HOUSTON, TEXAS — It’s XFL championship time. Despite three tries at a full and completed XFL season, the XFL will finally have a championship game, and the Arlington Renegades secured their spot as one of the participating teams. The Renegades beat the Houston Roughnecks 26-11 on Saturday night in the South Division Championship game to advance to next weekend’s championship game in San Antonio.
The Houston offense struggled getting much going, as evidenced by the 11 total points scored. Arlington’s offense in the first half was unstoppable. The offensive chemistry that was shown was like nothing we had seen before so far this season. Now, the second half wasn’t nearly as electrifying, but it managed to take time off the clock and limit the Roughnecks’ chances of scoring again. The Renegades defense took care of the rest and read every play perfectly. Renegades cornerback De’Vante Bausby intercepting the pick from Houston quarterback Cole McDonald in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the deal in Arlington’s victory.
To no surprise Renegades quarterback Luis Perez had yet another great game, completing 19 of 27 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver JaVonta Payton caught five of those throws, for 121 yards and two scores. Running back De’Veon Smith also added 94 rushing yards.
Luis Perez commented in the post game press conference stating, “We believed. We didn’t care that we were 0-2 against Houston, we knew what we were capable of, and it showed.”
Arlington will head down to San Antonio, TX for the XFL championship at the Alamodome on May 13. The Renegades will face the winner of last Sunday’s semifinal game which is the D.C. Defenders. This will be the second time these two teams go head to head.
The Renegades embraced their underdog status in Houston, and took it with a grain of salt and showed they had something to prove, so it might not be wise for the Defenders to overlook them.
