant (right thigh)

DB Mister Harriel (left thigh)

LB Jawaun Johnson (left ankle)

DL Destiny Vaeao (left leg)

Tuesday, February 14

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE WR Martavis Bryant (right thigh)

DB Mister Harriel (left thigh)

DB Maurice Smith (abdomen)

DL Destiny Vaeao (left leg)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

LB Jawaun Johnson (left ankle)

Wednesday, February 15

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

DB Maurice Smith (abdomen)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

WR Martavis Bryant (right thigh)

DB Mister Harriel (left thigh)

DL Robert Windsor (left shoulder)

DL Destiny Vaeao (left leg)

TRANSACTIONS

DATE POS. PLAYER TRANSACTION

Feb. 13 ILB James Folston Jr. Waived

Feb. 13 LB Martrell Spaight Claimed

Feb. 9 OLB Emmanuel Beal Waived

Feb. 9 WR Saeed Blacknall Waived

Feb. 9 ILB Wes Bowers Waived

Feb. 9 ILB Cecil Cherry Waived

Feb. 9 CB Trey Dickerson Waived

Feb. 9 DT Tyran Dixon Waived

Feb. 9 OT Fernando Frye Waived

Feb. 9 WR Cyrus Holder Waived

Feb. 9 CB Jameson Houston Waived

Feb. 9 OT Tre Johnson Waived

Feb. 9 SAF Nick Pickett Waived

Feb. 9 DE Jalen Pinkney Waived

Feb. 9 CB Najee Reams Waived

Feb. 9 CB Stephen Roberts Waived

Feb. 9 WR Mustageem Williams Waived

Feb. 9 OG Avery Young Waived

Feb. 8 OG Tony Adams Reserve/Injured

Feb. 6 ILB Luke Hollowway Reserve/Injured

Feb. 6 OT Matt Cohen Reserve/Injured

Feb. 3 DT Kelvin Pinkney Made Active

Feb. 1 QB Brett Hundley Added from Reserve list

Jan. 30 QB Bryan Scott Waived

Jan. 28 ILB Cassanova McKinzy Waived

Jan. 25 RB/WR Brian Burt Signed

Jan. 23 WR Geronimo Allison Signed

Jan. 23 OL Kahlil McKenzie Signed

Jan. 21 RB Taeyler Porter Left Team

Jan. 20 RB Matt Jones Waived

Jan. 20 TE Isiah Macklin Waived

Jan. 19 DT Rod Henderson Waived

Jan. 19 TE Jordan Wilson Waived

Jan. 16 CB Kevin McGill Reserve/Injured

Jan. 10 DL James Folston Jr. Assigned

Jan. 10 DB Kevin McGill Assigned

VEGAS VIPERS

GAME ONE VS. ARLINGTON RENEGADES

HOME OF THE VIPERS: CASHMAN FIELD

Origins

The original Cashman Field was built on the same property where it sits today in 1947. At that time the stadium was primarily used for football and rodeos before the first baseball game was held on May 21, 1948. The design of the original stadium featured one large grandstand looking down on the field. For baseball, this meant that all of the seats were along the first base line. The first anchor tenant was the Las Vegas Wranglers from 1947-1952 and then again from 1957 to 1958.

The modern facility opened in 1983 as the home baseball stadium of the Las Vegas Stars of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. While primarily a minor-league baseball facility, the venue would go on to host multiple MLB games and Triple-A All-Star Games. The final baseball game took place on September 3, 2018 as the then Las Vegas 51's won off a walk-off home run from Pete Alonso.

Football

The first professional football game at Cashman Field was held at the stadium in 1964 when the then Oakland Raiders played the then Houston Oilers. Al Davis, head coach of the Raiders at the time, led his team to a 34-20 victory over the Oilers in the preseason exhibition.

UNLV football also played its home games at Cashman Field for two seasons from 1968-69, the first two seasons of the program. The Rebels would go 10-3 during their two seasons at Cashman Field.

In 1971, football at the facility came to an end with the opening of Sam Boyd Stadium. That was until January 5, 2023 when the XFL announced that the Vipers would play their home games at Cashman Field this season.

Other Events

In 2018, Cashman Field became home to the Las Vegas Lights FC from the United Soccer League. Lights FC played their first game on February 10, 2018, an exhibition match, against the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer. Previously the venue had hosted MLS exhibition games between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes in 2016 and 2017. In 2019, the Lights became the primary tenant of the venue. Cashman Field has also hosted many concerts through the years and briefly served as the home venue for Major League Rugby's San Diego Legion for the 2021 season.

XFL RULES NOTES

The XFL has numerous rules differences from other football leagues. The following is a look at some of the more notable differences:

Extra Possession Rule

A team can choose to onside kick throughout the game. However, in the fourth quarter, a team can choose to attempt to earn an extra possession by converting a 4th-and-15 play from its own 25-yard line.

Double Forward Pass

As long as the first pass does not cross the line of scrimmage, teams may complete a forward pass and then throw a second forward pass.

3-2-1 Points After Touchdown

There are no kicks for an extra point in the XFL. Teams may elect to run a play from the 2-yard line for one point, the 5-yard line for two points or the 10-yard line for three points.

Kicking Rules

Free kicks (kickoffs) must cross the receiving team's 20-yard line in flight. A free kick that hits the ground inside the 20-yard line and goes into the end zone is a touchback and comes out to the 15- yard line. A kick that enters the end zone in flight is a touchback and comes out to the 35-yard line. If a punt that has not been touched by the receiving team goes out of bounds inside the receiving team's 35-yard line, the ball will be placed at the 35.

Overtime

If a game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime will consist of a period of three Try attempts from the 5-yard line for each team. The visiting team will go first and the teams will alternate. Each Try is worth two points. If the score is still tied after three attempts, the teams will alternate attempts until there is a winner. Instant Replay

The XFL is introducing a first-of-its kind, centralized command center for instant replay review. Replay may correct obvious errors on non-reviewable plays, player safety at any point during the game as well as any issue that significantly impacts the outcome of the game in the last five minutes of regulation and overtime. Each head coach is allowed one challenge of any officiating decision once per game, with final ruling made by the officiating department in the command center.

ABOUT THE XFL

The XFL's ownership group, led by Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital Partners, is building a fan-first, fast-paced global professional football league with innovative rules and enhanced 360 game experience. The XFL will bring entertainment to world class football, with the goal of advancing the game of football and expanding player opportunities when it launches on February 18, 2023.

Check out the Vegas Vipers Statistics



XFL Stories from February 15, 2023


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.

OurSports Central