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XFL Arlington Renegades

XFL in Their Own Words: What It Means to Win the XFL Championship

May 17, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Arlington Renegades News Release


The Arlington Renegades entered Saturday's XFL Championship as the underdogs against a stout D.C. Defenders team. But Arlington came out and hit D.C. in the mouth, kept the pressure on and came away with a well-deserved 35-26 victory.

When the clock hit zeros, the Renegades did what any team would do in that situation: They celebrated - and there was plenty of that to do.

For head coach Bob Stoops, it was another title to put in his expansive trophy case as he once again lived up the nickname "Big Game Bob." For quarterback Luis Perez, it was a statement to his doubters that he can play at an elite level. For linebacker Willie Taylor, it was the culmination of a six-month process that saw him go from playing college football in the fall to playing professional football this spring. For offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch, it was the full-circle journey that started 22 years prior when he was part of the first XFL championship club. Now he gets to call himself the only two-time winner.

Everyone on the team had something to say about the win.

Here is what some of those Renegades players and coaches said in the aftermath of Saturday's victory in the locker room or at the postgame podium about it what it means to be an XFL champion.

Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Head coach Bob Stoops

"We played a heck of a game. I'm just really proud of our team: the assistant coaches, the players, for sure, the training staff, managers. Everybody has a hand in it. We really got a fun group of people all working together.

"Offense didn't have a turnover until the last two minutes so basically didn't have one. Luis Perez was just incredible all night. Receivers caught everything. Tyler Vaughns, my gosh, some of the catches he made were incredible.

"We ran the ball well, threw it well. Defensively, other than two big explosive plays, we played a great game. Came up with a couple picks. But really solid game all night long, other than those two quick strikes they got on us. Our punters and kickers, Taylor (Russolino) and Marquette (King), did an excellent job. Taylor made all his kicks. That was big as well.

"It was a fun night and just proud of the team overall and excited for the players. They're loving it, and they get a nice big bonus check too for winning."

Defensive back Cre'Von LeBlanc

"It feels amazing. Everything we've been through. The ups. The downs. The things that go behind the scenes that a lot of people don't see. We had to come together as a team and make it happen. We knew what we had in the room. Both sides of the ball - offense, defense and special teams - and we just came out there and made sure we put it together in all three phases."

Center Brian Folkerts

"We were just tired of all the doubters. Everyone's saying we don't even deserve to be here. We just had a chip on our shoulder the whole playoffs. First, knocking off Houston, chirping their mouth all the time in Choctaw Stadium when we walked by them. Then, just everyone, the whole league, all the fans saying we don't even deserve this. We just had to shut everybody up."

Linebacker Willie Taylor

"It feels amazing. Just kind of looking at when I made the decision to come here and being here since January and how much I've grown as a player and how much we've grown as a team. To be here and call ourselves champions now, it feels great."

Running back Leddie Brown

"I came in halfway through the season. This team welcomed me with open arms. From there, I felt like this whole team was family. I'm just proud to help these boys get this championship."

Wide receiver Caleb Vander Esch

"It feels great. This team has been working so hard. We've put in work during the day. We meet late night to work and just go over things. It's been a lot of hours that went into this. It's pretty special to celebrate with this group knowing that we won."

Co-defensive coordinator Jay Hayes

"Unbelievable. It was more than I imagined. Honestly. The players worked our plan to perfection. We gave up a couple of bombs. But overall, they couldn't do anything they had done all year. We figured out as a staff what they did by formation and how they lined up.

"Our staff did a great job just getting the guys ready and the players did a great job of understanding the game plan and just playing it out."

Tight end Sal Cannella

"Celebrating on the field with my family, in the locker room with the guys, it's stuff you can't fake, man. This is the real deal."

Defensive back Joe Powell

"It's bittersweet. Coming from where I came from two years ago with the knee injury and then last year playing in arena to where I feel like I wasn't real respected. Then coming out and being a factor for our defense or our team in general. When you got the type of brothers that surround you, that hold you accountable, we able to just go out and play ball and look at each other and know that we all got each other's back. It's a moment that I'll never forget."

Offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch

"It feels awesome. From where we were at the beginning of the year, we were probably the worst offense I've ever been around. But credit to the guys, credit to the staff, credit to everybody in the organization just keep chipping away. It was super cool just to see it come together the last couple of weeks. Really proud of the guys. It just makes that worthwhile. That's how great spring leagues are. Anything can happen. Everything is just paper thin. You never know one week to the next. Super proud of the guys and couldn't be happier."

Quarterback and XFL Championship Game MVP Luis Perez

"It means the world to me. I've played in all these spring leagues and here's the XFL. Thank you to Dany (Garcia) and DJ (Dwayne Johnson) for the opportunity to come out here and just do it. I'm excited. I'm thankful. Thankful for all these guys. Really good group of guys in there - like good people. Not only players, but good people. It's just humbling. It's humbling and I'm very thankful to be here."

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