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XFL Championship Game 2023 score, takeaways: Huge 'dog Renegades stun D.C. behind MVP Luis Perez, Bob Stoops

Arlington finished the regular season 4-6 but beat the Defenders for the XFL crown

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The Arlington Renegades are the XFL champions, completing one of the most improbable playoff runs in football. Just 4-6 entering the postseason and going through multiple quarterback changes throughout the season, the Renegades -- led by quarterback Luis Perez -- beat the heavily favored D.C. Defenders 35-26 for the XFL title. 

The Renegades, who entered the game as 8.5-point underdogs via Caesars Sportsbook, are the XFL first champion since the Los Angeles Xtreme won the title in 2001 (the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).

Perez, who started the season with the Las Vegas Vipers, was traded to Arlington in Week 7 as the Renegades had an outside shot at the postseason -- due to playing in a subpar division. He completed 26 of 36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's championship game as the Renegades scored more than 30 points for the first time all season en route to the title. 

Arlington scored on all five first half possessions and led wire to wire. Head coach Bob Stoops captured his fifth championship between the college and professional ranks, while Perez took home game MVP honors. 

Here are our takeaways from the game (keep scrolling down to relive all the action in our live blog below). 

Why the Renegades won

Luis Perez played his best game of the season in just his sixth start for the Renegades, completing 26 of 36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns -- capping a postseason in which he finished with six touchdown passes in two games. The Renegades' scores on their first five possessions of the game against the league's top defense, as Perez threw two touchdown passes during the stretch to give Arlington a 26-12 lead over D.C.

Perez was able to beat Defenders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' blitzes throughout the night, which led to the Renegades surpassing 26 points for the first time this season. 

Why the Defenders lost

The Defenders defense just couldn't get off the field on third down, as the Renegades started the contest 10 of 12 on third down conversions that led to the team scoring 35 points. Plenty of those conversions were on third-and-long situations in the first half, leading to the Renegades chewing up game clock and handing the Defenders a 14-point deficit -- their largest of the season. 

D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, the league's Offensive Player of the Year, got off to a slow start because the Defenders offense wasn't on the field much (only three plays in the first quarter). The defense just couldn't get a key stop in order to get back in the game. 

Turning point

After the Defenders scored before the end of the third quarter to make the score 26-20, Perez had the Renegades responded in a massive way before the end of the third quarter. On the final play of the quarter, Perez found Leddie Brown for a 30-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 32-20.

Brown found himself open in the flat and maneuvered his way into the end zone to extend the lead. He became the first player to score both a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in an XFL game this year -- scoring both in the third quarter. 

A poor kickoff after a Defenders 72-yard touchdown pass gave the Renegades excellent field position. Thanks to Perez and Brown, Arlington made sure the lead wasn't in doubt. 

Play of the game

Perez found Sal Cannella on a third-and-12 pass for a 41-yard touchdown to give Arlington a 6-0 lead to start the game. The Renegades quarterback beat the Defenders blitz, just stood and the pocket, and fired to Canella on the crossing route for the score.

That play was the sign Perez was going to have a big night throwing the football. 

The quote

"We really turned our season around at the right time. I'd say the big turning point was getting Luis Perez." -- Arlington head coach Bob Stoops when he received the XFL Championship Trophy. 

When asked if he'd ever coached a team that had a turnaround like this before, Stoops said "Not like this."

Defenders' demise

The Defenders had lost only once game all season entering the XFL Championship Game -- amazingly, it came against the Orlando Guardians, who finished with the league's worst record at 1-9 as it was their only win. D.C. was our top team all season -- we actually had the Defenders and Renegades as our top two teams prior to Week 1 -- but they struggled against Arlington both times they faced them, needing overtime in Week 9 to beat them, 28-26.

Renegades' championship road

The Renegades are the league's second champion, finishing the year with a 6-6 record. The Renegades lost their last two games to finish 4-6 in the regular season, making the playoffs by one game over the 3-7 San Antonio Brahmas. 

Thanks to the XFL taking the top two teams in each division for playoff berths, the Renegades had the chance to compete for a championship. 

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Live updates
 

From 4-6 to the XFL championship. Arlington was 1-3 with Luis Perez as the starting QB in the regular season.

Two upsets in the playoffs and now they are champions of the XFL. 

 

Ta'amu's heave is picked off by Cre'von LeBlanc! Arlington is gonna win the XFL title! 

 

D.C. gets the score, but it's up to Arlington to seal it 35-26 -- nine point game so still one possession. 4th-and-15 now to keep the game alive. 

 

Abram Smith isn't giving up on this one, but D.C, has to score and get the 4th-and-15 conversion on the onside attempt to stay alive. 35-20 with 1:23 left. 

 

The Renegades don't get a TD -- but net a FG. This team didn't score more than 26 points in a game -- ALL SEASON. They have 35 tonight. 

 

Rusnak's pick on Ta'amu may be the sealing play this early in the fourth. A TD here would essentially seal this game -- one Arlington has essentially dominated. 

 

Lonnie Brown scores to end the 3rd! Renegades have an answer for anything D.C. throws at them. Brown's 2nd TD of the quarter gets it back to a two possession game. The Abe Smith penalty led to the touchback, which gave Arlington excellent field possession.

