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XFL Vegas Vipers

Vegas Vipers Game Notes for Week 4 at DC Defenders

March 8, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Vegas Vipers News Release


Series Notes:

- This is the second and final meeting between Vegas and D.C. during the 2023 season. D.C. won the first meeting 18-6 in Las Vegas on February 25.

- Head Coaches Rod Woodson and Reggie Barlow played directly against each other as a defensive back and wide receiver, respectively, in the NFL six times from 1998-00

- Vegas defensive coordinator Cris Dishman has history with the DC Defenders in the XFL, as Dishman served as the DB coach for the New York Guardians during the 2020 season. The Guardians fell to the Defenders 27-0 on Feb. 15, 2020.

- Vegas completed its first trade during the 2023 XFL season earlier this week, acquiring defensive back Joshua Allen from the DC Defenders in exchange for offensive lineman Antonio Garcia.

- Vegas defensive back Will Adams played collegiately at Virginia State under DC Head Coach Reggie Barlow

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY AND GREAT GAMES

So far this season, the XFL has produced some very competitive football, as 9 of 12 XFL games through 3 weeks have been one-possession games (decided by 9 points or less). Despite the close scores and great endings, the league is still looking for its first overtime game. Vegas has had two one-possession losses, falling at the Arlington Renegades (22-20) in Week 1 and against the Seattle Sea Dragons in Week 3 (30-26).

STARTING THE RIGHT WAY

The Vegas Vipers have scored on their first offensive possession in two of their three games this season. In the only game where they didn't score on their first possession, the Vipers scored on their second possession. Two teams have scored on their first offensive possession, Orlando and Houston. San Antonio has also scored on their opening possession twice, while Arlington, Seattle and DC have done so once. The only XFL team without an opening possession score is St. Louis.

TALE OF TWO HALVES

Beyond scoring on either the first or second possession of the team's respective first three games, Vegas has outscored its opposition 29-12 in the first half and didn't allow a first half touchdown until Week 3 against Seattle. The 29 first half points rank as the third most opening half points in the XFL this season, only behind Houston's 54 first half points and Seattle's 30. The Vipers 17 point differential ranks second behind the Roughneck's 27 point differential (54 points for, 27 points allowed). Vegas, Houston and Seattle are the only teams in the XFL which have a positive point differential in the first half, as the Sea Dragons have a five point differential (30 points for, 25 points against). In the second half, it's been the complete opposite for Vegas, as the Vipers have been outscored 58-21 in three second halves this season. The 58 points allowed in the second stanzas are the most points allowed by any XFL team in the later half this season.

WEATHER OR NOT AT CASHMAN FIELD!

In the first two games at Cashman Field in Las Vegas this season, the Vegas Vipers have had multiple opponents to face during each game, their opponent on the field and Mother Nature. In the first at home against the D.C. Defenders, rain played a factor in the second half as the skies opened up while each team went into their respective locker rooms at halftime. The rain assisted the Defender defense as the Vipers were shut out in the second half. During Vegas' second home game against Seattle, wind played a factor as gusts reached 50 miles per hour in the Las Vegas Valley.

SCORING SPREE

After scoring 26 total points in the first two games to open the season, the Vegas Vipers matched that total in a 30-26 loss against the Seattle Sea Dragons. The 56 combined points put up between the Vipers and Sea Dragons was the first game this season to break the 50-point mark. Later in Week 3, the St. Louis-DC game surpassed that total, when they scored a combined 62 points.

MISTER LAS VEGAS

Vegas Vipers defensive back Mister Harriel has made Las Vegas his home base after signing with the Indoor Football League's Vegas Knighthawks ahead of the 2022 season. The former standout at Sacramento State has turned in 14 tackles this season, which are tied for third on the team. Harriel made his first start for the Vipers against Seattle (March 4) and he made a season-best eight total tackles, including a team-high solo tackles.

YOU BADET'CHA

Vegas Vipers wide receiver Jeff Badet has been one of the most reliable receivers for the team this season, as he has leads the team in three categories: 12 receptions, 181 yards and three touchdowns. His touchdowns ranked tied for the most in the XFL this season, while his yardage ranks fifth in the league and receptions rank eighth. The former Oklahoma and Kentucky standout's 15.1 yards per reception also ranks third in the league amongst receivers who have caught at least 10 passes. In Week 1 against Arlington, Badet caught two touchdowns, which were his first two touchdowns as a professional football player. Against Seattle, he had a 56-yard reception in the third quarter, which at the time was the longest reception in the XFL, but was later surpassed in the game when Josh Gordon caught a 65-yard touchdown reception and then the next day when DC's Chris Blair had a 58-yard reception.

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