The New York Guardians returned to the win column to the tune of a new quarterback and defensive antics on Saturday.
Luis Perez threw for 150 yards and a touchdown in his first career XFL start, while Darius Victor ran for a new team-record 84 yards on Saturday afternoon at MetLife Stadium. It was enough to guide their New York Guardians to a 17-14 win over the Los Angeles Wildcats.
The teams began the game with matching three-and-outs, with each defense registering a sack in the process. New York broke through first with a 51-yard field goal from Matthew McCrane, who continued his perfect season.
Los Angeles went on to respond with a 10-play, 68-yard drive that ended with a Tre McBride touchdown grab from Josh Johnson. McBride previously had two scores against the DC Defenders last weekend.
Mr. Money Leg (@mmccrane16) from 51 yards and it's GOOD ?
3-0 good guys on ABC! #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/77OYXDWPgD
— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 29, 2020
Josh Johnson absolutely ZIPPED one to Tre McBride for the score.
?: ABC
?: https://t.co/iqMWPR5nuH pic.twitter.com/2g7l4kZ3jX— XFL (@XFL2023) February 29, 2020
The Guardians (2-2) continued a trend of scoring, earning points on two more consecutive possessions after McCrane’s kick. Another triple from close range tied the game (Los Angeles missed their two-pointer) before Perez found Mekale McKay for a touchdown. Perez’s fellow quarterback Marquise Williams ran it in from five yards out on the ensuing conversion to make it 14-6.
Let @1_McKay_2 just go up and GET IT ?
Touchdown Guardians ?#OnDuty | #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/RLWMQHLD2o
— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 29, 2020
When the second half began, Los Angeles tried to strike back with a long field goal from Nick Novak, but Jarrell Owens, who also earned two sacks, blocked it at the line of scrimmage to preserve the lead.
Our guy "Woo" (@JOwens903) coming with the pressure!
? ABC
? https://t.co/YPrkb2P5Re#OnDuty | #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/YJTTa4eNqm— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 29, 2020
BLOCK THAT KICK "WOO"
@JOwens903 doing everything right now! ??? #OnDuty | #ForTheLoveOfFootball pic.twitter.com/xHh6o0rPzh
— New York Guardians (@XFLGuardians) February 29, 2020
Offensive heroics weren’t as easy to conjure in the second half. The Guardians opened with back-to-back three-and-outs, allowing the Wildcats to climb back in the game via a deep Josh Johnson ball to Saeed Blacknall. The ensuing two-pointer to Jordan Smallwood retied the game.
Josh Johnson throws the prettiest deep ball in the league. That's undeniable. This 42-yard BOMB to Saeed Blacknall ties the game at 14.#XFLFootball #XFL2020 (via @XFL2020)pic.twitter.com/yHYZ1cYLQ0
— XFLNewsHub (@XFLNewsHub) February 29, 2020
After the latter three-play drive, the Guardians were on their heels as the Wildcats went driving again. However, Jamar Summers’ second MetLife interception put momentum back in New York’s hands. Another McCrane triple gave them a 17-14 lead in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
Jamar Summers with the QUICK hands for the interception
? ABC
? https://t.co/iqMWPR5nuH pic.twitter.com/n4hp73uz2I— XFL (@XFL2023) February 29, 2020
The Wildcats made a return trip to the Guardians’ red zone, but a missed 45-yard field from Novak kept a three-point game.
Owens and the defense came up big one more time. After a Justin Vogel punt situated the Wildcats at their own 11-yard line, the defenders allowed two first downs but pressure from Owens made Johnson uncomfortable, and they eventually earned a turnover on downs. Rushes from Victor allowed the Guardians to run most of the remaining clock out. A Vogel punt put the Wildcats 92 yards away from the end zone, and they failed to obtain it before time expired.
The Guardians return to action next Saturday, as they hit the road to take on the Dallas Renegades (5 p.m. ET, Fox).
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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags