ORLANDO (Florida Sports Wire) – The Orlando Guardians out-gained Seattle 391-252 Saturday at Camping World Stadium. But mistakes, turnovers and costly penalties once again derailed Orlando’s hopes for a first victory as Seattle took advantage of those miscues to take a 26-19 victory.
A 37-yard field goal by Dominik Eberle got the Sea Dragons on the board with 6:03 left in the first quarter. On the opening drive of the second quarter, the Guardians struck back with a 26-yard field goal from Jose Borregales to tie the game at 3-3. Eberle added a 27-yard field goal on Seattle’s next possession take a 6-3 edge.
Orlando found the end zone after a 12-play, 65-yard drive ended with a Devin Darringtpo three-yard rushing touchdown. A Darrington one-point conversion run put the Guardians on top 10-6. Najeem Hosein thwarted a Seattle scoring threat on the Sea Dragons’ next possession, intercepting Ben DiNucci in the end zone..
A 54-yard goal from Elberle with one second left in the first half brought left Orlando with a 10-9 lead at the intermission.
Seattle opened the third quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass by DiNucci to wide receiver Blake Jackson. A successful two-point conversion pass from DiNucci to Jahcour Pearson put the Sea Dragons up 17-10. The Guardians rushing attack struck on the following drive. A 43-yard burst up the middle from Darrington resulted in his second score of the day. The Guardians looked to regain the lead with a two-point conversion try, but came up short, leaving Seattle with a 17-16 lead.
Seattle opened the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal from Eberle to put the Sea Dragons up by four, 20-16. On the ensuing drive, Orlando answered with a season-long 50-yard field goal from Borregales to make it 20-19.
Midway through the fourth quarter, a 4-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to wide receiver Juwan Green put the Sea Dragons up 26-19, accounting for the game’s final score.
Orlando had a chance to tie or take the lead with four minutes remaining. On the first play of the possession, Darrington took a pass from Dormady for 13 yards, but lost a fumble. The Guardians’ defense held and a Seattle punt with less than one minute remaining went into the end zone for a major touchback, while a Seattle penalty on the play gave the Guardians good field position at their own 40-yard line.
Dormady completed two quick passes to Charleston Rambo for 20 and 15 yards, respectively. Leaving the Guardians with 25 yards needed for a potential tying or winning score. But four straight incompletions sealed the victory for Seattle.
NOTES: The Guardians’ 10-9 lead at the half was the first time the Guardians have led at halftime this season…the game marked the first time this season Seattle has gone without a touchdown in the first half….Devin Darrington’s 43-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter is his longest rush of the season and is the third longest in the XFL. His two rushing touchdowns marked a career-best….Jose Borregales’s 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter is a career-high for Borregales and the third longest in the XFL….defensive back Najeem Hosein’s interception is the first of his career.
