All 4 Downs Podcast

First Down: Recap - Houston Roughnecks remain undefeated with a questionable kneel down from PJ Walker that could have given Seattle Dragons one more possession of the game.  Instead the referees left the game and the higher officials did not do enough to get the game going.  Houston wins 32-23.

The New York Guardians get their first road win as they routed the Renegades 30-12.  Guardians QB Luis Perez threw a deep pass to Pearson that went 80 yards for a touchdown. He went 16-of-30 completions, 229 passing yards and a touchdown.  

The DC Defenders snapped their two game losing streak by benching Cardale Jones after he threw an interception.  Tyree Jackson took the snap and DC defeated the Battlehawks 15-9.  For Saint Louis, QB Ta’am could not get the offense going.  He was pressured constantly and sacked four times during the process.  Kicker Russolino made two of three field goals.  Battlehawks did not score a touchdown.

Lastly, the LA Wildcats erased an 18-point deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Vipers on a 41-34 shoot out.  Josh Johnson threw 20-of-36 completions, 288 passing yards, and four touchdowns.  

East

New York Guardians 3-2

Tampa Bay Vipers 1-4

West

Los Angeles Wildcats 2-3

Seattle Dragons 1-4

Second Down: Officiating

PJ Walker took a knee on 4th down.  Replay showed two seconds left on the clock and the referees ran out of the field.  The supervisor did not do enough to maintain order on the field and get the referees back in play.  It resulted in the supervisor to be relieved from duty.  

Here is a statement from the XFL:

"Saturday's Seattle Dragons-Houston Roughnecks game should not have ended as it did. Replays showed clearly that the knee of Houston Quarterback PJ Walker touched the field, rendering him 'down' and the fourth-down play officially completed, with approximately two seconds remaining on the clock - effectively turning the ball over to Seattle on downs. WIth a nine-point differential in the score, Seattle was denied an opportunity to tie the game. The XFL sincerely regrets this error.

In addition, Wes Booker, who served as officiating supervisor for Saturday's game, has been reassigned."

 

 

Ejections at NY/Dallas game: Issues on the field for referees to not review the entire play when the brawl took place.  Dallas DE Gerald Rivers and NY LT Jarren Jones were ejected from the game.  Dallas DE Frank Alexander started it and remained in the game.  NY Center Ian Silberman also remained in the game as he took part of the action as well.  

Third down:  

 First Half Awards:

MVP  Hou PJ Walker 15 TDs 1338 passing yards, LA Josh Johnson 11 TDs 1076 passing yards, and STL Jordan Ta’amu 5 passing TDs, 72 completions, 

RB  TB DeVeon Smith leads 365 rushing yards, HOU James Butler leads 4 rushing touchdowns, STL Matt Jones 314 rushing yards.

WR  HOU Cam Phillips leads 455 reception yards and 9 touchdowns, Dal Donald Parham 4TDs, LA Tre McBride 4TDs

Defensive Player of the Year

NY DT Cavon Walker 4.5 Sacks

HOU CB Deatrick Nichols 3 INT

SEA LB Steven Johnson 30 tackles 18 assists

LA S Ahmad Dixon 31 tackles 13 assists

Fourth Down

Saturday

Houston Roughnecks (5-0) at New York Guardians (3-2) 02:00pm ABC

Saint Louis BattleHawks  (3-2) at Tampa Bay Vipers (1-4) 05:00pm EST (FS2)(not all networks carry FS2)

Sunday

Dallas Renegades (2-3) at DC Defenders (3-2) 04:00pm EST FS1

Los Angeles Wildcats (2-3) at Seattle Dragons (1-4)  07:00pm EST ESPN2