This game hit the over by the third quarter. Already at 53 points. Exciting game, but Arlington just won't relinquish this lead. They're destroying the Defenders blitz.  

33-20 after 3. 

 

D.C. capitalizes! Josh Hammond catches a 72-yard pass from Ta'ame to cut the deficit to one score. Ta'amu looks so much better this half. 

Second big play for the Defenders this half. 52 yard run by Smith for a TD earlier in the quarter. 

 

Finally a stop for DC. Arlington will punt for the first time tonight. Marquette King finally sees the field. 

 

Leddie Brown -- of Neumann Goretti HS in Philly -- gets on the board with a 7-yard TD to extend Arlington's lead. 5 possessions, 5 scores for the Renegades. D.C. defense is down 14 -- largest deficit they faced this year. 

+420 to bet D.C. straight up right now. 

 

That 7-play, 71-yard drive was exactly what D.C. needed to get back into this. No conversion, but it's now 20-12 -- up to Arlington to keep the pressure up. Abe Smith with one o the biggest runs of the year for 52 yards as he now has 12 carries for 84 yards and two scores. 

 

Luis Perez is 18-of-23 with 2 TDs while Jordan Ta'amu is 4-of-9 with an INT. Completely different QB play in the first half -- although Ta'amu hasn't had a chance to run the offense much. 

 

Gregg Williams is right. Arlington is 5-for-6 on third down -- and converted multiple 3rd-and-long situations. Plenty of football to go, but the Renegades have dominated. 

 

Big 51-yard kick by Russolino, as Arlington has taken advantage of the kickoff that went out of bounds.

4 possessions, 4 scores. Renegades are up 20-6 at half. 

 

For those that did miss the photographer collison, here it is. Praying the photographer is okay. 

 

Once we resumed action, Smith gets DC on the board. Abe Smith gerts the 2-yard TD run to cap the 10-play, 45-yard drive. D.C. won't go down ard in the first half -- even if its 17-6 Arlington. 

 

Hoping that photographer is okay. Again, not an easy job when a player is coming full speed at you (from experience)

 

Dropped pass on first down hurt, but Arlington was able to drive 54 yards and take 6:50 off teh clock and get a FG. Still a two possession game even though it's 17-0. DC needs some momentum into the half. 

 

D.C. is so used to playing from ahead, but what happens when the aggressive defense has to be passive? Don't see that happening as Arlington continues to mow down the field. 

 

Making matters worse, Jordan Ta'amu just threw a red zone INT. This game is getting out of hand for teh Defenders, who could be coming down 3 scores if the Renegades capitalize off his turnover. Horrible start for the XFL's best team. 

 

Dominant 1st quarter for the Renegades, up 14-0 and scored on both possessions. D.C. didn't know what hit them. 

 

Holding penalty takes away a Renegades TD -- but Perez finds Vaughn two plays later for the TD. perez's 2nd TD pass of the first quarter. 

12-of-14 for 141 yards and 2 TD. Arlington took 8:45 off the clock. Defenders have run just 3 plays for -1 yard. 14-0 Arlington now. 

 

Just another money throw from Perez on 3rd down. This time to Payton. Renegades in red zone for 2nd time in 2 possessions. 

 

Luis Perez couldn't have thrown a more perfect pass there. He's 7-of-8 for 100 yards to start the game. 

As a bowler, appreciate how the broadcast mentioned his 12 300 games too.

 

3-and-out for the Defenders. Arlington already made the early statement, they can make an exclamation point now. 

 

Perez finds Canella for a 41-yard TD! The QB beat Gregg Williams' blitz on the opening drive and found Sal Cannella on the slant. Zero coverage buns the Defenders. 

Perez 4-for-4 for 65 yards on that opening drive. Conversion attempt no good. Arlington up 6-0. 

 

How important was the Luis Perez trade in the XFL? Traded from Vegas to Arlington in Week 7 as the Renegades made a push for the playoffs. The trade was huge for Arlington at the deadline, as the Renegades rotated at QB until he showed up. 

They didn't even win a game with perez until the playoffs -- which they actually backed into. Ultimate underdog story. 

 

Defenders RB Abram Smith on the importance of the XFL this year for players wanting to play in the league.

"Don't give up. This is a stepping stone to who you want to be. A lot of us come from the NFL, a lot of different backgrounds.
Just don't give up. It's not going to rain forever, and the sun is going to come out eventually. So, all of that hard work you put
out there when no one is looking, when nobody is watching [is what matters]. 

"Coach Barlow always says it best, 'If you want to do it in public, you have to do it in private."

 

Arlington LB Donald Payne is fired up for this game. He knows the Renegades are a long shot.

"A lot of guys had us counted out, don't think we should be here, so it makes it that much more special that we're here and ready to get going."

 

Winner is XFL's first champion since Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001. If you remember, Tommy Maddox quarterbacked that team.

Massive crowd in San Antonio tonight. This seaosn has been a success for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He wants to prove the XFL is the best spring football league in the world -- he has that chance tonight. 

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