XFL Arlington Renegades

XFL Play of Week: Week 6

Published on March 29, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
Arlington Renegades News Release


Arlington Renegades wide receiver LuJuan Winningham was having a little trouble seeing in practice during the two weeks leading up to Sunday's game against the San Antonio Brahmas.

Winningham didn't think his vision had gone bad, it was just a little fuzzier than normal. But athletic trainer Phil Hedrick told him he should get his eyes checked and obtain a new prescription.

But Winningham kept putting it off, until he ran out of contacts and had no choice but to get an exam.

"They gave me some in the meantime to hold me over until the actual prescription comes in," Winningham said. "I needed that."

Without getting that new pair of contacts hours before the game, Winningham might not have been able to make one of the best catches of the XFL season. It was the only offensive touchdown scored in Sunday's game at Choctaw Stadium between the Texas-based rivals.

After the Renegades got on the board with a field goal to start the third quarter, an interception gave them the ball at the Brahmas' 33-yard line.

Three plays later and Arlington had the ball inside the red zone, facing third-and-10 at the 16. The Renegades walked up to the line of scrimmage and quarterback Drew Plitt recognized the defense he was coming up against.

"We got that look last week," Plitt said, referring to a Week 5 game between the same teams. "They were bringing zero. The snap count, trying to time it with the safeties."

Arlington co-offensive coordinator Jonathan Hayes had told Winningham if San Antonio was blitzing both safeties, he should switch his route to a slant.

But Plitt audibled Winningham's route at the line of scrimmage from an out route to a fade.

"That's why there was a little moment of hesitation for me," Winningham said. "But at the end of the day, we both ended up on the same page. I might have flipped my page a little slower than he did, but we both ended up on the same page."

Plitt received the snap in the shotgun with the two safeties at different points in their blitzes. Jack Koerner had timed the snap better than his teammate. But running back Leddie Brown blocked Koerner, allowing Plitt time to complete his drop and set his feet for his throw to Winningham.

Terrell Bonds was playing off man coverage on Winningham. But by the time Plitt started his throw, Bonds and Winningham were engaged at about the 5-yard line.

"I look back at Drew, he completely vanished. I said, 'Oh my god.' I thought he got hit. Then next thing I know I see the ball flying this way. I'm on this side of the defender, ball's flying this way and go make a play," Winningham said, laughing.

As the ball headed toward the two of them, Bonds was on the inside and in front of Winningham. Bonds tried to make an interception, but the ball went through his outstretched arms.

The 6-foot-3 Winningham turned his body towards the ball and extended his arms out in the air. The ball went through Bonds' hands and right into the Arlington receiver's fingers. He secured the catch with his body nearly perpendicular to the ground.

"He just made a great play," Plitt said.

Winningham landed in the end zone for the touchdown. He rolled over, got up and tossed the football high in the sky in celebration.

"It was a great play on the ball," Hayes said. "Quarterback gave him a chance. Those are things you hope for and you work hard in practice so you're able to execute on game day."

For what it's worth, the University of Central Arkansas alum didn't realize how good of a catch it was until after the game.

"I didn't think it was really like that until I saw the video of it after the game," Winningham said. "I was like, 'dang, that did kind of look good.'"

The touchdown tied the game at 9-9 but San Antonio would go on to win 15-9.

The Arlington offense has struggled throughout the first six weeks of the season. Winningham has only six catches but two of them are for touchdowns, accounting for half of the team's receiving TDs.

But Winningham said fans should expect the team to turn a corner over the next few weeks as the Renegades (3-3) try and earn a spot in the postseason. They host Seattle (4-2) on Friday, the day before Winningham's 24th birthday.

He also hopes to keep improving and achieve his daily goal of staying consistent.

"You come here every day and do the same thing every week with the same schedule, see the same people and everything's the same," Winningham said. "That's what I've been really homing in on and actually paying attention to the little details about everything going on and being consistent with that. That's the big thing that I'm here for."

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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.

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