
he Houston Roughnecks managed to hold on to their lead in a tightly contested game against the Vegas Vipers, winning 28-21 at TCECU Stadium. With an official attendance of 10,967 fans, the Roughnecks improved their record to 6-3, while the Vipers fell to a disappointing 2-7. With the win, the Roughnecks clinch the South Division and will host the South Division playoff game in Houston on April 29th.
Results
Team | 1st quarter | 2nd quarter | 3rd quarter | 4th quarter | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
VGS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 21 |
HOU | 0 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 28 |
The Roughnecks started slowly, trailing 6-0 after the first quarter but managed to score six points in the second quarter, narrowing the Vipers’ lead to 12-6 at halftime. Houston came out strong after the break, scoring 13 points in the third quarter and another nine in the final quarter to seal the victory. The Vipers put up a valiant effort, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short.
Houston’s rushing game was a major factor in the win, with Max Borghi and Brycen Alleyne both finding the endzone. Borghi finished with 74 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while Alleyne contributed 42 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. The Roughnecks’ defense also played a key role in the game, with linebacker Emmanuel Ellerbee leading the team with 11 tackles, including 6 solo tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Vegas Vipers quarterback Jalan McClendon had a solid performance, completing 27 of 37 passes for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. However, he also lost a fumble, which proved costly. The Vipers’ rushing attack was led by John Lovett, who carried the ball nine times for 46 yards and a touchdown, with an impressive average of 5.1 yards per carry.
In the receiving department, John Lovett topped the Vipers with 63 yards on four receptions, while Geronimo Allison caught six passes for 60 yards. For the Roughnecks, Justin Smith led with 26 receiving yards on two catches.
Special teams played a role in the game as well, with Vipers kicker Sam Sloman going 1 for 2 on field goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards, while Roughnecks kicker Austin Jones was perfect, hitting his only field goal attempt from 28 yards out.
The Vipers will look to bounce back from this loss in their next game, while the Roughnecks will aim to continue their winning ways and solidify their position in the standings.
Top of the Division 🔜 Host the South Division Championship.
— XFL (@XFL2023) April 15, 2023
Looks like we’ll be back in Houston on April 29th 💥🏟️
Tickets on sale Tuesday at 1pm CT#XFL | #DivisionChampions pic.twitter.com/tEm2eiJQEP
XFL Box Score
VGS
Player | Position | Pass. CMP | Pass. ATT | Pass. YDS | Pass. TD | Pass. INT | Rush. ATT | Rush. YDS | Rush. TD | Rec. Targets | Rec. YDS | Rec. | Rec. TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jalan McClendon | QB | 27 | 37 | 249 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brian Burt | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
John Lovett | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 4 | 0 |
Rod Smith | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brandon Dillon | TE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
Cam Sutton | TE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
Sean Price | TE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Cinque Sweeting | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 4 | 1 |
Geronimo Allison | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 60 | 6 | 0 |
Jeff Badet | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 4 | 0 |
Martavis Bryant | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Mathew Sexton | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 29 | 3 | 0 |
Total | 27 | 37 | 249 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 96 | 1 | 31 | 249 | 27 | 2 |
HOU
Player | Position | Pass. CMP | Pass. ATT | Pass. YDS | Pass. TD | Pass. INT | Rush. ATT | Rush. YDS | Rush. TD | Rec. Targets | Rec. YDS | Rec. | Rec. TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon Silvers | QB | 16 | 27 | 105 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cole McDonald | QB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brycen Alleyne | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
Jeremy Cox | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Max Borghi | RB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 74 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Garrett Owens | TE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 23 | 4 | 0 |
Ben Putman | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cedric Byrd II | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
Deontay Burnett | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Justin Smith | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
Travell Harris | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
Total | 16 | 27 | 105 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 132 | 2 | 27 | 105 | 16 | 0 |
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Mark Perry, a passionate sports journalist and the founder and editor of XFL News Hub, has been at the forefront of covering the XFL since its revival in 2018. Within days of the XFL's announced return, Mark initiated XFL News Hub to keep the fans abreast of every detail, game, and development of the league. Mark's extensive knowledge of the sport, combined with his unwavering dedication to providing comprehensive and accurate reporting, has made XFL News Hub the go-to platform for all things related to the XFL. His work over the years has brought him recognition in the world of sports journalism, solidifying his place as a leading voice in XFL coverage. Beyond just reporting, Mark believes in fostering a community around the XFL, engaging fans through his innovative content and discussions. If you have any inquiries, comments, or insights you'd like to share, Mark welcomes you to contact him directly at mark.perry@xflnewshub.com.

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