XFL: Orlando Guardians Drop Nailbiter at San Antonio, 25-23
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (SportsDay) – Down by eight late in the fourth quarter, the Orlando Guardians had a shot to tie the game, but failed to capitalize on a two-point conversion, as the San Antonio Brahmas escaped with a 25-23 win Saturday night at the Alamodome.
San Antonio (3-6 overall) remains in third place in the XFL South, while Orlando (1-8 overall) sits in fourth place.
The Guardians got on the board first on a six play, 73-yard drive led by quarterback Quinten Dormady. He connected with tight end Jordan Thomas for a 4-yard touchdown pass before finding Thomas again for a successful two-point conversion that put the Guardians on top 8-0 less than four minutes into the contest.
The Orlando defense kept San Antonio scoreless in the first quarter before the Brahmas opened the second quarter with a Parker Romo 38-yard field goal, cutting San Antonio's deficit to 8-3.
The Guardians responded less than five minutes later after Orlando punter Mac Brown fired a 69-yard strike on a fake punt to wide receiver K.D. Cannon to put the Guardians in scoring position. A Devin Darrington one-yard rushing touchdown extended Orlando's lead to 14-3.
San Antonio put together a 78-yard drive on six plays to close out the first half, with running back Jacques Patrick scoring a six-yard rushing touchdown and a one-point conversion rush that pulled the Brahmas within four, 14-10, going into halftime.
The Brahmas added nine points in the third quarter. Romo drilled a 29-yard field goal before quarterback Jack Coan connected with wide receiver Travis Toivonen on a 28-yard go-ahead touchdown that handed San Antonio a 19-14 advantage, their first lead of the contest.
The Guardians’ defense gave its offense another opportunity with a takeaway early in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Tye Smith forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Stansly Maponga, but the Guardians settled for a Jose Borregales 52-yard field goal that reduced Orlando's deficit to 19-17.
With 7:07 remaining in the contest, San Antonio defensive lineman Drew Beesley intercepted a Dormady pass intended for Darrington and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, extending the Brahmas' lead to 25-17.
Orlando looked for the comeback in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Guardians quarterback Deondre Francois connected with wide receiver Andrew Jamiel for a three-yard touchdown pass that slashed Orlando's deficit to 25-23. A two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game was just out of reach for Thomas on a pass from Dormady. The Brahmas ran out the clock, keeping the Orlando offense on the sideline.
Darrington paced the Orlando offense with 133 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown. Coan finished the contest with 302 passing yards and one touchdown, completing 25 of 31 throws.
