LA Wildcats fall short in home opener against the Renegades 25-18, return home next week against the undefeated DC Defenders
The Wildcats opened their first home game in history with a 25-18 loss against the Dallas Renegades. Quarterback Josh Johnson went 18/34 in passing while racking up 196 passing yards and connecting with Wide Receiver Nelson Spruce for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The result makes Spruce the XFL’s leader in receiving yards with 192.
Defense stepped up big in the first half, but Cameron Artis-Payne became too much to handle in the second.
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One of the biggest questions coming into this match was: With no Defensive Coordinator for the Wildcats, how will the Defense perform under Winston Moss as the play-caller? And can Moss handle calling both sides of the field? Well, defense was where it was at for the Wildcats in the first half. An Interception by Harlan Miller in the end of the first quarter, a forced fumble by Jack Tocho thirty seconds after his teammate, Elijah Wood, fumbled the ball in the redzone, and the defensive line made Landry Jones look very uncomfortable. Despite the loss, the defense performed extremely well but lacked an immense amount of composure in the closing minutes of the game.
Nelson Spruce’s 44-yard touchdown reception was a huge contribution in the Wildcats’ attempted comeback in the second half.
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As for the offense, they were the opposite as their defensive counterparts. A rocky start to the first half included two fumbles and a punt, although, they were able to gather up the first lead of the game with a 47-yard field goal from Nick Novak. Unfortunately, it was no better at the start of the second half as the offense recorded a field goal miss, a fumble, an interception, and a punt in their first four possessions of the second half.
No doubt, terrible starts to both halves, but when it mattered the most, the offense began to perform. With help from the defense, Johnson was able to lead his offense into two drives that resulted in two touchdowns and the XFL’s first ever three-point conversion.
Renegades’ Cameron Artis-Payne celebrates after punching in the dagger into the Wildcats’ heart in the fourth quarter.
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Down 25-18 with 39 seconds to play, Johnson had a chance to redeem his defense after allowing a 17-yard touchdown by Dallas’ Cameron Artis-Payne, but a Turnover on Downs would end it for the Wildcats. With the result, LA falls to 0-2 and returns home next week to take on Cardale Jones ad the 2-0 DC Defenders.