Maybe it was the home crowd an XFL record 29,172 cheering and high fiving before the first kickoff that had the Seattle Dragons timid in their first XFL home game. What we do know is that the Dragons’ offense overcame its first-half jitters and scored 17 unanswered points in the second half put on a show for the Dragon faithful who were in partying mood from the git-go.
SLOW START
While the fans were partying in the stands the Dragons’ offense was out of rhythm and simply awful. The Dragons defense kept the team in the game covering for an offense that converted 1 of 6 third-down plays and produced a mere 41 total yards. The Dragons had 30 penalty yards and just 10 passing yards. The fact the Dragons were down 3-0 at field time was a testament to how well the defense played. Cornerback Jeremy Clark’s interception of Tampa Bay quarterback Taylor Cornelius highlighted a stellar first half defensive effort by a Dragons defense that gave up 100 total yards.
LOW TO HIGH IN A BLINK OF AN EYE
A Tarvarus McFadden pick six of a Brandon Silvers pass in the third quarter was the ultimate buzz killer that the Dragons faithfull feeling dazed and confused. While they weren’t quite ready to head for the exits thoughts of doubts and what else is there to do began crept in.
A Silvers to Keenan Reynolds 68 touchdown play on the Dragons’ next possession sent the Dragons faithful into straight bedlam as the Dragons deficit was down to the three points at 9-6 with 11:26 left in the third quarter.
Marcel Frazier’s one-yard pick-six of Vipers quarterback Quinton Flowers gave the Dragons their first lead of the game and Reynolds 2pt conversion after the pick-six made it 14-9 Dragons and sent Dragon Nation into Nirvinia as food, song, and libations were had by all.
Ernesto Lacayo connected on a 27-yard field to make amends for an earlier miss in the first half to round out the Dragons scoring at 17-9 and even their season record at 1-1.
